Through the domain manager, an operator can view and configure each network element. The operator can select parameters to monitor and configure alarm limits for each parameter. During routine maintenance, system operators may want to disable certain alarms. In a true HFC domain management system, massive amounts of data will be generated, perhaps from multiple element management systems. The domain manager is responsible for filtering the data into usable information and presenting that critical information to the user.
Trend analysis is an important function.
In this way, the system user can observe long-term trends and take necessary actions. An alarm condition must be reported immediately, but data gathered over time should be managed and presented in the appropriate format. In many scenarios, a single point of failure creates large numbers of sympathetic alarms. Late one night, a dog is awakened by a prowler and begins barking. In a rapid chain reaction, all the dogs in the neighborhood wake up and start barking.