Pacing toward converged voice and data networks, the IP over WDM/OTN network architecture supported by MPLS satisfies the advanced next-generation network requirements to provide fast, reliable, and flexible connectivity services. Acknowledging.the advantages of networks that utilize the above technologies, operators evolve their networks in that direction, while continuously working to provide new services to attract customers. In their effort to facilitate such services in a flexible and costeffective way, an integrated network management system for IP and WDM technologies is a prerequisite. This article proposes a management architecture that provides for this integration. Different approaches to integrating multilayer networks ore briefly described covering both the control and management planes. The adopted solution is based mainly on the management plane utilizing the control plane wherever possible. Additionally, preliminary results from the evaluation of the configuration management functionality of the proposed system in a testbed environment ore presented, concluding with future extensions that also cover fault and performance ' monagement. I n recent years the telecommunications market has expanded and diversified dramatically. New network and service providers have entered the market, and competition has I sharpened strongly. On one hand incumbent operators already feel the pressure of competition and are trying to minimize their operational costs, at the same time optimizing their network architecture and exploiting their legacy infrastructure as much as possible. On the other hand, competitive newcomers are deploying new intelligent network solutions as a means to claim a share of the market. Such solutions are usually based on the latest advances in technology, but there is always a high risk of investing in immature and not fully validated solutions. Besides, the recent market slowdown has cleared the telecom field, leaving only a few strong players in the market, incumbent or competitivc, which are trying to reengineer their business strategies. The evolution path toward the next-generation IP over optical networks will he facilitated by the generic framing procedure (GFP) standardization [I], providing a flexible adapta--tion layer to carry packet data over a synchronous optical physical layer. Regarding the interplay of the two technologies, most trends propose the use of the control plane as a . " ' Folk Karayannis is cm!ntly employed by the Greek Research and Techno log^ Network (GRNET). means to achieve integrated 1P over wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) service provisioning. However, standards are still on the way, and high-end optical products, like optical cross-connects with control plane, are too costly. Moreover, the business models for such interactions are not very strong and demand is relatively low, affected by the global telecommunications depression.In light of these developments, this article proposes a different approach for the integration of IP and WDM technologies main...