Administration
Crucial for the efficient and stress-free administration of communications networks is up-to-date, simplified and fault-free documentation as enabled by cableScout®. The fibre management software uses the captured data to provide a wide range of useful functions, clear displays and meaningful analyses designed to make network administration easier for the user. These include signal auto-routing across all media, capacity and load utilisation analyses, end-to-end reporting of signals and cable routes, feasibility tests and impact analysis for loss of resources.
A particularly important and frequently used functionality of cableScout® is the route search. Using a high-performance search algorithm the user can quickly search for new or alternative routes. The search goes through the whole network examining all cables, connections, transmission technologies, status and ownership relationships. Before the start of the search various optimisation criteria can be input into the system which are then considered in the search process accordingly. It can then be defined whether the search should only consider spliced, patched or also mixed routes.
The routes corresponding to the search criteria are then listed with details of their length, capacity utilisation, number of nodes, attenuation, splice and patch points and displayed in colour on the map. The user is now able to select the optimum route for the project – for example for switching on a new customer or moving the signals of a defective cable. In both cases the system outputs a matching work order.
Another extremely important function for the administration is the ability to measure the position of cable faults and locate their position on the map as accurately as possible. If a line fault is reported, the troubleshooting team can access important schematic and geographic information on the route of the cable, fibre or signal at the touch of a button.
Using these details the route can be shut down accordingly and the search can start for the damage event, for example, due to demolition by a digger. If this cannot be found the user can use the schematic plan to ascertain at which site an OTDR device can be used to measure the fault. The measured value can now be entered into cableScout® and the system will accurately output the fault position taking all lengths and excess lengths across all cable segments into consideration. One touch of a button outputs all signals and/or customers affected by this fault and for important SLA routes alternative routes will be searched for.
This wide range of management functions enables the users to access all the information required across the company within a very short timeframe. This in turn enables a more professional and more efficient network administration and increases network availability and profitability.
