Self-Configuring Survivable Multi-Networks
for Information Systems Survivability: CoSMoS
Principal Investigators
- DEEP MEDHI, Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City (main offeror)
- DAVID TIPPER, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh (subcontractor)
Project Quad-chart
Description
A major attack can significantly reduce the capability to deliver
services in large-scale information systems.
In this project, we plan to address the survivability of large scale
heterogeneous information systems which consist of various services provided over
multiple interconnected networks with
different technologies and multi-vendor equipment with both
wireline and wireless infrastructure. For brevity, the communication
network portion of such systems are referred
to here as multi-networks. We specifically
address the issue of survivability due to physical attacks that destroy
links and nodes in networks, but expect that many of our results will
extend to non-lethal attacks which destroy or corrupt network control
information and databases.
The end goal is to support critical services in the face of
a major attack by making optimum use of network
resources while minimizing network congestion.
This is an
area which is little studied, especially for large-scale heterogeneous systems.
In this proposal, we seek to develop a comprehensive set of solutions
for the network design and management aspects of providing adequate
service continuity in the
event of a major attack on multi-networks.
Our research effort will involve several key innovations:
- The development of multi-networks
design models/algorithms to provide
a quality of service (QoS) specified under
single and multiple attack/failure conditions.
This work will
address the problem of intelligently designing and evolving
a network architecture
and configuration to improve survivability, starting from existing
architectures and legacy
networks.
- Given the multi-networks environment already deployed, we
will develop
network management algorithms (e.g., provisioning of backup routes,
virtual circuit rerouting algorithms, etc.)
which make optimum use of network
resources after an attack/failure (both large and small types) in support of
critical services.
This work will concentrate on the design and analysis of multiple priority traffic
restoration techniques to provide service continuity while
minimizing the network congestion.
We are developing a multi-layer restoration approach involving
a coordinated strategy among the layers. The restoration algorithms will
be suitable for automatic invocation
by network components, resulting in a self-configuring system
that adapts to the changing fault environment. Since emerging
multi-casting services
such as audio/video conferencing will be critical under an
attack, we plan to especially address the issue of the survivability of
multi-casting services.
- Studying
the transient network congestion that occurs after a failure
and incorporating its effect into the design of the network
and the traffic restoration algorithms will be emphasized. Thus not only will
a critical network user be provided service continuity, but
the service quality will be maintained to the highest degree
possible.
We propose to demonstrate network restoration concepts and procedures by building the
MIMIC (Mini Intelligent Multi-networks Information survivability Concepts)
Lab based at the University of Missouri--Kansas
City where initial implementation will be conducted.
What Else!
This project is funded by DARPA's Information Technology Office,
in their program on
Information Survivability which covers the areas
High Confidence Networking and
Survivability of Large-Scale Information
Systems.
