Abstract
Signaling System No7 (SS7) is an internationally standardized general purpose Common Channel Signaling (CCS) system. It is a key component of modern telecommunications networks. Its malfunctioning can cause major problems, as demonstrated in recent history by the spectacular breakdowns induced in public networks by its nonperformance. This paper gives an overview of SS7 management, as represented in the standards. It reviews successively the built-in management mechanisms, the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) system management-based functions, and the emerging Telecommunications Network Management (TMN)-based approach. It shows that the TMN approach, although still in its cradle, is the most promising.
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