Abstract: An OA&M system is provided for a network communication core having a switch, a controller, and a core configuration memory. All configuration information which is static (i.e., information which remains the same regardless of the configuration of the core) is placed off-core in a map file. Because of this, requests for information on the configuration of the core may often be satisfied without the need to query the core, thereby reducing core load. Further, this static information in the map file allows validation of requests for dynamic configuration information as well as requests for reconfiguration of the core. In other words, the static information assists in ensuring that requests are proper. The static information in the map file is presented as "list", "attribute", and "choice" features. This presentation facilitates the making of OA&M requests by a user. The features become arguments of functions in order to generate OA&M requests to the controller.