MetaSolv Solution
Auto-Provisioning for Template-Based Services
White Paper
March 2007
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2007 Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved. MetaSolv is a trademark registered in the United
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Table of Contents
About this guide..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Audience........................................................................................................................................................... 3
Additional information and help........................................................................................................................ 3
Global Customer Care...................................................................................................................................... 4
Chapter 1: Overview.............................................................................................................................................. 5
Chapter 2: Infrastructure items.............................................................................................................................. 7
Overview of geographic areas and structured formats ............................................................................... 7
Creating geographic area types.................................................................................................................. 8
Defining the structure format..................................................................................................................... 13
Creating structure format components...................................................................................................... 16
Adding geographic areas to MSS core ..................................................................................................... 24
Adding geographic areas to MSS core ..................................................................................................... 24
Chapter 3: Work Management ............................................................................................................................ 27
System tasks overview.............................................................................................................................. 27
Enhanced system tasks ............................................................................................................................ 28
New system tasks ..................................................................................................................................... 29
Defining a system task .............................................................................................................................. 30
Creating a provisioning plan with the system tasks .................................................................................. 31
Chapter 4: Network templates and design .......................................................................................................... 33
Overview of network templates and network design ................................................................................ 33
Building a network template ...................................................................................................................... 33
Building a network system ........................................................................................................................ 36
Service applications overview................................................................................................................... 39
Equipment assignment template (EAT) overview..................................................................................... 39
Creating service applications and EATs ................................................................................................... 39
Examples of service applications and EATs............................................................................................. 40
Chapter 5: Network areas.................................................................................................................................... 45
Overview of network areas........................................................................................................................ 45
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Creating a network area............................................................................................................................ 45
Chapter 6:Product specifications and product catalog........................................................................................ 51
Overview of product specifications ........................................................................................................... 51
Overview of the product catalog ............................................................................................................... 51
Creating product specifications................................................................................................................. 52
Creating the product catalog..................................................................................................................... 58
Creating IP address rules.......................................................................................................................... 59
Chapter 7:End-to-end DSL service scenario....................................................................................................... 63
Overview of end-to-end DSL service scenario.......................................................................................... 63
Entering a PSR ......................................................................................................................................... 64
Assigning a provisioning plan ................................................................................................................... 71
Reviewing the results of the system tasks ................................................................................................ 72
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About this guide
This guide contains the procedures and information you need to configure the software to facilitate
auto-provisioning of template-based services.
Audience This guide is for individuals responsible for the configuration and maintenance of Engineering and
PSR Ordering in MetaSolv Solution.
Additional information and help To get information or help for MetaSolv Solution, see the MetaSolv Web site at www.metasolv.com.
From the home page of the Web site, log on to the customer portal page using your customer ID and
password. On the customer portal page, the following links provide access to additional documents
and Global Customer Care (GCC):
Product Downloads and Documentation
Click this link to view and download documentation for MetaSolv products you have purchased.
The Product Downloads and Documentation page contains documentation for all releases, and
also has a list of frequently asked questions.
Customer Support
Click this link to display the Global Customer Care page. This page contains support information
for individual MetaSolv products and GCC information on available services.
O V E R V I E W
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Global Customer Care MetaSolv Global Customer Care helps report, track, and resolve issues relating to the MetaSolv
product line.
E-mail address:[email protected]
Telephone (U.S. and Canada):888-884-7686
Telephone (International):972-403-8400
FTP site:ftp.metasolv.com
Internet access:www.metasolv.com
The preferred method of reporting issues is through the customer portal of the MetaSolv Web site.
When you access the portal, you are prompted for a user logon ID and password. Issues submitted
through the portal are entered directly into MetaSolvs problem management system. When you
submit an issue, you receive an e-mail message that acknowledges the issue and contains the assigned
ticket number. If you do not receive an e-mail confirmation within 15 minutes, contact Global
Customer Care by phone to ensure that your issue was successfully logged.
For Severity 1 Emergency issues that affect production, call Global Customer Care immediately upon
submitting an issue through the customer portal. This step helps avoid delays that can arise with the
electronic transmission of an issue. After normal business hours, call only if after-hours support is
covered by the terms of your Support Contract.
