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- ==Phrack Inc.==
-
- Volume Two, Issue 12, Phile #5 of 11
-
- THE TOTAL NETWORK DATA SYSTEM
-
-
- BY DOOM PROPHET
-
-
-
-
- The Total Network Data System is a monitoring/analysis network used by
- several offices within the Telco to analyze various levels of switching
- systems in relation to maintenance, performance, and future network planning
- purposes. The systems and the offices that use them will be described in
- detail in the following text.
-
-
- All switching entities that are in one particular serving area collect
- traffic information that is classified in three ways: peg count, overflow, and
- usage. Peg count is a count of all calls offered on a trunk group or other
- network component during the measurement interval, which is usually one hour.
- It includes calls that are blocked, which is classified as overflow traffic.
- The other measurement types that the TNDS network analyzes and collects are as
- follows:
-
- Maintenance Usage (for 1ESS, 2ESS, 5XB, 1XB, XBT)
-
- Incoming Usage (for 1E, 2E, 4AETS)
-
- All trunks busy (SxS)
-
- Last Trunks Busy (SxS)
-
- Completions (SxS, 5XB, XBT, 1XB)
-
- Incoming Peg Count (DMS)
-
- Maintenance Busy Count (2E, 3E)
-
- Detector Group Usage (SxS, 5XB, XBT, 1XB)
-
- In ESS and DMS offices, traffic data is collected by the central processor of
- the switch. In electomechanical offices such as crossbar, a Traffic Usage
- Recorder is used to scan trunks and other components about every 100 seconds,
- counting how many are in use. This data when compiled is sent to the EADAS
- system, which is located in the Operating Company's Network Data Collection
- Centers and runs on a minicomputer. 4ESS and 4Xbar toll offices do not use
- EADAS, but their own system called the Peripheral Bus Computer for traffic
- data analysis. After receiving the traffic data from up to 80 switching
- offices, EADAS performs two basic functions: It processes some data in near
- real time (shortly after it is received) to provide hourly and half hourly
- reports and a short term database for network administrators. It also collects
- and summarizes data that it will pass on to the other TNDS systems via data
- links or magnetic tape.
-
- Three other systems receive directly from EADAS. These systems are ICAN,
- TDAS, and EADAS/NM. ICAN stands for Individual Circuit Analysis plan and is
- used to study individual circuits in central office equipment that have been
- specified by network administrators.
-
- TDAS is the Traffic Data Administration System, which formats traffic data
- for use by the remaining downstream systems. ICAN and EADAS/NM are the only
- two systems with data links to EADAS that don't have their data formatted by
- TDAS before reception. TDAS is run on a mainframe in the NDCC and can be
- thought of as a distribution facility for the traffic data. EADAS/NM is used
- to watch switching systems and trunk groups designated by network managers,
- and reports existing or anticipated congestion on a display board at the
- Network Management Centers, where the system is located. Problems can be
- analyzed with this system and dealt with within a short period of time after
- they occur.
-
- Central Office Reporting Systems
- --------------------------------
-
- There are five TNDS engineering and administrative systems that provide
- operating company personnel with reports about CO switching equipment. These
- are the LBS, 5XBCOER, SPCSCOER, ICAN, and SONDS. LBS, the Load Balance System,
- helps assure that the customer traffic load is uniformly distributed over each
- switching system. It minimizes congestion on the concentrators, which allow
- subscribers to share the equipment in the switch. The LBS analyzes traffic
- data coming to it from TDAS to determine the traffic load on each line group
- that the system serves. LBS generates reports used by the NMC to determine
- line groups that can have new incoming subscriber lines assigned to them. LBS
- also does a load balance indexes for the entire operating company, indicating
- how effectively each CO has avoided congestion.
-
- Crossbar #5 Central Office Equipment Reports (5XBCOER) and Stored Program
- Control Systems COER used for 1, 2, and 3 ESS offices, analyze traffic data to
- indicate the overall service provided by the switching system and to tell how
- much of its capacity is being used. This info helps determine if new equipment
- is needed.
-
- ICAN, which was described briefly above, detects switching system
- equipment faults by identifying abnormal load patterns on individual circuits.
- A series of reports printed at the Network Administration Center helps network
- administrators analyze individual circuit usage and verify circuit grouping.
- ICAN is located at the BOC main computer center along with 5XBCOER.
-
- The fifth CO equipment reporting system is called the Small Office Network
- Data System, or SONDS. SONDS performs a full range of data manipulation
- functions, and is used to provide economically the full TNDS features for step
- by step offices. Step offices send data directly to this system, and it is not
- formatted by EADAS or TDAS, as it doesn't go through these systems. Weekly,
- monthly, exception and on demand reports are automatically distributed by
- SONDS to the NAC personnel.
-
-
- Trunk Network Reporting Systems
- -------------------------------
-
- These systems are parts of the TNDS used by the Circuit Administration
- Center to support trunk servicing and forecasting. The Trunk Servicing System
- helps trunk administrators develop short term plans to make the best use of
- the trunks that are already in use. It receives and processes data received
- from TDAS and computes offered load. Offered load is the amount of traffic a
- trunk group would have carried had the number of circuits been large enough to
- handle the load without trunk blocking (giving the caller a re-order or all
- circuits busy recording). TSS produces weekly reports showing underutilization
- of trunks and below grade of service trunk groups which do not have enough
- trunks in them. The CAC uses these reports to add or disconnect trunks
- according to what traffic requirements exist.
-
- The Traffic Routing and Forecasting System, replacing the Trunk
- Forecasting System, forecasts message trunk requirements for the next five
- years. Major conversions and similar network changes are all taken into
- consideration when determining the future traffic needs. TRFS receives data
- from EADAS, TDAS, and TSS and is located at the Operating Company computer
- center.
