This is not the typical technology publication. This reference guide is designed for use by network managers who need to quickly refer to information, who need to have their memories jogged, who wish they could speak to another network manager but cannot, who are leading people but cannot let them know they are reaching the stages of panic, and who need a few tips. This is a thought stimulator. How many times have you been stumped over a network trouble and could not figure out what to do next? How many times have you wished you could bounce ideas off of someone? This reference guide will enable the network manager to address problems in a simple but focused manner.

The guide is provided in Word for Windows format, allowing use and ease of access on a PDA. 

Introduction

Chapter 1: Overview of a Network and a Network Management System

Network Components

Switches or Routers

Database

Transmission Facilities

Subscriber Billing Systems

Customer Care and Provisioning

Network Management Systems

Introduction to Operational Support Systems and Services

Information Mediation

Call Detail Records and Subscriber Billing/Network Transaction Detail Records

Network Management

Understanding the Network Management System's Basic Components

Network Element Management

Network Systems Management

Service Management

Customer Care

Fraud Management

Chapter 2: Network Management Philosophy and Processes

Knowing Your Network

Big Picture

The Details Behind the Big Picture

Knowing Non-Network Information

Management Processes

Training

Philosophy

Chapter 3: CRISIS TIME - General Questions

Crisis Questions 1:

Crisis Questions 2:

Solution To A Trouble Caused By The Carrier

Key Thing to Remember:

Key Thing To Remember For The Future:

What To Do:

What To Do When You Encounter Operational Problems With New Technology

Solution To A Trouble Caused By The Customer

What To Do:

Key Things To Remember:

Call Lists

Typical Call List:

Chapter 4: TDM Wireline Networks - Typical Troubles and Resolution Process

Customer Reported Troubles

Things To Do:

Things To Do:

Customer Reported Troubles - Static and Noise

Things To Do:

Things To Do If There is Noise or Static On The Line:

Customer Reported Troubles - Dead Line

Things To Do:

Customer Reported Troubles - Customer Premise Equipment

Customer Reported - Digital Subscribe Line (DSL) Troubles

DSL Down Only

Things To Do

Voice and DSL Down

Things To Do

Network Reported Troubles

Network Reported Troubles - Temperature

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles - Power Loss.

Network Reported Troubles- Network Connectivity..

Things To Do:

Network Reported - DSL Troubles

Network Reported Troubles - Routing Table Errors

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles - Customer Profile Errors

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles - Self-Inflicted Circuit Provisioning Errors

Quality of Service Troubles To Look For: The Most Common Reported

Attenuation

Phase Distortion

Noise

Crosstalk

Chapter 5: Wireless Network - Troubles and Resolutions Process

What Affects Quality of Service?

Customer Reported Troubles

Things To Do:

Things To Do:

Customer Reported Troubles - Static and Noise

Things To Do:

Things To Do If There is Noise or Static During The Conversation

Wired Network versus Wireless Network Interface

Wired Network Reported Troubles

Wired Network Reported Troubles - Temperature

Things To Do:

Wired Network Reported Troubles - Power Loss

Wired Network Reported Troubles- Network Connectivity

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles - Routing Table Errors

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles - Customer Profile Errors

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles - Self-Inflicted Circuit Provisioning Errors and Other Self Inflicted Errors

Chapter 6: Internet Protocol Based Network Troubles

Customer Reported Troubles

Things To Do:

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles

Network Reported Troubles - Temperature

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles- Network Connectivity

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles - Routing Table Errors

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles - Customer Profile Errors

Things To Do:

Network Reported Troubles - Self-Inflicted Circuit Provisioning Errors

Factors Affecting IP Network Quality of Service In An Interconnected Environment

Quality of Service Troubles To Look For: The Most Common Reported

Packet Delay/Latency

Fixed Delays

Things To Do:

Variable Delays

Things To Do:

Packet Jitter

Things To Do:

VoIP Routing

Things To Do:

VoIP - Routing Protocols

Chapter 7: SS7 Routing Troubles

Architecture

Things To Remember

Typical Troubles

Things To Do

Message Discrimination

Message Distribution

Routing

Things To Do

Chapter 8: Bandwidth Reference

Digital Transmission Rates

Optical Transmission Rates

Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) Rates Table

X Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL)

High data rate Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL)

Very high data rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL)

ISDN Digital Subscriber Line (IDSL)

Single Digital Subscriber Line (S-DSL)

Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL)

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)

Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line (RADSL)

Chapter 9: Internet Protocol Routing References and Troubles

Datagram Processing

Things To Do - Router Examine

Things To Do - Host Examine

Routing Protocols

RIP (Routing Information Protocol)

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)

The Network Manager and BGP Messages

Chapter 10: Transmission Notes. Non-Digital Loop Noise Factors

Transmission Loss - Analog

Transmission Level Point

Reference Level

Inserted Connection Loss

Expected Measured Loss

Actual Measured Loss.

Transmission Loss - Digital

Digital Milliwatt

Digital Reference Signal

Digital Pads

Encoders

Decoders

Equivalent Power Level

Acronyms, Definitions & Terminology