StrataSphere is designed to address the significant demands in managing and operating next-generation ATM networks. StrataSphere's robust, scalable architecture meets today's business requirements for the control, operation, and end-to-end service management of product-oriented wide-area ATM networks.

StrataSphere is designed to address the following major issues surrounding network management, which must be addressed for ATM deployment:

• Scalability

StrataSphere's distributed architecture is optimized for scalability. StrataSphere network management is designed to scale from a few-node user network to a multithousand-node carrier service network.

• Management architecture and standards

StrataSphere distributes the logical management intelligence throughout the network through a set of building blocks, or modules. By distributing network management functionality, service management and process automation can be tightly integrated--simplifying management of even the most complex WANs and providing a comprehensive end-to-end management solution.

StrataSphere revolves around a Telecom Network Management (TNM)-compatible structured architecture optimized for scalable ATM system management. First, a significant amount of intelligence is distributed to the elements themselves, allowing fast, distributed rerouting and real-time quality-of-service management. Elements collect and archive granular historical statistics (not simple counters) and provide standard, open interfaces to information. Interface protocols include and extend beyond SNMP, which is real-time intensive and has excessively high overhead, to TFTP, which is optimized for bulk data transfer, and can upload one million usage statistics per hour per management station. StrataSphere also supports Telnet for direct nodal access.

Element and network management functions are provided by the StrataView Plus system, which can manage all network elements seamlessly. StrataView Plus provides open interfaces for other StrataSphere tools and for higher-level service management systems.

• StrataSphere tools