-
-
- Since TDAS and some of the downstream TNDS systems need much of the same
- information, that information is maintained in a system called Common Update.
- In this manner, some data does not have to be duplicated in each individual
- system. Some of the information includes the configuration of switching
- equipment and the trunk network and specifications on traffic registers for
- central offices. Numbers recorded by each register are treated consistently by
- each system that uses the Common Update data base. There is an update base for
- trunking, referred to as CU/TK, and an update on equipment known as CU/EQ. The
- trunking part of the Operating Company's data base is coordinated by the Trunk
- Records Management System.
-
- Since the TNDS systems are so important to the proper operation of the
- network, the CSAR (Centralized System For Analysis and Reporting) is used to
- monitor the entire TNDS performance. The NDCC, the NAC, and the CAC are
- provided with measurements of the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of
- the data flow through TNDS from beginning to end. It doesn't analyze data from
- EADAS/NM, SONDS, or TRFS.
-
-
-
-
- BOC Operations Centers
- ----------------------
-
- NAC-Network Administration Center. Responsible for optimum loading, and
- utilization of installed COE. Performs daily surveillance of COs and trunk
- groups to ensure service objectives are being met. The NAC Reviews profiles of
- office load relating to anticipated growth. They work with NSEC to initiate
- work orders to increase equipment in use. The systems they use are EADAS,
- SPCSCOER, CSAR, and SONDS.
-
- NMC-Network Management Centers. The NMC keeps the network operating
- efficiently when unusual traffic patterns or equipment failures would
- otherwise result in congestion. The NMC analyzes network performance and
- prepares contingency plans for peak days, telethons, and major switch
- failures. They monitor a near real time network performance data to identify
- abnormal situations. The system they use is EADAS/NM.
-
- CAC-Circuit Administration Center. The CAC ensures that in service trunks
- meet current as well as anticipated customer demands at acceptable levels of
- service. For planned servicing, the CAC compares current traffic loads with
- forecasted loads for the upcoming busy season. If the loads are consistent,
- the CAC issues the orders to provide the forecasted trunks. When
- inconsistencies occur, they examine the variation, develop modified forecasts,
- and issue orders based on the new forecast. They review weekly traffic data to
- identify trunk groups that need additions and issue the necessary trunk
- orders. The systems they use are TSS, TRFS, and CSAR.
-
- NSEC-Network Switching Engineering Center. They plan and design the
- network along with the CAC. NSEC develops a forecast of loads for traffic
- sensitive switching equipment, sets office capacities, and determines relief
- size and timing.
-
-
- For long range planning, the following offices are utilized.
-
- TNPC-Traffic Network Planning Center. The TNPC determines the most
- economic growth and replacement strategies. They handle future network
- considerations over a 20 year period for tandem systems, operator services
- networks, interconnecting trunks, and switching terminations to accommodate
- the trunks.
-
- WCPC-Wire Center Planning Center. This office does the same as the TNPC,
- but their jurisdiction includes local switches, the subscriber network, and
- interoffice facilities. They have the numbers, types, and locations of
- switches and homing arrangements. They also keep track of alternate routes,
- tandem centers, etc. Both the TNPC and WCPC provide the CAC and NSEC with
- office and network evolution plans for 20 years.
-
-
- District based maintenance and administration operations are handled by
- the NAC, RCMAC, and the SCC. These can cover 240 square miles of serving area.
-
-
- Network Operations Centers
- --------------------------
-
- The highest level of network operations is the Network Operations Center,
- located in the AT&T Long Lines HQ in Bedminster, NJ. The main computers used
- by the NOC are in Netcong, about 25 miles away, along with some backups. The
- NOC are responsible for interregional coordination between the 12 RNOCs, 27
- NMCs, and 2 RNMCs in Canada; for monitoring the top portion of toll switches
- (all class 1 Regional Centers, 2 Canadian, about 70 class 2 Sectional Centers,
- 200 Primary centers, some class 4 Toll centers); for monitoring of the
- international gateways, and the CCIS network for these switching systems. The
- STP signalling links connect STPs to each other, to switches, and to a
- centralized database called an NCP (Network Control Point) of which access is
- given to switches directly via CCIS.
-
- The Data Transfer Point, which is a data switch that furnishes the NOC with a
- flow of monitoring information for all key toll switches, also gives them
- information about CCIS STPs and the IOCCs that they monitor.
-
- The operating system supporting the NOC is the NOCS (the S being System),
- which is configured with the DTP, a wall display processor, graphics
- processors, receive only printers, and CRT terminals for the technicians. The
- NOC also uses EADAS/NM through the DTP. Both the NOCS and the DTP run Unix
- operating systems.
-
-
- The second highest level of these operations centers are the RNOCs, or
- Regional Network Operations Centers. The 12 RNOCs monitor the CCIS network and
- coordinate the 2-3 NMC's activities for its region. The RNOCs use the EADAS/NM
- system and something called NORGEN, Network Operations Report Generator, that
- prints out reports from EADAS's traffic data.
-
- The first or lowest level of these centers is the Network Management
- Centers. There were 27 EADAS/NM supported NMCs across the United States as of
- 1983. The NMC was described above, as well as the systems it used.
-
-
- ==============================================================================
-
- Some of this information was taken from Bell System publications and from
- trashed materials, and may not be the same for every area. All material is
- correct to the best of the author's knowledge. Thanks to The Marauder for
- supplying some information. This file was written for educational purposes
- only.
-
- -End Of File-
-
-
- Written March, 1987
- ===============================================================================
-
-