Direct binary file transfer based network management system free of messaging, commands and data format conversions

摘要

Telecommunication network management operations are performed based on accessing network management data (NMD) files via GUIs and general purpose computers including a network management system (NMS) server, and automatic routines for transferring binary NMD files between the general purpose computers and remote network elements (NEs) being managed. A system user produces configuration files at the NMS server for NEs using a network management GUI, and the hardware of NEs automatically complete the network management operations indicated by the NMD files transferred to them from the NMS server and produce their status files to the NMS server. The network management GUI displays network status based on the latest NE status files at the NMS server. This provides direct, binary file transfer based NMS communication that avoids the complexity and restrictions of intermediate messaging protocols or transaction languages and conversions thereof.

主权项

1. A network management process comprising:
transferring, via a set of repeating automatic file transfer routines, binary network element (NE) control files between a network management system (NMS) server and NEs, with the NE control files representing contents of segments within memory spaces of the NEs associated therewith, and whereby a given one of the NEs copies its respective NE control files from the NMS server to a control register segment within its memory spaces; and performing, by the given NE, a set of NE-side actions for network management operations associated with a given one of its respective NE control files, with such NE-side actions performed i) based on binary contents of the given NE control file indicating a set of intended network management actions to be completed and ii) automatically by hardware without software involvement, at least when the contents of the given NE control file does not contain a value that causes software to reboot the NE; wherein said NE-side actions for network management operations associated with the given NE control file comprise configuring, through contents of the control register segment within the NE memory spaces, how the NE hardware, automatically without software involvement, is to function, wherein said contents of the control register segment are direct copies of the binary contents of the given NE control file, and wherein the NE-side actions performed automatically by hardware without software involvement include producing a set of NE status parameters, with such producing comprising: forming NE alarm indicators based at least in part on NE defect bits and alarm enable bits, wherein values of the alarm enable bits are based on the contents of the given NE control file, and wherein the set of NE status parameters include: a defect indicator, an intermediary level alarm indicator, or a top level alarm indicator for the NE.