In the IETF we tend to approach the Network Management issue in little pieces, building blocks if you like. This book takes a look at a much broader picture and uses SNMP building blocks as a way of describing how to create a complete Network and Service Management System. -- Bert Wijnen, Co-Area Director, Operations and Management, IETF

Considering the crudeness of the network management tools available it is a wonder that IP data networks work at all, and it is no wonder that creating new value added services is, at best, a challenge. In this book Jon provides a detailed and complete guide to the tools and technologies that currently exist and a roadmap of the areas of future development which may yet provide network management tools on a par with SNA and the telephone world. This is must-have information for every network planner, manager, and management software developer.
-- Scott Bradner, Senior Technical Consultant at Harvard University, IETF Area Director

A SERVICE MANAGEMENT SOLUTION THAT WORKS

Who said service management is easy? Certainly not anyone who ever tried to deploy high-value profitable services. Expertly configuring a router is one thing, controlling a LAN is another, and getting routers, applications, and devices working together to deliver a service and collect service data is something else altogether!

THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT

When it comes to service management, software solutions expert Jonathan Saperia has been there, done that for many of the biggest-name ISPs and enterprises. So if youd like to find a path leading to cost-effective high-value service delivery and management, open these pages. Youll find the help you need to:

* Evaluate service management protocols now in play

* Learn the advantages of using SNMP at the edge

* Avoid the pitfalls routinely encountered with even the best system management software

* Build a system that reflects economic reality

* Work through system design, buying decisions, or development concepts

* Create profitable high-value service offerings with reliable service management support

Contents            

     Foreword
     Introduction
     Acknowledgments
   PART 1: SERVICE MANAGEMENT
    Chapter 1: What Is a Service?
    Chapter 2: Service Management Systems
    Chapter 3: The Edge and Service Management
   PART 2: POLICY AND SERVICE-LEVEL ABSTRACTIONS
    Chapter 4: Policy-Basted Management
    Chapter 5: Creating a Network Services Model
   PART 3: CREATING A SOLUTION
    Chapter 6: Designing a Service Management System
    Chapter 7: Configuration Management Using SNMPCONF
   PART 4: DESIGNING MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
    Chapter 8: Designing Management Software for Managed Devices
    Chapter 9: SNMP and SNMPCONF Enable More than Configuration
   PART 5: APPLYING DESIGN PRINCIPLES
    Chapter 10: Specialized Function Subagents
    Chapter 11: Management Applications--Architecture and Basic Components
    Chapter 12: A Complete System
    Chapter 13: External Interfaces
    Chapter 14: The Future of Management Software Systems
     Appendix A: References
     Appendix B: RFCs by Number
     Appendix C: Useful URL Pointers
     Index