The present document is part of a TS-family covering the 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Telecommunication management; as identified below:

• TS 32.661: Configuration Management (CM); Kernel CM Requirements
• TS 32.662: Configuration Management (CM); Kernel CM Information Service (IS)
• TS 32.666: Configuration Management (CM); Kernel CM Integration Reference Point (IRP); Solution Set (SS) definitions

Configuration Management (CM), in general, provides the operator with the ability to assure correct and effective operation of the 3G network as it evolves. CM actions have the objective to control and monitor the actual configuration on the Network Elements (NEs) and network resources , and they may be initiated by the operator or by functions in the Operations Systems (OSs) or NEs. CM actions may be requested as part of an implementation programme (e.g. additions and deletions), as part of an optimisation programme (e.g. modifications), and to maintain the overall Quality of Service (QoS). The CM actions are initiated either as single actions on single NEs of the 3G network, or as part of a complex procedure involving actions on many resources/objects in one or several NEs.

The present document defines Integration Reference Point (IRP) through which an 'IRPAgent' (typically an Element Manager or Network Element) can communicate Configuration Management related information to one or several 'IRPManagers' (typically Network Managers). The function of this Kernel CM IRP Information Service is to define an interface that provides the essential CM services. While it is not expected that the Kernel CM IRP alone will provide adequate CM capability, The Kernel CM IRP is expected to provide the common supporting capability required for other IRPs such as the Basic CM IRP or the Bulk CM IRP, each of which require the Kernel CM IRP.