Design and Implementation of a GUI for the Layerd Network Topology and Connections in an ATM Network

This paper describes the design and implementation of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the layered network topology and the connections in an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network managed by the ATM Network Management System (NMS). There are physical and logical networks in an ATM network. In addition, the ATM connections, which are ATM Permanent Virtual Connections (PVCs), have two kinds of Virtual Path (VP) and Virtual Channel (VC) connections. Their routing information in an ATM network is very complicated because of the concept of the layered network and the virtual connections. In addition, with the complicated routing information of the ATM PVCs, it is hard for the operator to perform the performance and fault management functions for the ATM PVCs. Therefore, we analyzed the layered network in an ATM network, the routing information and the management functions for the ATM PVC. We also obtained the user requirements for the GUI through interviews of the operators of the ATM network. To design a user-friendly GUI for the routing information, we defined the sub-network information unit to display the routing information. We also integrated the management functions for the ATM PVCs into the GUI with the unit by analyzing the requirements for performing the management functions. We created a user’s task flow to perform them with the unit and implement the GUI for the ATM PVC routing information. Also, according to the user requirements, we implemented the GUI with JAVA in order to be independent from the Operating Systems (OSs) such as UNIX , Windows and others. By using this GUI, network operators can easily recognize the layered network and the routing information and effectively perform the performance and fault management functions for the ATM PVC. LANOMS 2005 4th Latin American Network Operations and Management Symposium 225