Conference azur::mcc

639.0. "I need suggestion about DECmcc project" by ROM01::NINNI (Don't worry...be happy) Fri Jan 18 1991 12:34

I'm investigating the best way to use DECmcc in network management 
project for a strategic italian customer , Banca d'Italia (the federal 
reserve).

I'd like to have your suggestions.

THE CONTEXT
-----------

    In Banca d'Italia, we implemented a network management center to control 
    and monitor a big extended Local Area Network, about three years ago.
    We used a LAVC configuration (2 boot member for backup reasons) where 

1)we installed and configured all our network management products (NMCC/DM, 
  NMCC/VAX ETHERnim, TSM, RBMS, LTM, RMS, DQS, DFS, DNS, SNA Gw Mgt)

2)we used some assetts like CHOPS for Help Desk, LTM_reports, DCM, 
  MTSmonitor)

3)we developed "ad hoc solution" in order to monitor and control 
  TRANSLAN bridge.

In Banca d'Italia, there is also an IBM control center, based on NETview 
products.

One year ago, Banca d'Italia decided to solve the big problem to 
integrate the two different control center, especially for the 
presentation point of view: 

-Try to offer a single user interface, with one only commands' syntax 
 especially for the help desk operator (with no skills).

In the scenario the specific management domains (DEC and IBM) will 
continue to be used but by the II level operator.

Of course we tried to push our solution (especially after the 
announcement of September about SCI partnership), but for political reasons the 
customer choosed a "primus inter pares", ITALSIEL, the biggest italian
software house (IRI Group). Now we need to cooperate to them, but of 
    course we'd like to propose also an evolution of the DEC Control
    Center, based on DECmcc platform
    

The final schema will be something like this:

		------------------------
		|  HELP DESK CONSOLE   | Based on X-window, PC-Hardware
		|                      |          where
						   * all entities will be 
		------------------------    	     graphically displayed,
						   *  a subset of allarms of 
			|	|		      both the domains will be
			>	<		      received,
			|	|		   * some kinds of 
			|	|		     directives must be 
Filtered Allarms---> 	|	|		     provided (SHOW and RESTART) 
Response to directive	|	|
	(SHOW, RESTART)	|       |
+-------------+	________>	<---------+-------------+
| DEC 	      |				  | IBM Control |	
| Control     |				  |	Center	|
| Center      |				  |		|
+-------------+				  +-------------+


So we need to define with ITALSIEL the interface between our control 
center and the Italsiel one.

We'd like to propose directly DECmcc where it is possible.

Italsiel has asked us if we can use for the comunication CMIP protocol.

My doubts are:

-->Of course, we push the kernel of the DEC Control Center on DECmcc 
   Platform. Which is the best way to interface the two environments?

	-Through an Access Module (but with this solution DECmcc will be 
				   also an entity which must be able to 
				   answer to some directives and send 
				   allarms, like it will happen with SNA AM) 

	-using DECmcc callable interface

    I can't evaluate the advantages/disvantages of both the solutions. 
    About the feasibility of both the solutions i'm quite sure, but i will 
    appreciate your comments.

--->In the Access Module solution, could we use CMIP protocol to 
    exchange information? Can you give me an indication about the 
    development cost of an AM like this?


--->About other our products, which Banca d'Italia has and which aren't 
    integrated on DECmcc Platform for the moment, what do you suggest 
    me?

    ITALSIEL plans to have the first release of this project at March 
    '92, if it will be OK.
    So, what do you suggest about
	RSM
	NMCC/DM
	DCM
	TSM
	Vitalink vms products
	MTSmonitor
     and 
	CHOPS ?
     Do I need to propose single interface for each product or Is there  any 
     possibility to have these products or their functionalities on 
     DECmcc in one year? 

     Especially about CHOPs, which are the plans about Help Desk 
     functionalities on DECmcc Platform. Banca d'Italia and Italsiel 
     could like to use it for logging tracking, call escalation 
     support..., but of course they wouldn't invest on a product without 
     future. Are you evaluating any integration with CHOPS? 
 

Thanks in advance
	

Regards
		Giuseppina
    

    I will deal with several items seperately
    
    First, there is CMIP. It looks very much like an Network Management
    Forum solution. I have great doubts that a software company developing
    an integration solution as is proposed can actually produce something
    which will be viable over the long term. I have seen many of these
    solutions by companies in the US such as Computer Sciences Corp. which
    is very large. They have failed. 
    
    I would suggest that a future NMF solution to the integration system
    is much more likely to be the preferred solution. Telecoms Business
    Group of TaN is working on such a solution based upon DECmcc as both
    the integrator and an element manager for DECnet, etc. I am also
    working on a similar answer based upon OSI rather than NMF alone. I
    am also working with the NMF implementers as a partner. The only
    difference is that they are producing intermediate base levels for
    trade shows and I am moving directly to a product set. However, March
    of 1992 is too soon for the product.
    
    CMIP as a protocol is a very minor part of the problem. I would not
    spend much time focusing on it. You need a clear functional definition
    of the interface between the integrator and DECmcc. I strongly suggest
    looking at NMF as a starting point. NMF using DP1 CMIP is possible
    in the time frame you are suggesting. 
    
    TBG is Valbonne (TAEC::FLAUW) is working on PNMP which uses DECmcc as
    a platform for a similar set of products. We are cooperating with them.
    Starting from different views we are quickly converging to a common
    view. That view is that we need an OSI Agent PM, an OSI AM, and several
    OSI FMs. I would suggest that you try to guide the solution to either
    the PNMP solution or the OSI solution that my group will be providing.
    They will be 2 seperate packages built on common modules. I would also
    suggest that you try to sell PNMP first. It is a more extensive product
    set built upon the DECmcc base. If there are requirements that are not
    addressed then we can identify each of them and work out a solution.
    
    Migration of point products to DECmcc. The strategy is not to migrate
    point products as they exist to DECmcc but to migrate their functions
    to DECmcc. Some of the products in your set will be superceded by
    DECmcc functions in the short term. Others may not be superceded until
    many years from now. 
    
    NMCC Decnet Monitor and Ethernim will be mostly obsolete when DECmcc
    V1.2 becomes available in the field. I can not give accurate
    predictions on the rest.
    
    wally matthews

    PNMP (Public Network Management Platform) is a corporate product
    based on DECmcc/Ultrix under development in Telecom Engineering,
    Valbonne, which is part of Telecom Business Group. PNMP will be
    targetted primarily to the Management of Public Networks.

    PNMP is still in the early development stages (Phase 0 ) and is not
    yet announced. Therefore, product information can only be given
    on a case by case basis. Please contact PNMP Product Manager :
    Claude Hary, ULYSSE::HARY

    Best regards,

    Marc.