Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) L. Andersson
Request for Comments: 6291 Ericsson
BCP: 161 H. van Helvoort
Category: Best Current Practice Huawei Technologies
ISSN: 2070-1721 R. Bonica
Juniper Networks
D. Romascanu
Avaya
S. Mansfield
Ericsson
June 2011
Guidelines for the Use of the "OAM" Acronym in the IETF
Abstract
At first glance, the acronym "OAM" seems to be well-known and well-
understood. Looking at the acronym a bit more closely reveals a set
of recurring problems that are revisited time and again.
This document provides a definition of the acronym "OAM" (Operations,
Administration, and Maintenance) for use in all future IETF documents
that refer to OAM. There are other definitions and acronyms that
will be discussed while exploring the definition of the constituent
parts of the "OAM" term.
Status of This Memo
This memo documents an Internet Best Current Practice.
This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF). It represents the consensus of the IETF community. It has
received public review and has been approved for publication by the
Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). Further information on
BCPs is available in Section 2 of RFC 5741.
Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6291.
Andersson, et al. Best Current Practice [Page 1]RFC 6291 OAM Terminology June 2011
Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) 2011 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
document authors. All rights reserved.
This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.1. Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Pre-Existing Uses of OAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1. Uses of OAM in Other SDOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1.1. The "O" in OAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1.2. The "A" in OAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1.3. The "M" in OAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2. Uses of OAM in the IETF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3. Recommendations on the Use of the "OAM" Acronym . . . . . . . . 5
4. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
5. Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
6. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Andersson, et al. Best Current Practice [Page 2]RFC 6291 OAM Terminology June 2011
1. Introduction
The main purpose of this document is to provide a definition of the
acronym "OAM" (Operations, Administration, and Maintenance) for use
in all future IETF documents that refer to OAM.
The acronym "OAM" is frequently used in the data and
telecommunication industry. One would assume that something that is
so widely used is very clearly defined. However, a closer look
reveals some points that need to be clarified.
If such an important piece of our technology is so poorly defined, or
if there are dialects of the technology with different understandings
of such a key concept, this will eventually cause problems.
Trying to understand the use of an acronym that is as "content-rich"
as OAM reveals two levels of complexity. First, each letter in the
acronym represents an integrated piece of functionality. Second, the
acronym, as such, represents something that is more than just the sum
of its parts.
There is also the issue of how each piece of the acronym is defined.
This document provides an analysis of what each initial of the
initialism represents and provides possible interpretations of the
acronym. Finally, a recommendation for the interpretation of the
"OAM" acronym is provided.
Another useful document to make the "OAM" term understandable in a
wider scope is found in "An Overview of Operations, Administration,
and Maintenance (OAM) Mechanisms" [OAM-OVERVIEW].
1.1. Terminology
o "Mgmt" - Management
o O&M - OAM and Management
o OAM - Operations, Administration, and Maintenance
o SDO - Standards Development Organization
2. Pre-Existing Uses of OAM
This section provides information on how OAM is used in other SDOs
(Standards Development Organizations) and provides the background
necessary to understand the how the term is used in the IETF.
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RFC 6291 OAM Terminology June 2011
2.1. Uses of OAM in Other SDOs
Operations And Maintenance (OAM): A group of network management
functions that provide network fault indication, performance
information, and data and diagnosis functions. ATM OAM ITU-T I.610
[ITU-T-I.610] is an example specification that uses this expansion of
the "OAM" acronym.
Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM): A group of network
management functions that provide network fault indication, fault
localization, performance information, and data and diagnosis
functions. Examples where this acronym is used are Clause 57 of IEEE
802.3-2008 [IEEE.802.3-2008] and ITU-T Y.1731 [ITU-T-Y.1731].
The ITU-T M.3010 [ITU-T-M.3010] Recommendation defines operations
systems function as a function block that processes information
related to the telecommunications management for the purpose of
monitoring/coordinating and/or controlling telecommunication
functions including management functions (i.e., the TMN
(Telecommunications Management Network) itself).
The Metro Ethernet Forum refers to OAM as the tools and utilities to
install, monitor, and troubleshoot a network, helping carriers run
their networks more effectively MEF 17 [MEF-17].
2.1.1. The "O" in OAM
The "O" in OAM invariably stands for "Operations". However, there is
some ambivalence in the definition and scope of the term "Operation".
Examples of tools related to "operations" are performance monitoring
tools used for service level agreement (SLA) measurement, fault
management tools used to monitor the health of nodes and links in the
network, and network provisioning tools.
2.1.2. The "A" in OAM
The "A" in OAM stands for "Administration".
Examples of "administration" tools are network discovery and planning
tools.
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RFC 6291 OAM Terminology June 2011
2.1.3. The "M" in OAM
The "M" in OAM stands for "Maintenance" or "Management".
Examples of "maintenance" tools are implementations of connectivity
check, loopback, link trace, and other tools that can be used to
monitor and diagnose failures in a network or network element.
The Recommendation ITU-T M.20 [ITU-T-M.20] defines maintenance as the
whole of operations required for setting up and maintaining, within
prescribed limits, any element involved in the setting up of a
connection (see the ITU-T M.60 [ITU-T-M.60] Recommendation). The
purpose is to properly plan and program the maintenance operations
required to establish and maintain a network.
A major aim of the concept of maintenance is to minimize both the
occurrence and the impact of failures and to ensure that in case of a
failure the correct actions are taken.
2.2. Uses of OAM in the IETF
The examples below show a number of different ways that the "OAM"
acronym has been expanded in IETF RFCs. The reference list is not
exhaustive.
o OAM = Operations, Administration, and Maintenance in RFC 5586
[RFC5586]
o OAM = Operations and Maintenance in RFC 3429 [RFC3429]
o OAM = Operations and Management in RFC 4377 [RFC4377]
o O&M = OAM and Maintenance in RFC 1812 [RFC1812]
Sometimes there is a fourth letter added to the acronym:
o OAM&P = Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning
in RFC 4594 [RFC4594]
3. Recommendations on the Use of the "OAM" Acronym
The IETF-recommended expansion of the "OAM" acronym is given below.
