The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaboration between telecommunications standards organizations that develops standards for mobile telecommunications networks. 3GPP’s Telecom Management (TM) framework is a set of specifications that define how the management of mobile networks should be done. In this discussion, we will delve into the technical aspects of the 3GPP TM framework, including its architecture, protocols, and procedures.
3GPP Telecom Management Architecture
The 3GPP Telecom Management Architecture is based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Telecommunications Management Network (TMN) model. The TMN model defines a hierarchical structure for the management of telecommunication networks, with five functional layers:
- Business Management Layer – This layer is responsible for the overall business aspects of the telecommunications network, including service level agreements, customer billing, and customer relationship management.
- Service Management Layer – This layer is responsible for the management of the services offered by the network, such as voice, data, and messaging.
- Network Management Layer – This layer is responsible for the management of the network elements, including switches, routers, base stations, and other hardware.
- Element Management Layer – This layer is responsible for the management of individual network elements, such as a single base station or a router.
- Network Element Layer – This layer represents the physical layer of the network, which includes the actual hardware and software that make up the network.
The 3GPP Telecom Management Architecture includes three layers of management: the Network Management Layer, the Element Management Layer, and the Network Element Layer. The Business and Service Management Layers are not explicitly defined in the 3GPP TM framework but are covered by other 3GPP specifications, such as the Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) and the Policy and Charging Control (PCC) framework.
The Network Management Layer is responsible for managing the network as a whole, including the network topology, network configuration, and fault management. This layer includes the Network Management System (NMS), which is responsible for managing the network elements through their management interfaces. The NMS communicates with the Element Management System (EMS) in the Element Management Layer to retrieve information about the network elements and to send configuration changes to them.
The Element Management Layer is responsible for managing the individual network elements, including their configuration, performance, and fault management. Each network element is equipped with an EMS, which provides a management interface for the NMS to communicate with the element.
The Network Element Layer represents the physical layer of the network, which includes the actual hardware and software that make up the network. This layer includes the base stations, switches, routers, and other network elements.
3GPP Telecom Management Protocols
The 3GPP TM framework includes several protocols that are used for network management. These protocols are based on the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) standard.
CORBA-based Protocol
The CORBA-based protocol is used for management of the Network Element Layer. The CORBA protocol is an object-oriented middleware that allows the management applications to access the network elements through their Object Request Broker (ORB) interfaces. The CORBA-based protocol provides a standard way for the management applications to communicate with the network elements.
SNMP-based Protocol
The SNMP-based protocol is used for management of the Network Management Layer and the Element Management Layer. The SNMP protocol is a standard protocol that allows management applications to access and manipulate the network elements through their SNMP interfaces. The SNMP-based protocol provides a standard way for the management applications to communicate with the network elements.
3GPP Telecom Management Procedures
The 3GPP TM framework includes several procedures that are used for network management, including configuration management, performance management, and fault management.
Configuration Management Procedures
The configuration management procedures are used to manage the configuration of the network elements, including the software and hardware configurations. The configuration management procedures include:
- Configuration Item (CI) Identification and Naming: This procedure is used to identify and name the configuration items in the network.
- Configuration Change Management: This procedure is used to manage the changes to the network configurations, including the approval, implementation, and testing of the changes.
- Configuration Version Management: This procedure is used to manage the versions of the configurations, including the creation, storage, and retrieval of the configuration versions.
Performance Management Procedures
The performance management procedures are used to monitor and measure the performance of the network elements. The performance management procedures include:
- Performance Data Collection: This procedure is used to collect the performance data from the network elements, including the traffic data, resource utilization data, and call data.
- Performance Data Analysis: This procedure is used to analyze the performance data to identify the areas of the network that need improvement.
- Performance Reporting: This procedure is used to generate performance reports that can be used by the management applications to monitor the network performance.
Fault Management Procedures
The fault management procedures are used to detect, diagnose, and resolve the faults in the network elements. The fault management procedures include:
- Fault Detection: This procedure is used to detect the faults in the network elements, including the alarms, events, and traps.
- Fault Diagnosis: This procedure is used to diagnose the faults to identify the root cause of the problem.
- Fault Resolution: This procedure is used to resolve the faults by taking corrective actions, such as resetting the network elements, reconfiguring the network elements, or replacing the faulty components.
Security Management Procedures
The security management procedures are used to manage the security of the network elements, including the authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) procedures. The security management procedures include:
- Security Policy Management: This procedure is used to define the security policies for the network elements.
- Security Configuration Management: This procedure is used to configure the security features of the network elements.
- Security Monitoring and Analysis: This procedure is used to monitor and analyze the security events in the network.
- Security Incident Management: This procedure is used to manage the security incidents, including the detection, analysis, and resolution of the security breaches.
Software Management Procedures
The software management procedures are used to manage the software of the network elements, including the software upgrades, patches, and backups. The software management procedures include:
- Software Version Management: This procedure is used to manage the versions of the software, including the creation, storage, and retrieval of the software versions.
- Software Upgrade Management: This procedure is used to upgrade the software of the network elements, including the planning, testing, and implementation of the upgrades.
- Software Patch Management: This procedure is used to apply the software patches to the network elements to fix the software bugs.
- Software Backup and Restore Management: This procedure is used to back up and restore the software configurations of the network elements.
Conclusion
The 3GPP Telecom Management (TM) framework is a set of specifications that define how the management of mobile networks should be done. The TM framework includes an architecture that is based on the Telecommunications Management Network (TMN) model, several protocols that are used for network management, and several procedures that are used for configuration management, performance management, fault management, security management, and software management.