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Overview
This document describes setup information that is necessary to facilitate the auto-provisioning process
for template-based services. The document describes how the enhanced functionality can be used
through configuration of the MetaSolv Solution application. The example provided focuses on a
specific DSL service scenario. The chapters describe the different areas of the application that require
set up prior to using this functionality to support a DSL service scenario. It is important to note that
other template-based scenarios are applicable; however, this guide only discusses the DSL service
scenario.
It is important to note that this same functionality can also be supported through customization using
custom extensions. Custom extensions refer to customized code written by you that can be executed
at various defined points within MetaSolv Solution called execution points. For detailed information
on how custom extensions work, refer to the Custom Extensions Developers Reference. For detailed
information on how you could support this DSL service scenario using custom extensions, refer
specifically to Appendix A: Supported Execution Points located in the Custom Extension
Developers Reference. In particular, focus on the execution points Select Component or Element and
Select Port Address.
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The following is a list of the individual chapter descriptions.
Chapter 1: Overview
Chapter 2: Infrastructure This chapter provides an overview of configuring a new structured format and adding the
appropriate geographic areas to facilitate the automation process.
Chapter 3: Work Management This chapter describes existing system tasks that have been enhanced, as well as new system
tasks, that are used to automate the provisioning process. It also covers the proper set up of a
provisioning plan to ensure all of the tasks are placed in the correct order.
Chapter 4: Network templates and design This chapter describes the necessary steps to configure network templates to define the rules
for network system design.
Chapter 5: Network areas This chapter describes the process for setting up a network area and associating the applicable
network system and network elements/components as well as IP addresses and geographic
areas.
Chapter 6: Product specifications and product catalog This chapter covers the basics of setting up the product specifications and product catalog to
build a product used to order the auto-provisioned service. The process for setting up an IP
address rule to support auto-assigning an IP address to a PSR order is also covered.
Chapter 7: End-to-end process This chapter provides a review of the end-the-end process and show how all of the pieces of
the process fit together to complete the auto-provisioning process for the template-based DSL
service.
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Infrastructure items
Overview of geographic areas and structured formats
The MetaSolv Solution (MSS) Utilities application provides the ability to define geographic areas and
structure formats which are used in the auto-provisioning of template-based services included in the
MSS 6.0.11 service pack. geographic areas are defined as either geographic or geographic-political
areas of an address. This data is defined in the MSS Utilities application, while the actual geographic
areas using actual data is defined in the MSS core application.
Structure formats provide a way to enter, define, and store structure and formatting information for
addresses. Since address structures can vary from country to country, the structure formats
functionality uses geographical areas, geographical area types, MetaSolv Solution processes, and
industry versions to provide the flexibility needed in setting up the appropriate structures. This data is
defined in the MSS Utilities application, and then used in the MSS core application.
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Creating geographic area types
The following screenshots show the standard geographic area types (GATs) of country, state, city, and
a new fourth level called area. This new geographical area type further defines a specific region inside
a city and can be used to associate to a network area (discussed in Chapter 5) to facilitate the auto-
provisioning for the template-based service. In the following example, the country is United States,
the state is Texas, and the city is Dallas. The areas within Dallas are defined later.
From the MSS Utilities application, select Options>Geographic Area Types from the menu bar. The
Geographical Area Type window opens, as shown below. The GAT country associated is the United
States; this information is located on the GAT Country tab.
On the GAT Relationships tab, the Parent Country United States is associated to the Child GAT
STATE (see bottom portion of window). This builds the relationship so that a state can be defined for
a country.
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The Geographical Area Type window is shown below for STATE. The GAT country associated is the
United States; this information is located on the GAT Country tab.
On the GAT Relationships tab, the Parent Country United States and Parent GAT STATE is
associated to the Child GAT CITY (see bottom portion of window). This builds the relationship so
that a city can be defined for a state.
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The Geographical Area Type window is shown below for CITY. The GAT country associated is the
United States; this information is located on the GAT Country tab.
On the GAT Relationships tab, the Parent Country United States and Parent GAT CITY is associated
to the Child GAT AREA. Area is the new level of address definition to further define a region within
a City. This builds the relationship so that an area can be defined for a city.
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The Geographical Area Type window is shown below for AREA. The GAT Country associated is the
United States.