In addition to the "OAM" acronym, two other recommendations are made
in this section.
o OAM - Operations, Administration, and Maintenance
o O&M - OAM and Management
Andersson, et al. Best Current Practice [Page 5]RFC 6291 OAM Terminology June 2011
o "Mgmt" - Management
The components of the "OAM" acronym (and provisioning) are defined as
follows:
o Operations - Operation activities are undertaken to keep the
network (and the services that the network provides) up and
running. It includes monitoring the network and finding problems.
Ideally these problems should be found before users are affected.
o Administration - Administration activities involve keeping track
of resources in the network and how they are used. It includes
all the bookkeeping that is necessary to track networking
resources and the network under control.
o Maintenance - Maintenance activities are focused on facilitating
repairs and upgrades -- for example, when equipment must be
replaced, when a router needs a patch for an operating system
image, or when a new switch is added to a network. Maintenance
also involves corrective and preventive measures to make the
managed network run more effectively, e.g., adjusting device
configuration and parameters.
"Provisioning" is outside the scope of this document, but the
following definition is provided for completeness.
o Provisioning - Provisioning activities involve configuring
resources in the network to support the offered services. This
might include setting up the network so that a new customer can
receive an Internet access service.
In general, Provisioning is used to configure the network to provide
new services, whereas OAM is used to keep the network in a state that
it can support already existing services.
Sometimes it is necessary to talk about the combination of functions
and tools supplied by OAM and Management, it is preferred that this
is spelled out as "OAM and Management". In cases where an acronym is
needed, O&M should be used.
"Mgmt" will be used if an abbreviation for "Management" is needed.
This document does not define Management.
4. Security Considerations
This document provides guidance for the use of the "OAM" acronym in
other documents. This document does not have direct security
implications.
Andersson, et al. Best Current Practice [Page 6]RFC 6291 OAM Terminology June 2011
The misunderstanding of an acronym may lead to incorrect
specification or implementation which may, in turn, open up security
concerns with protocols or deployed networks. Clarifying the meaning
of OAM is, therefore, a benefit for future stability of
specifications.
5. Acknowledgments
The following individuals significantly contributed to this document.
o Malcolm Betts from M. C. Betts Consulting, Ltd.
o Kam Lam from Alcatel Lucent
o Dieter Beller from Alcatel Lucent
o David Harrington from Huawei Technologies
Thanks to the experts of ITU-T SG 15 for their review and comments.
6. Informative References
[IEEE.802.3-2008] IEEE, "Information technology - Telecommunications
and information exchange between systems - Local
and metropolitan area networks - Specific
requirements - Part 3: Carrier sense multiple
access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) access
method and physical layer specifications",
IEEE Standard 802.3, December 2008.
[ITU-T-I.610] International Telecommunication Union, "B-ISDN
operation and maintenance principles and
functions", ITU-T Recommendation I.610,
February 1999.
[ITU-T-M.20] International Telecommunication Union,
"Maintenance philosophy for telecommunication
networks", ITU-T Recommendation M.20,
October 1992.
[ITU-T-M.3010] International Telecommunication Union, "Principles
for a telecommunications management network", ITU-
T Recommendation M.3010, February 2000.
[ITU-T-M.60] International Telecommunication Union,
"Maintenance terminology and definitions", ITU-
T Recommendation M.60, March 1993.
Andersson, et al. Best Current Practice [Page 7]RFC 6291 OAM Terminology June 2011
[ITU-T-Y.1731] International Telecommunication Union, "OAM
functions and mechanisms for Ethernet based
networks", ITU-T Recommendation Y.1731,
February 2008.
[MEF-17] Metro Ethernet Forum, "Service OAM Requirements &
Framework - Phase 1", MEF Technical Specification
MEF 17, April 2007.
[OAM-OVERVIEW] Mizrahi, T., Sprecher, N., Bellagamba, E., and Y.
Weingarten, "An Overview of Operations,
Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) Mechanisms",
Work in Progress, March 2011.
[RFC1812] Baker, F., "Requirements for IP Version 4
Routers", RFC 1812, June 1995.
[RFC3429] Ohta, H., "Assignment of the 'OAM Alert Label' for
Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture (MPLS)
Operation and Maintenance (OAM) Functions",
RFC 3429, November 2002.
[RFC4377] Nadeau, T., Morrow, M., Swallow, G., Allan, D.,
and S. Matsushima, "Operations and Management
(OAM) Requirements for Multi-Protocol Label
Switched (MPLS) Networks", RFC 4377,
February 2006.
[RFC4594] Babiarz, J., Chan, K., and F. Baker,
"Configuration Guidelines for DiffServ Service
Classes", RFC 4594, August 2006.
[RFC5586] Bocci, M., Vigoureux, M., and S. Bryant, "MPLS
Generic Associated Channel", RFC 5586, June 2009.
Andersson, et al. Best Current Practice [Page 8]RFC 6291 OAM Terminology June 2011
Authors' Addresses
Loa Andersson
Ericsson
EMail: loa.andersson@ericsson.com
Huub van Helvoort
Huawei Technologies
EMail: huub.van.helvoort@huawei.com
Ron Bonica
Juniper Networks
EMail: rbonica@juniper.net
Dan Romascanu
Avaya
EMail: dromasca@avaya.com
Scott Mansfield
Ericsson
EMail: scott.mansfield@ericsson.com
Andersson, et al. Best Current Practice [Page 9]
