Containing Complexity of the Managed Domain

Management integration is a key factor in simplifying the management task for network provider organizations. However, management can be simplified in other ways. These involve containing and avoiding management complexity in the first place instead of dealing with it once it occurs. To keep management complexity low, it helps to take a look at the factors that contribute to management complexity, discussed earlier in this chapter.

One major factor is heterogeneity complexity—dealing with the complexity caused by heterogeneity in the network. Incidentally, this factor is, to a certain extent, in the control of the network provider himself. One way to reduce heterogeneity complexity lies in minimizing the number of device types and equipment vendors deployed in the network. Each additional vendor and equipment type means new interfaces, new operational procedures and deployment rules, and possibly additional element management systems.