Network Modeling


It’s 2:00 AM. There's a major network outage. The regional VP is on the phone.
Are you sure you know where all these go, what’s on them,
and which customers will be affected?

Network Modeling

If equipment modeling is all about the accurate representation of physical items, then Network/Service modeling is about the accurate representation of both physical and virtual connections. It’s no stretch to say that all of the elements in the database (sites, equipment, ports, cables, etc.) exist solely to allow the customers to accurately model their networks and services. After all, simply keeping a list of equipment would be fairly straightforward, and likewise for cables. You could do it in a spreadsheet, if you had the patience (and a big enough spreadsheet). But tracking, managing and engineering your physical network and the services that ride it - according to existing telecom standards, equipment capabilities, network topology limitations and your own internal business rules - is another thing entirely.

Despite all the talk about virtual networks, virtual switching and virtual environments, everything depends on some very non-virtual items: equipment, cables, fibers. The representation of the physical elements in your network is the basis upon which you build. Physical connectivity, capacity management, network planning and forecasting all depend on accurate and up-to-date network information. And all of that depends on the right model.

The physical network can be built in a nearly infinite variety of ways, some good, some not so good. A good model has to balance all of the pertinent factors, things like bandwidth models, QOS agreements, oversubscription levels, network topology, protection paths, and reporting requirements. Beyond this, it must also address the needs and concerns of practically every operational group in the company.

If the network modeling seems complex, the service modeling can be even more so. Service models are used to represent the end goal of the network and the company. It’s been said “People don’t buy a ¼” drill bit because they want a ¼” drill bit. They buy it because they want a ¼” hole.” Similarly, you only build a network to provide services. If you want to know:

  • how many services are we providing?
  • What parts of the network are we using to deliver those services?
  • Which customers are involved, and where are they located?

good services models are what you need, and Sincera is who you need.