Terminology
Before describing the features of the Networking Package it is useful to gain an overview about the terms and objects used in the Networking Package software. The design of the object model and the implementation of the various transmission layers are following the ITU-T recommendation G.805. This allows presenting the connections in the FOX51x or FOX61x network in a manner which is familiar to the operators of network management systems in the telecommunication industry.
The following table gives an overview about the most often used terms:
Functions | Descriptions |
|---|---|
Application | The application is the main object in NP. Any creation, modification or deletion of connections is done within an application. An application contains Transport Entities (TE): circuits, trails or sub-network connections. The user manages the connections of the network through applications. |
Transport Entity (TE) | A transport entity is a connection through the network connecting two termination points on the same layer rate. It is the collective term in NP for circuits, trails, sub-network connections and Unknown. |
Circuit | A circuit connects the subscriber at the border of the network with either another subscriber at the other end of the network or with a server or switch in the central office. The circuit is the end-to-end connection through the network. The major task of NP is the handling of circuits. |
Trail | A trail is a connection within a network carrying circuits or other trails. Every circuit has to be created over a trail. A trail is representing a connection between two trail termination points (routed over a part of the network) with a certain bandwidth. A good example is the VC-12 trail created over several STM1 sections providing 2 Mbit/s. This VC-12 trail will be used to route and transport circuits through the network. |
Subnetwork Connection (SNC) | A subnetwork connection represents a connection between two points inside the network, usually to connect two border points of a sub-network managed by another group of the network operation center. A SNC will be used to carry trails or circuits. |
Unknown | An Unknown represents a Transport Entity not recognized by the Networking Package as one of the above described TEs. Such transport entities require actions to be taken by the operator for further analysis. |
Matrix Connection (MC) | A Matrix Connection is a connection between two connection points of two units in a network element. In the FOX51x/FOX61x documentation and in the other chapters of this document they are referred as cross-connections. |
Link Connection (LC) | The Link Connection is a logical connection within a trail. In other words, a trail provides one or several link connections, which will be used to carry circuits or other trails. |
Sections & Topological Trails | Sections are physical connections between two network elements (refer to «Sections. In Networking Package Sections are called Topological Trails. |