Case Studies - Nakina Systems (Adapter Development)

The Client

Nakina Systems delivers network management solutions to telecom and data network service providers worldwide. Their innovative software tools simplify the management of complex networks, reducing operating costs and improving network profitability.

Nakina Adapters

Project Description:

Network management is a significant and costly problem for telecom or other service providers. Nakina provides network operators with a generic framework to control the many elements on which their networks rely, including elements coming from multiple vendors (eg. Lucent, Alcatel, Nortel). Through this Multi-Vendor Element Management System (MVEMS), network service providers can use a single interface to monitor the health of the overall system and manage their equipment, for example, to back-up and restore network elements without physically visiting them, an enormous cost in itself. In order for the Nakina network operating system to function, it must include adapters customized for the specific network elements, essentially translating communications and commands between the elements and the operating system, and trapping any element faults.

The bitHeads Solution:

bitHeads develops the customized adapters Nakina’s MVEMS relies on. This requires quick understanding of the proprietary technologies operating in the varied network elements at use in Nakina clients’ networks. This work has involved Java, XML, TL1, SNMP, and FTP, as well as the technologies and languages for specific network elements. Standard features bitHeads has implemented in the Nakina adapters include:

fingerprinting

neighbour discovery

inventory (shelves, slots, cards, ports)

commissioning

fault management

topology

performance management

provisioning parameter templates

back-up and restore

network audit/ software delivery

Results:

bitHeads has developed adapters for over 30 network elements and continues to expand that set to deal with new and updated equipment. This capability has allowed Nakina to continue the quick growth of their client base.