Case Studies - Nakina Systems (Professional Services)

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 Professional Services

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. Nakina’s clients also require customization of the interface to fit with their existing systems, and allow flow-through of their subscriber provisioning.

The bitHeads Solution:

bitHeads deployed ProductStream teams to build the adapters Nakina’s MVEMS relies on. This work has involved Java, XML, TL1, SNMP, and FTP, as well as the proprietary 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

bitHeads teams were also deployed to develop customized OS interfaces for Nakina’s clients, such as Sprint and Verizon, allowing all network management and service provisioning to operate seamlessly through one system with a simple web-based graphical user interface. As new clients come on board, this has required the ProductStream team to quickly learn the proprietary technologies, standards and operations of each of those clients, as well as work with technologies such as Java, XML, J2EE, EJB, SOAP, WSDL, and JavaSwing.

Results:

bitHeads has successfully handled interfaces for Nakina’s clients and continues to provide this critical piece of Nakina’s business. The quick and reliable delivery of this service has allowed Nakina to continue the quick growth of their customer base.