Cable Networks, Services, and Management (IEEE Press Series on Networks and Service Management)

Network Management has evolved over the past few decades from a somewhat rag tag collection of disparate monitors provided by separate vendors into an integrated system oversight approach. This book is an excellent summary of network management applied to CATV systems.The book discusses residential and business applications and presents the OA&M functions of these systems. In the residential side there is an initial focus on DOCSIS and its internal mechanisms as well and the network functions that it supports and provides. The functions range from classic performance, fault, maintenance, inventory and security type functions and the discussion is readily understood and complete.The business applications are equally well presented.Overall I strongly recommend this book if one wants to understand how CATV systems are managed. The discussions readily applies to fiber based systems as well.There is some limited discussion of security issues and limited discussions on such issues as handling DMCA. In addition there is no discussion on CALEA concerns.One of the challenges of CATV systems is that the edge technology, DOCSIS modems are slow to change. Often CATV modems are 10+ years old and thus despite modern network management techniques the network itsellf is limited to quite old technology. In fact the networks are often fiber mixed with local coax, often well ovet twenty years old.CATV network management is a challenge and this book is an exceptionally good contribtion in understanding it.