In the GAT Relationships, nothing further is defined since this is the lowest level defined. The
application allows for further definition, but for the auto-provisioning of the DSL service scenario
described in this document, further definition is not necessary.
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On the Geographic Area Type window for COUNTRY, you can view the geographical area
hierarchy. As shown below, the hierarchy defined for this scenario is
COUNTRY>STATE>CITY>AREA.
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Defining the structure format
From the MSS Utilities application, select Options>Structured Formats>Structured Formats from
the menu bar. This is where structure formats are defined and maintained. The following is a sample
of the structure format data that was defined to complete the auto-provisioning of the DSL service
scenario described in this document. When defining a new structure format, it is recommended that
you perform a New From on an existing structure format, and then modify the necessary information.
A sample structured format, CL DSL STRUC FORMAT, was created to show the setup that is
required.
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The processes below are associated to the structure format for the auto-provisioning of the DSL
service scenario described in this document.
The Country United States is associated to the structure format.
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The components below are associated to this structure format. Before components can be associated
to the structure format, they must first be created. Refer to the next section, Creating structure format
components, for detailed information on this process.
When the new CL DSL structure format is used, the Data Entry Display tab for a customer address in
MSS looks like the one below. The fields State, City Name and Area are each dependent on its
defined parent.
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Creating structure format components
From the MSS Utilities application, select Options>Structured Formats>SF Components from the
menu bar. This is where structure format components that are used to create a structure format are
defined and maintained. The address structure format used in this scenario is the CL DSL
STRUCTURED FORMAT TEST.
The structure format data was previously created and is shown here to illustrate how it could be set
up. This is not a best practice for how the structure format should be created (referring to the
components associated) but was used to show how the configuration of the data could be set up for
the auto-provisioning DSL service scenario described in this document.
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The following screenshots show the structured format components of Country, State, City, and Area.
Below is the Structured Format Component window General tab for Country.
Below is the Structured Format Component window Relationships for Country.
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Below is the Structured Format Component window Geographical tab for Country.
Below is the Structured Format Component window General tab for State.
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Below is the Structured Format Component window Relationships tab for State.
Below is the Structured Format Component window Geographical Areas tab for State.
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Below is the Structured Format Component window General tab for City.
Below is the Structured Format Component window Relationships tab for City.
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Below is the Structured Format Component window Geographical Areas tab for City.
The new fourth level of geographical area type was an enhancement in the MSS 6.0.11 service pack
that allows for customers to further define a geographic location. The DSL service scenario described
in this document uses this additional level in the address structure, and defines it as Area.
With this enhancement, seven columns on the NA_GA_INSTANCE table are available for use. Based
upon the hierarchy of the Geography Area Types, when the data is saved to the database, the columns
on the na_ga_instance table are populated.
The first GAT is stored in the ga_instance_id_country column.
The second GAT is stored in the ga_instance_id_state column.
The third GAT is stored in the ga_instance_id_city column.
The fourth GAT is stored in the ga_instance_id_addr_gat_comp1 column.
The fifth GAT is stored in the ga_instance_id_addr_gat_comp2 column.
The sixth GAT is stored in the ga_instance_id_addr_gat_comp3 column.
The seventh GAT is stored in the ga_instance_id_addr_gat_comp4 column.
Additionally, the Geographical Areas tab on the Network Area Maintenance window will be modified
to use the additional four columns that are added to the na_ga_instance table. With these
modifications, the Country that the network area is in will drive the User Interface (UI) and the fields
on the Geographical Areas tab. The Geographical Areas tab would show only four fields when a
network area is selected or created for a Country.
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In order for the new enhancement to support template-based auto-provisioning, users would have to
incorporate the new GATs into an address structure format. They would then use this address
structure format when creating their end user locations on a product service request (PSR).
Below is the Structured Format Component window General tab for Area.
Below is the Structured Format Component window Relationships tab for Area.
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Below is the Structured Format Component window Geographical Areas tab for Area.
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Adding geographic areas to MSS core
After the geographical area types have been defined in the MSS Utilities application, you can then
enter the actual geographic areas in the MSS core application.
1. Select Application Setup on the navigation bar.
2. Click the Location and Geography Setup link.
3. Click the Geographic Areas link.
4. Expand the GEO AREAS folder.
The screenshot below shows the available countries.
