Management platform goes deeper

AT&T Solutions has added Web access features to its Global Enterprise Management System platform, which enables the carrier to monitor customer network components down to the LAN level.

The additions, which will provide remote Web access to the system's trouble ticketing, service report and network health report features, will make it easier for customers to view the condition of the networks monitored by this managed service.

The recently released version 6.0 of GEMS includes improved capabilities for trend analysis, capacity and configuration provisioning; billing data collection; automated surveillance; and electronic gateways to AT&T's Worldwide Intelligent Network.

The release gives clients Web-based access to their networks' performance levels. It also supports enhancements to AT&T Solutions' managed network service suite announced in January, including AT&T Network Analysis services for WAN support and AT&T WorldNet Managed Firewall service.

"These changes will increase our ability to provide accurate information on service levels and our success in meeting them," said Jeff Kohan, vice president of service realization at AT&T Solutions.

GEMS enables AT&T to manage deeper down into the network than other management systems, allowing the carrier to offer customer premises equipment management as a value-added service.

"We don't manage applications, but we can manage all the network components and even see into the desktop," said Kohan. "Servers and LANs are seen by the end user as components of the network, and we allow them to be managed just like any other communications asset."

The platform allows AT&T to manage customers' servers, PBXs, WANs and LANs, hub switches, routers, frame relay access devices, digital service units and multiplexers, opening a new source of revenue to the carrier, Kohan said.

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