1. Introduction

This section preserves the RFC text for network fault and problem management terminology, including Event, State, Fault, Problem, Symptom, Cause, Alert, Alarm, workflow figures, security, privacy, and IANA considerations.

1.  Introduction

   Successful operation of large networks depends on effective network
   management.  This requires a virtuous circle of network control,
   network observability, network analytics, network assurance, and back
   to network control.  Network fault and problem management [RFC6632]
   is an important aspect of network management and control solutions.
   It deals with the detection, reporting, inspection, isolation,
   correlation, and management of events within the network.  The
   intention of this document is to focus on those events that have a
   negative effect on the network's ability to forward traffic according
   to expected behaviors that may reduce the network's ability to
   deliver services.  Such events may also impact the ability to control
   and operate the network.  The document also considers other faults
   that reduce the quality or reliability of the delivered service.  The
   concept of fault and problem management extends to include actions
   taken to determine the causes of problems and to work toward recovery
   of expected network behavior.

   A number of work efforts within the IETF seek to provide components
   of a fault management system, such as YANG data models or management
   protocols.  It is important that a common terminology be used so that
   there is a clear understanding of how the elements of the management
   and control solutions fit together and how faults and problems will
   be handled.

   This document sets out some terms that are fundamental to a common
   understanding of network fault and problem management.  While
   "faults" and "problems" are concepts that apply at all levels of
   technology in the Internet, the scope of this document is restricted
   to the network layer and below; hence, this document is specifically
   about "network fault and problem management."  The concept of
   "incidents" is also touched on in this document, where an incident
   results from one or more problems and is the disruption of a network
   service.

   Note that some useful terms are defined in [RFC3877] and [RFC8632].
   The definitions in this document are informed by those documents, but
   they are not dependent on that prior work.