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Continue to expand the folders.
5. Expand the COUNTRY United States folder.
6. Expand the STATE Texas folder.
7. Expand the CITY Dallas folder.
The screen shot below shows the state, city and areas associated under the country, United States.
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Work Management
System tasks overview
A system task is a task designated to automatically complete without user intervention. The tasks in
the system queue are polled until predecessor tasks and gateway events are completed and the system
tasks are ready to be completed. Then, the system tasks are worked and automatically completed.
You must designate a task as a system task to send it to the system queue for automatic completion.
You may transfer a task from the system queue to another work queue for manual processing before
the System Task Server completes the task. By transferring the task from the system queue, you do
not remove its system task property. The next time the task is generated, it is sent to the system queue
again unless you change the task type. If for some reason, the task cannot be completed by the system
work queue, it fails and is automatically moved to the exception work queue. After a task is in the
exception work queue, the problem can be fixed and the task moved back to the system work queue or
the task can be manually worked from the exception work queue.
This chapter addresses the new and enhanced system tasks used to complete the auto-provisioning for
template-based services and the DSL service scenario described in this document.
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Enhanced system tasks
Following is a list of the enhanced system tasks:
CKTID-circuit identification
This task is not new or enhanced in 6.0.11 but is included in this chapter because it can be
used in the auto-provisioning scenario. If this task is set as a system task and included in a
provisioning plan, the circuit identifications of the service items ordered on the PSR are
automatically generated and the task completes.
EQ INST-equipment install for customer premise equipment (CPE)
This existing task was enhanced in 6.0.11 to allow for it to be a system task. Prior to this
enhancement, the EQ INST task could be used in a provisioning plan to install CPE that was
ordered on a PSR under a service location. With the new enhancement, CPE ordered is now
automatically installed at the service/end user location if the task is included in a provisioning
plan. Another new enhancement has been added that also affects this task. CPE can now be
added as a child product beneath a network connection (item type) if the connection is a
physical connection and associated to a template type (connection spec). So, with this new
enhancement, a product catalog hierarchy of Product Bundle>Network Connection>CPE
can be created. The equipment installs at the end user location defined in the ordering dialogue
of the PSR.
IPASSIGN-assign an IP address to the PSR
This is not new or enhanced in 6.0.11 but is included in the chapter because it can be used in
the auto-provisioning for DSL service scenario described in this document. If this task is set as
a system task and included in a provisioning plan and the IP address rules have been set up
properly, when IP addresses are ordered in the PSR, an IP address is automatically assigned
and the task completes. For additional details regarding setting up IP address rules, refer to
Chapter 6.
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New system tasks
Following is a list of the new system tasks:
PCONDES-physical connection design
This system task is new to 6.0.11 and is used to automatically perform the physical connection
design for new connections on a PSR order. More details regarding the setup involved in order
for this task to work as a system task is included in the subsequent chapters of this document.
VONDES-virtual connection design
This system task is new to 6.0.11 and is used to automatically perform the virtual connection
design for new connections on a PSR order. More details regarding the setup involved in order
for this task to work as a system task is included in the subsequent chapters of this document.
AUTO_ISS-automatically record or DLR issue the connections
This system task is new to 6.0.11 and is used in conjunction with the PCONDES and
VCONDES tasks. Auto Issue automatically Records or DLR Issues the physical and virtual
connections completed in the PCONDES and VCONDES tasks.
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Defining a system task
Before a task can be set up as a system task, a system work queue and an exception work queue must
be established. These work queues should be defined in Work Management>Work Queues and
assigned an owner. Then, these work queues should be referenced in Preferences under
Work Management>Work Queue Management.
1. Select Application Setup on the navigation bar.
2. Click the Work Management Setup link.
3. Click the Tasks link.
4. Open one of the tasks with the system task capability.
5. Select the System Task checkbox and populate any other data necessary.
6. Click OK
Note about system tasks: A task that is to work as a system task can only be added to a
provisioning plan as a system task if the System Task checkbox is selected on the Task Type
window. Tasks set as system tasks do not have to be added to a provisioning plan as a system
task but can be set to perform as a smart task instead (double click functionality).
