Digital cross-connect system restoration technique

Full restoration of a telecommunications network element (12), such as a digital cross-connect system (DCS), is accomplished by receiving from each element provisioning updates as they occur in real time via a local controller network (18). The provisioning changes are stored, typically via a local controller library (20). A DCS-OSS data base (22) creates and stores restoration maps for each DCS and, in response to updates from the local controller library 20, the DCS-OSS data base updates the stored restoration maps. Should a DCS become inoperative, that DCS can be restored (either by itself, or on another DCS) using the restoration map. Since the map contains the most up-to-date data, full restoration can be readily achieved.