Network Management

Chapter 8

This chapter is designed to provide the student with an overview of

the operation and maintenance systems used in Ericsson GSM
networks.

OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter the student will be able to:

• Describe the concept of centralized operation and maintenance

• Describe the Operations and Support System (OSS)
• Describe the systems for managing a cellular network
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8 Network Management
Table of Contents

Topic Page

INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................111

TMOS .............................................................................................................112
TELECOMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT NETWORK (TMN) ................................ 112
TMOS STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS ................................................................. 113

OSS STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS...................................................114

NMC AND OMC.................................................................................................. 114

OSS APPLICATIONS .................................................................................115

SERVICE ORDER GATEWAY (SOG) .....................................................116

SOG FUNCTIONS ............................................................................................... 116
SOG IMPLEMENTATION..................................................................................... 116

BILLING GATEWAY (BGW) ......................................................................117

BGW FUNCTIONS .............................................................................................. 117
BGW IMPLEMENTATION .................................................................................... 117

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INTRODUCTION
Mobile networks require an efficient and easy-to-use operation and
maintenance (O&M) system because:

• Mobile networks are extremely complex

• The structure of a mobile network is often altered to allow for

extension and optimization of the network

• Mobile network operators demand the reduction of O&M costs

Ericssons Operation and Support System (OSS) provides an

efficient and easy-to-use O&M system.

OSS is an application within the Telecommunications Management

and Operations Support (TMOS) product family.

The object of the GSM OSS is to offer the customer cost-effective

support for centralized, regional, and local operational and
maintenance activities required for a cellular network. The main
purposes of the GSM OSS are to provide a network overview and
support the maintenance activities of different operation and
maintenance organizations.

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TMOS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT NETWORK (TMN)

TMOS is defined as the Ericsson management and operations
support solution for public telecommunications networks.

TMOS has been developed in accordance with Telecommunications

Network Management (TMN) standards. The TMN standardization
effort involves several organizations, such as the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU), ANSI, ETSI and the International
Standards Organization (ISO). TMN specifies an O&M network
which is:

• Centralized
• Separate from the telecommunications network
• Connected to the telecommunications network via standardized
interfaces

One of the basic principles of the TMN system architecture is the

network model concept. This means that the physical network
elements (NEs) such as MSCs are represented in a model of the
network. Databases are used to store data about NEs.

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TMOS STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS

TMOS consists of a “family” of management application systems for
different telecom networks.
All TMOS application systems are built on the TMOS PlatForm
(TPF). The platform is a multi-computer system based on industrial
standards, such as UNIX and SQL.

Typically, TMOS resides in several independent computers that are

connected over a Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area
Network (WAN).

OSS is connected directly, or via the PSTN, to the MSCs, HLRs,

BSCs and AUC/EIRs. Communication with BTSs is provided via
BSCs

TMOS performs the following functions in line with TMN

recommendations:

• Configuration management
• Fault management
• Performance management
• Security management
• Accounting management

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OSS STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS

OSS (Operation Support System) is the product name for Ericssons
O&M (Operation and Maintenance) system for cellular networks.

Although the GSM network is complex, OSS is easy to use. OSS

consists of about 50 applications that can be used to solve different
tasks. It offers menus, windows and graphics with which the
operators can interact. No long, complicated commands are needed
to operate the system.

NMC AND OMC

According to GSM specifications, a system such as OSS can be
seen as a two level management function that provides centralized
control of the network. The levels are:

• Network Management Center (NMC)

NMC staff can concentrate on long-term system-wide issues

• Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC)

OMCs concentrate on short-term regional issues

OSS

Network
Management

Network Management
Center (NMC)

Network
Element
Management
OMC A OMC B

Network
Elements

AUC

Figure 8-1 NMC and OMC

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In OSS, the OMC and NMC functions can be combined in the same
physical installation or implemented at different sites.

The figure below shows the wide range of applications available with
the OSS.

OSS APPLICATIONS
Command Fault Integrated
File Handling
Handling Management Document Tool
Utility (FMU)
Application (CHA) (FM) (IDT)

Operation
Electronic Log Specified Alarm DXX Alarm
Procedure
Book (ELB) Interface (SPAI) Interface (DAI)
Support (OPS)

Cellular Network Cellular Network Cellular Network Network

Administration Administration Activity Manager Statistics
(CNA) Interface (CNAI) (CNAM) (PSA)

BTS Configuration BTS Software BTS Hardware BTS Alarm

Management Management Management Management
(BCM) (BSW) (BHW) (BAM)

Statistical Performance
Neighboring Frequency Measurement
Measurement Management
Cell Support Allocation Result
Initiation and Traffic
Administration(SMIA) (NCS) Support (FAS) Recording (MRR)
Recording (PMR)

Network Statistics Geographical

AXE 10 Software
Analyzer AXE Software and Logical Network
(NWS) Management
Support (AXA) Information Presentation
(AXS)
(GNIP)

Figure 8-2 OSS applications

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SERVICE ORDER GATEWAY (SOG)

SOG FUNCTIONS

F Did you know? A network operator requires administrative systems to analyze and
manage network information such as customer subscriptions, billing
One of Ericssons information and for fraud detection. An operators administrative
SOGs is capable of systems are normally called Customer Administration Systems
handling networks
with up to 750,000 (CAS). They are often complex systems that are inflexible and costly
subscribers and can to adapt to the specific needs of individual network operators.
add up to 100,000
new subscriptions The Service Order Gateway (SOG) is an Ericsson product that
each day. enables CASs to exchange information with network elements such
as the HLR, which contains service information.

Customer
OS
SSS // O
OMMC
C Adm.
System

SOG

HLR AUC EIR MC ILR

Figure 8-3 Service Order Gateway (SOG)

SOG IMPLEMENTATION
In Ericssons GSM systems the SOG is Unix-based. It contains a
user-friendly GUI to enable access to the required network nodes
and CASs. It can be connected to a maximum of 8 different CASs.
For operation and maintenance of the SOG, it can be connected to
OSS.

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BILLING GATEWAY (BGW)

BGW FUNCTIONS
A Billing GateWay (BGW) collects billing information or Call Data
Record (CDR) files from network elements such as MSCs and
forwards them to post-processing systems that use the files as input.
A BGW acts as a billing interface to the network elements in any
network and its flexible interface supports adaptation to any new
types of network elements.

A BGW is usually connected to the customer administration and

billing systems and is handled by the administrative organization. The
figure below shows some of the possible billing information required
when analyzing a specific call.

MSC
Stockholm Non-Roaming
Non-Roaming

isRoaming

MSC isBillable
Malmö
Roaming

Roaming

Unbillable

Figure 8-4 Billing information

BGW IMPLEMENTATION
In Ericssons GSM systems the BGW is implemented using Unix.
Like the SOG, it contains a GUI enabling simple management of the
billing information. It can also be connected to OSS for operation
and maintenance purposes.

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