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Creating a provisioning plan with the system tasks
The following is an example of a provisioning plan using all of the system tasks to complete the auto-
provisioning for DSL service scenario described in this document. The Provisioning Plan window
General Information tab is shown below.
The tasks included in this plan, on the Task Assignment tab, are all shown below as system tasks and
are worked and completed by the system work queue.
The order of the tasks is very important in this DSL service scenario. The CKTID task should be first
to define the circuits for the ordered service items. The EQ INST task should be next to install the
CPE at the customer site prior to the PCONDES task being worked and assignments are made to the
CPE and the network DSLAM. The VCONDES task can then be worked to complete the virtual
connection design, after the physical connection design is complete. The AUTO_ISS task Records or
DLR Issues the connections. The IPASSIGN task automatically assigns an IP address to the PSR
order and the DD task puts all of the ordered services in an In Service status.
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Network templates and design
Overview of network templates and network design
Network templates are included as base data in each of the technology modules. The technology
modules represent different types of technologies within MetaSolv Solution and contain the rules for
how network systems can be built.
Some of the rules that are included are:
The type of network elements/components that can be used in a network system,
The type of connections between network elements/components in a network system; and
The properties of each network element/component and connection within a network system.
Building a network template
The following example shows the network templates built in the unclassified technology module.
Typically, a technology module that represents a customers backbone network would be used.
To access network templates:
1. Select Application Setup on the navigation bar.
2. Click the Inventory Management Setup link.
3. Click the Network Templates link.
4 4
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The following is an example of a Core Network Template that was created for the DSL service
scenario described in this document and contains two network components, the BRAS and a tier 1
aggregation switch. In our example, an assignable bandwidth link connection spec is associated to the
relationship between the two components. Neither of these network items are represented as a
network element or associated to a network element type.
The following is an example of an Access Network Template that was created for our scenario and
contains one network element, the DSLAM and one network component, the tier 2 GIGE LAN
switch. In this example, a DSL link connection spec is associated to the relationship between the
DSLAM network element and tier 2 GIGE LAN switch network component.
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The following is an example of a DSL Network Template that was created for our scenario and
contains the core and access network templates as well as the customer site network component. In
our example, a DSL link connection spec is associated to the relationship between the customer site
and the DSLAM and an internet connection spec is associated to the relationship between the
customer site and the BRAS.
When a DSL link is ordered on a PSR, the PCONDES task knows to make an assignment to the CPE
at the customer site and to the equipment associated to the DSLAM. When an internet connection is
ordered on a PSR, the VCONDES task knows to make the appropriate assignments from the customer
site to the DSLAM and then through the network terminating at the BRAS.
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Building a network system
Once network templates are created and the rules are defined, network systems can be created.
Networks can only be defined with the rules set forth in the network templates.
The following is an example of a Core Network System built using the core network template. As
you can see, there are five BRAS network components and five tier 1 GIGE aggregation switches
included. Only the BRAS and the aggregation switches are connected because that is what the
template rules defined.
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In the DSL service scenario described in this document, two separate Access Network Systems were
created using different locations for each of the DSLAMs. This process is explained in Chapter 5:
Network areas. In this network system, there are three DSLAMs connected to one tier 2 GIGE
switch. In the network template, we defined that a DSLAM could only be connected to a tier 2 GIGE
switch and that is exactly what is shown here.
In this network system, there are two DSLAMs connected to one tier 2 GIGE switch.
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In the overall DSL Network System, there are two embedded access network systems and the
embedded core network system. During the provisioning process, depending on information captured
about the end user location, the correct DSLAM is selected automatically and a path is found to the
correct terminating BRAS, located in the core network system.
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Service applications overview
Service applications are user-defined classifications for connections that allow connections to be
designed on a consistent basis. The purpose of service applications is to assist you in categorizing the
connections in your network. Service applications also classify and select paths and equipment
assignment templates used in auto-provisioning the connections. Each service application defines a
service offered and the connection spec for which the service is intended.
Service applications in the auto-provisioning of template-based services are used by the PCONDES
task to determine a specific equipment spec or equipment type for port assignments on the physical
connection. The connection type of the connection along with the product specification of the ordered
product is used to find the correct service application.
