FCAPS
From Free net encyclopedia
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. with Faults actually Fault Management is ment. And in certain setups Accounting is replaced with Administration.
Contents |
Overview
Fault Management
The goal of fault management is to recognize, isolate, correct and log faults that occur in the network.
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 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.
Configuration Management
The goals of configuration management include:
- to gather and store configurations from network devices
- 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
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.
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
The first task of security management is the identification of risks. Next these risks need to be secured and managed.
Other models
Other models for network management are available. One example is the ITIL model.
