Cisco® Extensible Provisioning and Operations Manager (EPOM) is a Web-based application for real-time provisioning of the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch that allows authorized users to show, add, modify, delete, and check the status of Cisco BTS 10200 components.
Product Overview
Cisco EPOM supports most provisioning tasks traditionally done using the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch element management system (EMS) command-line interface (CLI), and provides a Web GUI with pull-down fields that show all the command arguments. Common multiple-step procedures are simplified by being grouped together into tasks executed with sequential wizards. Errors are greatly reduced through the use of pop-up argument lists and syntax verification on free text fields.
Authorized Cisco EPOM administrators can set up and manage the Cisco EPOM server software and perform Cisco EPOM user administration and network setup tasks listed in Table 1.
Autodiscovery of Cisco BTS EMS configuration information eliminates database synchronization.
Start and stop the Cisco EPOM Web server software
Reduces the need to access Solaris shell commands for Cisco EPOM administration.
Create and manage user groups and domains
Provides a single point for user access control and authority management across all Cisco BTS nodes. User groups and domains provide consistent authority levels for users with the same responsibility.
Set up custom navigation trees
Provides granular control of individual user navigation authority.
Authorized Cisco EPOM operators set up and manage the Cisco BTS 10200 software and perform the Cisco BTS 10200 provisioning, command, and control actions listed in Table 2.
Table 2. Examples of Cisco BTS 10200 Management Features on Cisco EPOM
Feature
Benefit and Application
Built-in provisioning flows
Provisioning flows simplify sequential tasks and reduce learning curve by providing workflow guidance for typical Cisco BTS 10200 provisioning sequences.
Add custom provisioning flows
Develop task wizard scripting tailored to specific methods of operations.
View reports
View and centrally store reports from Cisco BTS 10200 on performance or billing data.
Read activities: Status, Detail, Search
Check status and display complete details of a Cisco BTS 10200 component.
Write activities: Control, Reset
Take a Cisco BTS 10200 component in or out of service or return to normal operation.
Product Architecture
Cisco EPOM is a Java application designed to run on Sun Solaris 8 hardware. It contains an Apache Web server that offers universal operator access through many popular Web browsers. Cisco EPOM communicates with Cisco BTS 10200 EMS using XML over Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), a published Cisco BTS 10200 EMS interface. Cisco EPOM is not certified to run on the Cisco BTS 10200 servers because of unpredictable performance impacts to crucial call-control functions running there.
Table 3 and 4 list the managed devices and product specifications for Cisco EPOM.
Managed Devices
Table 3. Managed Devices
Managed Device
Version
Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch 3.5
Cisco EPOM 1.5
Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch 4.x
Cisco EPOM 4.x (see note)
Note: Cisco EPOM 4.x is backward compatible with older Cisco BTS 10200 4.x versions; however, matching the Cisco EPOM and Cisco BTS 10200 versions is recommended for best results.
Product Specifications
Table 4. Product Specifications
Description
Specification
Product compatibility
Cisco EPOM versions match corresponding Cisco BTS 10200 versions. Cisco EPOM 4.x is backward compatible with previous Cisco BTS 10200 4.x versions.
Protocols
SNMP, FTP, XML, CORBA
Components
Cisco EPOM is a no-charge Cisco.com download for all Cisco BTS 10200 and Cisco.com subscribers
Connectivity
TCP/IP
Features and functions
Provides extended user interface features for Cisco BTS 10200
System Capacity
Cisco EPOM has been verified to support up to 10 Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch failover pairs with 20 operators accessing display-only "read" functions. This capacity is supported for "write" functions also; however, only one operator may make changes to a Cisco BTS 10200 node at a time.
Minimum System Requirements
• Sun workstation or server - 440 MHz or higher
• 512-MB RAM
• 256-MB disk space
• Sun Solaris 8 operating system
• Mozilla 1.4 Browser for Solaris 8 (Sun no longer supports Netscape 6.x)
Ordering Information
Cisco EPOM is a no-charge download offered to Cisco BTS 10200 maintenance customers from the Cisco.com software download page.
Cisco Extensible Provisioning and Operations Manager - EPOM
Service and Support
Cisco EPOM software complements the operations of the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch. Technical assistance through the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) is offered to Cisco EPOM customers with a valid Cisco SMARTnet® service agreement on their Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch products. Cisco Systems® services help you to protect your network investment and receive the information you need to optimize network operations. For more information about Cisco Services, see Cisco Technical Support Services or Cisco Advanced Services.