Equipment assignment template (EAT) overview
An equipment assignment template (EAT) is a list of all the equipment needed to auto-provision a
circuit for a particular type of service, such as internet dedicated access. The template contains
specifics regarding rate codes, equipment specifications, and service applications. You can define an
EAT to support multiple rate codes or service applications.
Each EAT must be given a unique, user-defined name. EATs allow you to designate generic
equipment types, such as a DACS card, or designate a specific brand or model of equipment through
the use of an equipment specification.
At auto-provisioning time, equipment specifications included in an EAT are used to find installed
equipment in a network location and make the necessary assignments. EATs are applied only at the
terminating points of the design.
In the auto-provisioning of template-based services, the service application is used to determine the
equipment assignment template (EAT). This is an optional process that allows the user to select
between two cards on one component/element, for example in the case where both an ADSL card and
an SDSL card exists. If no equipment assignment template is defined, the process finds the first
available port on any card matching the rate code of the connection being designed.
Creating service applications and EATs
Service applications and EATs are found on the Inventory Management Setup page, in the Connection
Design section.
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Examples of service applications and EATs
In the DSL service scenario described in this document, two separate service applications (DSL and
ADSL) have been defined and they are associated to different EATs. This is done to distinguish
between two different types of service offered from one DSLAM. The service applications are built
the same but each EAT is associated to a different service application and designates a different card
to be used for equipment port assignments. Below is the service application that is built to support
standard DSL service.
On the Service Application window Definition tab, a connection type and product specification are
associated. The connection type is the same as the connection spec that is defined in the network
template. The physical connection product specification is also associated to the same connection
spec. More information regarding product specifications can be found in Chapter 6.
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Below is the first Equipment Assignment Template (EAT) page for standard DSL service. The two
checkboxes on this window for port assignments enforce that, during the provisioning process, an
equipment port assignment is made at the CPE installed at the end user location and an equipment
port assignment is made to the DSLAM.
On the Details tab, a rate code and service application are associated.
On the Specifications, Types and Options tab, equipment specifications are associated. In this case,
the equipment specification is the card at the DSLAM that supports standard DSL service.
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Below is the Service Application window which shows the service application that is built to support
ADSL service.
On the Service Application window Definition tab, a connection type and product specification are
associated.
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Below is the EAT defined for ADSL service. The two checkboxes on this window for port
assignments enforce that, during the provisioning process, an equipment port assignment is made at
the CPE installed at the end user location and an equipment port assignment is made to the DSLAM.
On the Details tab, a rate code and service application are associated.
On the Specifications, Types and Options tab, equipment specifications are associated. In this case,
the equipment specification is the card at the DSLAM that supports ADSL service.
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Network areas
Overview of network areas
A network area is a user-defined feature. It can be defined as a single floor in a building, a building
complex, an entire city, or an even larger geographical area. It is a grouping of network items and end
user locations than can be defined to support local calling areas, rate centers, telephone number areas,
serving areas, or a unique business need.
A network area can include:
End user and network locations
Number inventories, for example IP addresses
Network items, for example, switches and DSLAMS
Geographic areas
For the auto-provisioning for template-based services to work, there are certain items that need to be
set up correctly in the network area. The following processes show the details of the setup.
Creating a network area
1. Select Application Setup on the navigation bar.
2. Click the Inventory Management Setup link.
3. Click the Network Areas link located under the Network Areas section.
4. Complete the required fields.
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In the DSL service scenario described in this document, there is one network area configured
per DSLAM and associated to the network area is one geographic area. By associating just
one DSLAM and one geographic area, when a PSR order is submitted with an end user
location associated to a specific geographic area, the correct network area is found and an
assignment is made to a port on the DSLAM. If more than one DSLAM is associated, an
assignment to the first available port, regardless of the DSLAM, is made.
5. Select the Network Items tab.
6. The network system that includes the DSLAM should be associated first and then the actual DSLAM in the network system be associated. If more than one DSLAM is to be associated, it
would be done here too.
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7. On the Geographic Areas tab is where the geographic areas are associated. Allowing an association to a fourth level of the geographic area is part of the enhancement made to geographic
areas described in Chapter 2. The fourth level in this example is the geographic area Area.
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The following example shows the network area used to associate the BRAS (terminating element for
the internet connection) and IP address inventory as well as geographic areas.
