Applying and Evaluating Active Technologies in Distributed Management [Vol. 11, No. 2, 2003]

Applying and Evaluating Active Technologies in Distributed Management

Jürgen Quittek
Network Laboratories,
NEC Europe Ltd.,
Kurfürsten-Anlage 36, D-69115
Heidelberg, Germany
Email: quittek_AT_ccrle.nec.de

Marcus Brunner
Network Laboratories,
NEC Europe Ltd.,
Kurfürsten-Anlage 36, D-69115
Heidelberg, Germany
Email: brunner_AT_ccrle.nec.de

Abstract
The idea of Distributed Management is around for quite some time. In recent years, several different technologies have been developed to implement this paradigm. However, until today a practical comparison of these technologies with the implementation of various management applications has - to the authors knowledge - not been made. Therefore, this paper discusses and compares the application of different active technologies to distributed Internet management. Three management application areas that profit from the Distributed Management paradigm are investigated: scalable monitoring, explicit placement of management tasks, and remote systems management of network nodes. The specific requirements of these application areas are analyzed and compared to the capabilities of three different active Distributed Management technologies: the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Script MIB, the active network backbone (ABone), and the mobile agent platform Voyager. For all combinations of technologies and application areas, prototype implementations have been made, that demonstrate strengths and weaknesses of current Distributed Management technologies. The paper evaluates the tested technologies and concludes with suggestions for improvements.

Keywords: Network Management, Active Technologies, Active Networks, Programmable Networks, IP Networks, Management of IP Networks, IP Services, Case Studies, Experiences, Evaluation, Comparison, Script MIB, Voyager, ABone.

JNSM: Vol. 11, No. 2, 2003 Applying and Evaluating Active Technologies in Distributed Management [Vol. 11, No. 2, 2003]

NOTE: only abstract of paper available on-line; please contact your library or the authors for the full paper

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