Abstract: A method for evaluating traffic dispersion at an exchange in a communications network, the exchange being arranged for applying a set of routing rules in allotting to a plurality of links (i.e., circuit groups) incoming traffic directed toward a given destination. The method includes the steps of incrementally generating traffic quantums representative of the traffic; producing a distribution of the traffic quantums over the circuit groups according to the set of routing rules; the distribution thus obtained being statistically representative of the dispersion of the incoming traffic over the plurality of circuit groups at the exchange. The steps of incrementally generating traffic quantums representative of the traffic and producing a distribution of the traffic quantums are performed in the absence of interference with operation of the exchanges/nodes in the communications network.

Abstract: The configuration of telecommunications-network elements is controlled by first generating a model configuration of the elements comprising, for at least one function of each element subjected to control, a respective model of implementation of the function itself. For each element subjected to control, at least one respective set of configuration data of the element itself is collected and, again for each element subjected to control and in the absence of interaction with the element itself, correspondence is verified between the one function as implemented on the basis of the at least one respective set of configuration data of the element and the model of implementation of the function itself included in the model configuration. These steps of generating, collecting and verifying are done relative to an interfacing element between two nodes of the plurality or a plurality of respective sets of configuration data of the element.

Abstract: A method for evaluating traffic dispersion at an exchange in a communications network, the exchange being arranged for applying a set of routing rules in allotting to a plurality of links (i.e., circuit groups) incoming traffic directed toward a given destination. The method includes the steps of incrementally generating traffic quantums representative of the traffic; producing a distribution of the traffic quantums over the circuit groups according to the set of routing rules; the distribution thus obtained being statistically representative of the dispersion of the incoming traffic over the plurality of circuit groups at the exchange. The steps of incrementally generating traffic quantums representative of the traffic and producing a distribution of the traffic quantums are performed in the absence of interference with operation of the exchanges/nodes in the communications network.

Abstract: The method involves generating a model configuration (M1) of the nodes in the network (N) comprising, for each function among a plurality of node functions, a respective model of the function's operation. For each of the nodes under test, a respective set of data ( . . . , CFK−1, CFk, CFk+1, . . . ) regarding the current configuration of the node is collected. This respective set of current configuration data is compared with the model configuration (M1) in the absence of interaction with the node under test. For some or all of the node functions, it is envisaged that this comparison will be carried out by simulating—step by step if desired—the operation of node functions, again in the absence of interaction with the node under test.