Packet network performance management

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Before proceeding with the detailed description of this invention, it is noted that much can be gained from reading and familiarizing oneself with the following texts: [1] ATM Forum, "Traffic Management Specification, Version 4.
0," Document number af-tm-00556.
000, March 1996.
[2] ATM Forum, "Private Network-Network Interface Specification, Version 1.
0," Document Number af-pnni-0055.
000 April 1996.
[3] ATM Forum, "M4 Network Element View Interface Specification and Logical MIB, Version 2.
0," Document number af-nm-0020.
001 (in publication).
[4] Internet Engineering Task Force, "Management Information Base for Network Management of TCP/IP-based Internets: MIB II," Document number RFC-1213, March 1991.
[5] Internet Engineering Task Force, "IP Forwarding Table MIB," Document number RFC-1354, July 1992.
FIG.
1 depicts an ATM PMOS 100 that comprises a processor 110 coupled to memory 120.
Illustratively, ATM network elements (NEs) 210, 220, 230 are coupled to PMOS 100 and interface with PMOS 100 in accordance with an agreed-upon interface protocol, such as the M4 ATM interface standard, or an enhanced version thereof.
Also coupled to PMOS 100 is an Element Management System (EMS) 240 which, in turn, is coupled to a number of NEs.
EMS 240 is a system of the prior art variety that receives information from a number of NEs and reports that information; in this case to PMOS 100.
Lastly, FIG.
1 includes a network management console 300 that is coupled to PMOS 100.
An operator responsible for the network interacts with PMOS 100 through console 300.
FIG.
2 illustrates some of the functional components of PMOS 100.
The primary mission of performance data collector 130 is to collect the raw data from the NEs and distribute it to the other units.
Although this can be done with microprocessor 110, it can also be done with a separate adjunct, such as Concord Network's Health.
TM.
system.
Some of these commercial collectors also performs some analysis of the data and provide a report that reflects this analysis