FCAPS

FCAPS is the ISO model for network management. It forms the cornerstone of current day network management.

It is an acronym for Faults, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, Security, the categories into which the model breaks the various network management tasks. Faults actually refers to Fault Management. And in certain setups Accounting is replaced with Administration.

Overview

Fault Management

Fault according to the Definition is an event which has a negative significance. The goal of fault management is to recognize, isolate, correct and log faults that occur in the network. Furthermore, it uses trend analyses to predict errors so that the network is always available. This can be established by monitoring different things for abnormal behavior.

When a fault or event occurs, a network component will often send a notification to the network operator using a proprietary or open protocol such as SNMP. This notification is supposed to trigger automatic, or manual activities. E.g. the gathering of more data to identify the nature and severity of the problem or to bring backup equipment on-line.

Fault logs are one input used to compile statistics to determine the provided service level of individual network elements, as well as sub-networks or the whole network. They are also used to determine apparently fragile network components which require further attention.

The leading Fault Management systems are IBM Micromuse Netcool, Clarity etc.. Fault Isolation tools like Delphi are also available which are basically used to isolate the fault in any telcom network.

Configuration Management

The goals of configuration management include:

to gather and store configurations from network devices ( this can be done locally or remotely).
to simplify the configuration of the device
to track changes which are made to the configuration
to configure ('provision') circuits or paths through non-switched networks

As networks increase in size, an important task is automated configuration. Some examples of this task are DHCP and DNS addresses.

Accounting (Administration)

Accounting is often referred to as billing management. The goal is to gather usage statistics for users.

Using the statistics the users can be billed and usage quota can be enforced.

Examples:

Disk usage
Link utilization
CPU time

RADIUS, TACACS and DIAMETER are examples of protocols commonly used for accounting.

For non-billed networks, 'Administration' replaces 'Accounting'. The goals of Administration is to administer the set of authorized users, by establishing users, passwords and permissions; and to administer the operations of the equipment such as by performing software backup and synchronization.

Performance Management

Performance management enables the manager to prepare the network for the future, as well as to determine the efficiency of the current network, e.g. in relation to the investments done to set it up. The network performance addresses the throughput, percentage utilization, error rates and response times areas.

By collecting and analysing performance data, the network health can be monitored. Trends can indicate capacity or reliability issues before they become service affecting.

Performance thresholds can be set in order to trigger an alarm. The alarm would be handled by the normal fault management process (see above). Performance

Security Management

Security Management is the process of controlling access to assets in the network. Data security can be achieved mainly with authentication and encryption.

Other models

Other models for network management are available. One example is the ITIL model.

External links

http://www.iso.ch

References

Burke Richard, 2004, "Network Management. Concepts and Practice: A Hands-on Approach", Pearson Education, Inc.

Network management