ment infor- mation version 2). MEF: Main document was titled EMS-NMS information model, which was to detail interface standards for Metro Ethernet Network. There were many more documents on NGNM from various standardizing bodies and this chapter is just to provide a basic understanding of NGNM to the reader. Fundamentals of EMS, NMS and OSS/BSS Additional Reading 1. M.3060 document that can be downloaded from www.itu.int 2. TR133 document from TMF that can be downloaded from www.tmforum.org 3. Guy Pujolle. Management, Control and Evolution of IP Networks. New York: WileyBlackwell, 2008. 4. Yan Ma, Deokjai Choi, and Shingo Ata. Challenges for Next Generation Network Operations and Service Management. New York: Springer, 2008. Chapter 18 XML-Based Protocols XML (Extensible Markup Language) based protocols are rapidly replacing tradi- tional management protocols like SNMP and are now the defector standard for use in web-based network management. Protocols like SOAP, which are XML-based, can be viewed in management standards like WBEM for enterprise management defined by DMTF as well as MTOSI for telecom management defined by TMF. This chapter is intended to give the reader a basic understanding of XML protocol. SOAP the most popular XML protocol and NETCONF hailed as the next genera- tion network management protocol is discussed as specific examples. 18.1 Introduction Traditionally SNMP has been the preferred protocol for network management of packet networks like Ethernet, Token-ring, and SO forth. Efficient and low band- width transport mechanisms using UDP over an IP) as well as an optimized, but limited, data model were the two main reasons for its popularity. The simplistic data model architecture used by SNMP (a flat MIB definition) was well suited for low complexity legacy packet nodes. With the convergence of traditional circuit (voice) and packet networks (data) onto a common IP-based packetized core as in next generation networks like IMS, the complexity of the network elements involved, and the services s