8. In order to associate IP addresses to a network area, the network area type of IP Area must be associated on the General tab.
9. On the Number Inventory tab, associate existing IP address inventory with this network area.
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10. The network system that includes the BRAS should be associated first and then the actual BRAS in the network system be associated.
11. On the Geographic Areas tab is where the geographic areas are associated. As you can see, a network area can be associated to more than geographic area.
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Product specifications and
product catalog
Overview of product specifications
Product specifications are items used to create a template for the products your company offers. The
product specification function lets you:
Define the products you offer to your customers.
Define related items offered with each product.
Indicate how the product specification can be used in the product catalog.
Overview of the product catalog
The product catalog defines the products, features, and options your company offers. The product
catalog lets you:
Define items (products and services) offered to your customers.
Set up a hierarchy of related products
Define default values
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Creating product specifications
The DSL service scenario described in this document requires several product specifications to be
created in order to support the ordering of the products to be auto-provisioned. Following are
screenshots and a description of the all of the product specifications built to support the process.
To create a product specification:
1. Select Application Setup on the navigation bar.
2. Click the Order Management Setup link.
3. Click the Product Specifications link located under the PSR section.
4. The first product specification is for Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) and the Item Type Customer Premise Equipment/Equipment is used to build this product specification.
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5. On the Equipment Spec tab, it is necessary to associate an equipment spec. Only equipment that does not occupy mounting positions and that is marked as CPE Capable (on the Equipment Spec)
can be associated. More than one equipment spec can be associated to the product specification.
For the EQ INST system task to work, the CPE cannot occupy mounting positions in other
equipment.
6. The product bundle is the level 1 product specification that is created. When you first create the
product bundle, there are no available items to associate as they have not been created yet.
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7. The Network Connection/Connector for the physical connection is created next using an item type of network connection. The connector is the product specification that represents the ordered
DSL link from the customer premise to the DSLAM.
8. A network template type (or connection spec) is then associated to the physical connection. The
connection spec is the same one that is associated in the network templates that were defined at
the beginning of the process.
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9. The Network Connection/Connector for the virtual connection is then created, also using the item type of network connection. This connector is the product specificaiton that represents the
ordered internet connection from the customer premise to the BRAS or other terminating
component.
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10. A network template type (or connection spec) is then associated to the virtual connection. The connection spec is the same one that is associated in the network templates that were defined at
the beginning of the process.
11. In this DSL service scenario, we also order an IP address on the PSR order. Below is the product
specificaiton created to order an IP address.
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12. After all of the individual product specifications are created, it is necessary to associate the product specifications to the product bundle product specification. Below shows the different
product specifications associated to the product bundle.
New item type relationship: In 6.0.11, it is a new enhancement to be able to associate the
customer premise equipment product specification to the network connection product
specification. In order to make the association, the network connection must be associated to a
physical connection specification on the Network Template Type tab. With this enhancement,
customers are now able to order the CPE in the PSR ordering dialogue along with the
template-based connections and take advantage of using the EQ INST system task. In order
for the EQ INST task to work though, only one end user location/service location can be
added in the ordering dialogue. If more locations exist, the system cannot determine which
location the CPE should be installed and therefore, the system task would fail and move to the
exception work queue.
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Creating the product catalog
To create a product catalog item:
1. Select Application Setup on the navigation bar.
2. Click the Order Management Setup link.
3. Click the Product Catalog link located under the PSR section.
The available product specifications from which to select are presented and the product catalog items
can be built.
Below is a screenshot of the DSL product bundle built for the DSL service scenario described in this
document. When the product catalog item for the product bundle is added, a Service Category and
Offering Type must be specified.
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Creating IP address rules
You can auto-assign an IP address to a PSR based on assignment rules you define in the inventory. If an IP address is not available to be assigned based on the rule, you can choose to auto-create the address and have it assigned to the order. This feature allows you to limit the amount of IP address inventory you must manually create because you can automatically subnet your inventory as needed.
To create an IP address rule:
1. Select Inventory Management on the navigation bar.
2. Click the IP Address Rules link.
3. Click the Add New link.
4. On the IP Rule Information tab, enter the required fields.
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5. Click the IP Rule Criteria tab.
