technology neutral implementation. NGNM originates from the need for managing the next generation network (NGN). NGN according to ITU-T standards is a packet-based network that can support a wide variety of services. Some of the key buzzwords around NGN are its ability to offer services anytime and anywhere. It is multiservice, multipro- tocol, and multiaccess-based network. NGN also fosters a multitechnology and Next Generation Network Management (NGNM) multivendor environment. Most of all it provides a secure and reliable communi- cation channel. Now let us explore these terminologies in more details. Anytime and anywhere means that it is not tied to a specific kind of network or equipment to access the services offered on NGN. The services are always on and moving, change in underlying infrastructure or access technology does not affect the cus- tomer in terms of accessing the service. Multiservice means that multiple services can be hosted on the network, multiaccess means that the access layer can be fixed, mobile terminals, or any other kind of access technology, and multiprotocol means that published and well-defined protocol interfaces make it possible to use different types of protocols for interaction. The next generation network fosters multitechnology that is support for technologies like GSM, UMTS, CDMA, and multivendor that is open standards for ease of integration leading to different competing vendors. NGN has the following characteristics: Packet backbone for communication Separation of service, access, and core network Unified service experience to end user User access to different service providers leading to service mesh up Convergence of fixed and mobile space QoS (Quality of Service) determined on an end-to-end basis Open interfaces for interaction Wide range of services and applications Managing a network with the above characteristics ensures that everything from the end customer to the lower most nodes in a network element is managed, with seamless information flow from end-to-end. This m