The EMS (Element Management System) plays an important role in network management architecture. In general, the EMS is provided by vendors of the nodes and operators, using IRPManager, can manage the nodes through the EMS. This study is to evaluate if some key or core EMS management functions can be standardized to support a better (most cost/effective) management paradigm in a multi-vendor network environment.

The present document studies key maintenance functions of element management system (EMS) in order to decide which one is necessary and could be managed over Itf-N, and makes a set of recommendations.