Page 462 - Cloud computing: From paradigm to operation

2 Cloud Computing management

cloud computing technology, and it can also be used to manage both traditional telecommunication networks
and/or cloud computing infrastructures. A cloud-based management system can be a cloud-aware
management system, but it is not necessary to manage cloud infrastructures using a cloud-based
management system.

7 Cloud-based network management functional architecture

7.1 Basic concept
Cloud computing is a technology from IT domain, with the aim for a supplier to share computing and storage
capabilities in the cloud to multiple customers. A system can be built using the traditional means, or using
cloud computing technology to provide services to customer and using cloud as its infrastructure, as far as
the services can be provided. A network management system is a software system which provides network
management services to operators or telecommunication service providers. Thus using cloud technology in
network management systems will also bring the benefits of cloud into the network management field.

Cloud-based network management system may include two main parts, one is the cloud-based network
management platform, and the other is management applications for various network technologies which
are built over the management platform.
Figure 1 shows the basic concept of the cloud-based network management platform and the management
applications.

Management Management Management
application application application

Cloud-based network management platform

Figure 1 – Cloud-based network management platform and applications

The cloud-based network management platform is described in details in Clause 7.2. Management
application functions can be the applications that provide functions dedicated for the management of a
specific network technology (e.g. Mobile core network, transport network), and they provide their own
functionality for its dedicated network, and share the lower layer functions of the cloud-based network
management platform, e.g., cloud infrastructure management, or common management services.

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