Approaches for introducing TMN in legacy networks: a critical look

Abstract

Introducing the telecommunications management network (TMN) into a legacy network is generally an uphill battle. This article provides a critical review of the two key approaches used in the industry for introducing TMN interfaces into legacy networks. Before the analysis, it is of prime importance to establish some ground rules. There is currently no common understanding of what introducing TMN into a legacy network means, as there is no common understanding of what introducing TMN into a network means. We start by analyzing what introducing TMN into a legacy network means, and then study, successively, the bottom-up and top-down approaches. Finally, a cost trade-off analysis is made.