6. If IP addresses already exist in IP inventory and have a use group/use code assigned, it is best to also associate those here to narrow the criteria. The network area and network item can also
be associated.
7. Select a Type of address to Auto Assign from the drop-down in the Auto Assign Criteria section.
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8. Click the IP Rule Association tab, and select the product catalog IP address item to associate to this rule. This tells the system that when the IPASSIGN system task is used and this
particular product has been ordered, the rules set here are followed.
If items occur more than once in the list below, it is because the product specification has been
used more than one time to build product catalog items. Hovering over the item with the
mouse shows the Item Hierarchy (product catalog item) that this product is associated to.
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End-to-end DSL service scenario
Overview of end-to-end DSL service scenario
The auto-provisioning of the DSL service scenario described in this document follows the flow
outlined below:
Enter a PSR order with a new customer account and assign a provisioning plan.
Review the system tasks that were automatically completed and the functionality that was completed behind the scenes. The system tasks included are as follows:
o CKTID-connection identification
o EQ INST-equipment install
o PCONDES-physical connection design
o VCONDES-virtual connection design
o AUTO_ISS-auto issue
o IPASSIGN-IP address assignment
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Entering a PSR
To enter a PSR:
1. Select Order Management on the navigation bar.
2. Click the New Product Service Request link.
3. Click the Address icon.
In this DSL service scenario, a service category of residential is selected because that is how our
product catalog item is built. Also, in order for auto-provisioning to work correctly, the correct
structure format on the Address Maintenance window must be selected and the correct geographic
area (Area) that is associated to one of the previously defined network area must also be selected.
4. Click OK on the Address Maintenance window.
5. Click OK on the Create or Select a Customer for a New Product Service Request window.
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6. Enter the required information on the Order Info tab.
7. Click the Services link.
8. Select the Global icon, right click and select Add New Item from the pop-up menu.
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9. Select the DSL product and click Yes to configure the product.
10. The IP address product was the first item in the ordering dialogue to display. If this product is
desired, click the check box next to it and select the Next button.
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11. On the New Location page, click the use the customer primary billing address link to default the end user location address information. In this DSL service scenario, only one end
user location address is allowed (in order for the EQ INST system task to work).
12. Click the Next button.
13. Click the Next button again.
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14. Select the available connectivity cell to represent where connections can be added and click the Next button.
15. Select the applicable checkbox and click the Add button to add a connection.
16. If the CPE product is a child of the physical connection, it displays as an option on the window after the Add button is selected on the above window. Select the check box and click the Next
button to order the equipment too; otherwise, just select the Next button.
17. Select the virtual connection from the Connection Type dropdown and select the applicable checkbox and click the Add button to add a connection.
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18. Click the Next button.
19. Enter the necessary Custom Attributes for the first connection. The rate code is necessary in this scenario to correctly find the port at the end user location and DSLAM, as shown when
the EAT was configured.
20. Click the Next Connection button.
21. Enter the necessary Custom Attributes for the second connection.
22. Click the Next Connection button if there are additional connections, or click the Done button if this is the last one.
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23. From the PSR Services view, expand the product and select the CPE product. Select the applicable Equipment Spec from the drop-down. Click a different product and select to save
the changes when prompted.
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Assigning a provisioning plan
1. Continuing from the steps above, click the Finish Order link.
2. Select a provisioning plan on the Plan Selection tab.
3. All of the tasks in the provisioning plan are assigned to the system work queue. Assign any remaining tasks to the appropriate work queue and click OK.
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Reviewing the results of the system tasks
The CKTID task completed automatically and assigned the CKTIDs to the ordered connections.
Below, the PCONDES, VCONDES and AUTO_ISS tasks have all been completed by the System
Task Server.
This is the network system information automatically associated based on the network area
configuration and the association to the geographic area Area.
Here are the port assignments that were made to the installed CPE at the Customer site and the
DSLAM.
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This is the network system associations for the virtual connection.
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And here, the VCONDES task automatically found a path through the different networks and created
the schematic design.
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Here the IPASSIGN task has automatically made an IP Assignment to the PSR order.
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ContentsOverviewInfrastructure itemsWork ManagementNetwork templates and designNetwork areasProduct specifications and product catalogEnd-to-end DSL service scenario
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