ADVA Optical Networking announced today the introduction of a carrier Ethernet feature set for its FSP Network Manager (FSP NM). Service providers are enabled by this software platform specifically designed for the Ethernet demarcation space to remotely monitor and manage the performance of thousands of network elements, all from a central location. With support for Connectivity Fault Management (CFM – 802.1ag), it introduces powerful technology that enables the automation of network operations, and provides management for the IEEE- (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) defined Provider Bridge (PB – 802.1ad) services.

The ADVA FSP NM, beyond most network management products, provides for carrier-class Ethernet performance management. The platform, leveraging ADVA Optical Networking’s leading position in the Ethernet demarcation arena, offers traditional carrier-class management functionality combined with Service Level Agreement (SLA) monitoring and test capabilities. Along with the ADVA Etherjack® technology, these features enable the reporting of SLAs based on the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) Y.1731 standard for carrier Ethernet services, which telecommunications carriers use to verify their customers receive only the most reliable network services.

From the several thousand Ethernet termination points that comprise today’s complex deployments, especially those found in wireless backhaul applications, the ADVA FSP NM enables collection and synthesization of statistics. Providing for remote management of in-service software upgrades and remote database back up of a large number of devices, service providers save resources because large numbers of network elements can be upgraded as a group rather than one by one.

Communications carriers are focused on delivering highest quality of service while driving service outages to a minimum with Ethernet networks more heavily deployed than ever before. Service providers, with the implementation of the FSP NM across the network, can proactively monitor and repair a network outage before the customer realizes the service went out.