One of the key trends in today's marketplace is the recognition that IP data networks are undergoing a major transformation in capabilities.  While much of their primary purpose is to deliver point-to-point IP data connectivity to deliver various business applications, the market is also demanding and ever-growing range of new services such as unified communications and video data streaming -- applications which require extensive network capacity planning and comprehensive network and application performance management for the proactive service assurance that supports high quality of experience.