Welcome to Operating Cell

          

             A network operating cell (NOC, pronounced like the word knock), also known as a "network management cell", is one or more locations from which network monitoring and control, or network management, is exercised over a computer network.

PURPOSE

          NOCs are implemented by universities, and government agencies that oversee complex networking environments that require high availability. NOC personnel are responsible for monitoring one or many networks for certain conditions that may require special attention to avoid degraded service. Organizations may operate more than one NOC, either to manage different networks or to provide geographic redundancy in the event of one site becoming unavailable.

In addition to monitoring internal and external networks of related infrastructure, NOCs can monitor social networks to get a head-start on disruptive events.

FUNCTIONS

          NOCs analyze problems, perform troubleshooting, communicate with site technicians and other NOCs, and track problems through resolution. When necessary, NOCs escalate problems to the appropriate stakeholders. For severe conditions that are impossible to anticipate, such as a power failure or a cut optical fiber cable, NOCs have procedures in place to immediately contact technicians to remedy the problem.

Primary responsibilities of NOC personnel:

• Network monitoring

• Incident response

• Communications management

• Reporting problems