scope:

This Recommendation describes a core information model (IM) of transport resources. An IM describes the things in a domain in terms of objects, their properties (represented as attributes) and their relationships. This IM is intended to be applicable to the management and control of the transport network regardless of whether the transport networks utilize traditional operation support system (OSS) management [ITU-T G.7710], an automatically switched optical network (ASON) control plane [ITU-T G.7703] or a software-defined networking (SDN) controller to configure transport connectivity. The model is also applicable regardless of the technology of the underlying transport network. Furthermore, the applicability of the IM is independent of the ultimate protocols that will be used in the management and control interfaces.

The core IM defined in this Recommendation can be used as a basis for the extension of transport/control-technology-specific IMs. Such extension will be specified in technology-specific Recommendations, such as those shown in Figure 1-1: [ITU-T G.875] for optical transport network (OTN) management; [ITU-T G.876 ] for optical media network management, [ITU-T G.8052] for Carrier Ethernet management; [ITU-T G.8152] for multiprotocol label switching-transport profile (MPLS-TP) management; and [ITU-T G.7719] for MC components management.

A uniform management/control-protocol-neutral core IM for traditional management, ASON control, and SDN control will ensure consistent operation, administration, maintenance and provisioning (OAM&P) of the transport network. This will benefit network operators and system/equipment vendors by enabling interoperability between SDN-controlled and traditionally managed network domains and future migration from traditional management to SDN control.

Furthermore, it is essential that the IM be applicable to complex network elements (NEs) that may be deployed in current networks, which requires support of more than a simple nodal view. Examples of such NEs follow.

- Multi-layer NEs with subnetworks at each layer with transitional links between the subnetworks.

- NEs that have their matrix partitioned [e.g., to model multiple MSPRING terminations or to model connectivity restrictions] with "internal" links between the subnetworks.

- Distributed NEs [e.g., a passive optical network (PON)] with a mediation function to allow management visibility of each of the "encapsulated" NEs.

The complexity of these NEs makes it difficult to distinguish between the NE/nodal view and what is traditionally called the network view. The core IM thus encompasses both nodal and network views of transport resources.