OAM (Operation, Administration and Maintenance) is a set of functions designed to monitor network operation, detect network faults and measure network performance. As Ethernet evolves from enterprise-level LANs to carrier-class networks and services, it requires automated end-to-end management and monitoring by service providers. As a result, Ethernet is the most recent communications protocol to adopt OAM capabilities, such as connectivity verification, fault detection, performance monitoring, and alarm indication. Ethernet OAM functionality allows network operators to measure quality of service (QoS) attributes, including Availability, Frame Delay, Frame Delay Variation (“Jitter”), and Frame Loss.
Effective end-to-end service control also enables carriers to avoid expensive truck rolls to locate and contain faults, reducing maintenance costs. Intrinsic OAM functionality is therefore essential in any carrier class technology and is a ‘must have’ capability in intelligent Ethernet network termination units (E-NTUs).
RAD’s EtherAccess® Ethernet network termination units and demarcation devices feature advanced Ethernet OAM functionalities, including connectivity check, link trace, MAC swap loopback, dying gasp, and other remote failure indication signals, full path redundancy and fault propagation. These sophisticated NTUs comply with ITU-T Y.1731, IEEE 802.3-2005 (formerly 802.3ah) and IEEE 802.1ag standards, for Ethernet Link OAM and Ethernet Service OAM. By deploying EtherAccess Ethernet demarcation devices, carriers can monitor traffic and QoS, and identify problems before they escalate so that users are not impacted by network defects. Furthermore, they allow operators to enforce service level agreements (SLAs) for customized, rate- and performance-guaranteed service packages.
