Unix is rapidly becoming the sine qua non of telecommunications administration software, latest developments including L M Ericsson Telefon AB’s new management software, for which Sun Microsystems workstations are recommended, although any suitable Unix machine can be used (CI No 1,354), and Tandem Telecommunications’ new software for phone companies, which runs on the company’s Integrity S-2 Unix system as well as the proprietary NonStops (CI No 1,353). Now Crosspoint Systems Inc, Mountain View, California manufacturer of Automated Test Access Systems for Network Management has joined forces with the Richardson, Texas-based Chrysler Corp subsidiary Electrospace Systems Inc to bring a new Unix system for network operators to market. Electrospace is a manufacturer of communications products, switching systems, and a systems integrator for military and industrial customers, and the partners are combining their products to create Nomad, Network Operations Management And Diagnostics System. Nomad combines Electrospace’s network management software with Crosspoint Systems’ ATACS Test Access Systems hardware to create a powerful, yet cost-effective network management system for circuit access test, diagnostics, problem resolution and alarm management. The Nomad software is designed to run on DEC, Sun Microsystems and similar workstations in a multivendor environment using Unix or a Unixalike. The system is claimed to be test equipment-independent, and compatible with virtually all digital and analogue circuit types operating to T-3. The product offers test access of RS232, V.35, RS449, MIL-188, T-1/E-1, Fractional T-1/E-1, T3, ISDN, VF analogue and Digital Facility circuits; alarm reporting and alarm management for Digital RS232, V.35, RS449 and T-1/E-1 services; automated control of vendorindependent test equipment; analysis of alarms and test results and automatic reporting of degraded of failed circuits; circuit record database, trouble ticket reporting, user established parametric tests; a multiple user interface; and multi-level security. The partners gave no prices for the product.
