There should be a host accepting telnet sessions for on-line updates (which have to be installed *immediately*, so whoever added a network can test connectivity and go ahead).

I'm surprised your trouble ticketing system doesn't support a "next action timer" that allows you to get notification after some time period, like when the new circuit is supposed to be turned up, or when the routing reconfiguration is supposed to have been completed so you can then check connectivity.

Our trouble-ticketing system is a mainframe monster (yes, Virginia, it is 3270 :) and i didn't write a more useful one yet. The problem is that the system has to support not only IP-related stuff but also physical-level crap; and there's a lot of baggage there. Sigh. --vadim