. Visionael's three-tier architecture enables easier integration with other OSS components, such as workforce management and CRM applications. Other factors allowing flexibility and scalability include: Support for hundreds of concurrent users and very large databases. APIs at both the client and server layers, which AdventNet also provides in its fault and configuration management products. 34 The author was fortunate to be co-presenter with a senior member of TTI-Telecom, Bruno Mayersohn, at the 2002 Telemanagement World Conference in Nice. The presentation given was on WINMAN, which is an initiative for unified management of IP-over-DWDM networks. 10 Network Inventory Management Distributed processes across multiple middle-tier servers, minimising the band- width required for communications with client workstations, which improves performance. Administrators can introduce changes at the application and data layers without having to upgrade client workstations. Visionael 6.0 allows freeform sketching for creating intelligent diagrams for schematic network representation. Intelligent diagrams comprise logical and physi- cal network models in a single environment. Visionael data collection has network discovery capabilities that allow network staff to obtain data from multiple repositories and from active network elements. This allows field discovery over remote networks, and holding data in a temporary database for later importing these data into the Repository for analysis. A Device Intelligence Module (DIM) is "awake" to the peculiarities of particular network devices, and can be configured to read MIBs embedded in specific vendor devices. Visionael's network inventory platform also supports migration to new DWDM network backbones and layered edge services. 10.9 Partnering Between Consultants and OSS Vendors for Inventory Solutions Service affiliate programs are offered by inventory management vendors to present the benefits of their products and to sell their products to the clients of companies which provide