OSS vs. NMS: What are the similarities and differences?

What's the difference between operations support systems (OSS) and network management systems (NMS)? Telecom networking expert Ivan Pepelnjak has the answer.

Ivan Pepelnjak

What are the similarities and differences between OSS and NMS? I've been looking for accurate definitions.

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Wikipedia's entry on operations support systems (OSS) offers a pretty good definition: A network management system (NMS) is just part of OSS, which also includes service fulfillment (including activation, provisioning and delivery), service assurance, customer care, and billing.

This was last published in June 2010

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