Simon Znaty

A Survey of Distributed Enterprise Network andSystems Management Paradigms

Since the mid 1990s, network and systemsmanagement has steadily evolved from centralizedparadigms, where the management application runs on asingle management station, to distributed paradigms,where it is distributed over many nodes. In thissurvey, our goal is to classify all these paradigms,especially the new ones, in order to help network andsystems administrators design a management application, and choose between mobile code, distributedobjects, intelligent agents, etc. Step by step, we buildan enhanced taxonomy based on four criteria: thedelegation granularity, the semantic richness of the information model, the degree of specificationof a task, and the degree of automation ofmanagement.

Information Model: From Abstraction to Application

Today’s telecommunication structures, already widespread, are based on heterogeneous systems. In fact, in most networks, there are products and services from multiple vendors, and these products incorporate multiple technologies. So how can we manage networks which coexist, cooperate and internetwork in heterogeneous environment? As a matter of fact, we can say that management of network needs to have information on the whole behavior of all network elements. Thus, an information model must be provided, describing the way in which information is structured. We know that this information model is a critical component of a network management framework. Which are the main contributions of network management standards in this area? OSI management standards have adopted the object oriented paradigm for definition of management information [1]. Also, a semi-formal notation for the description of the syntactical elements of managed object classes, GDMO [2], has been defined. In addition, managed object sets (libraries) [3], are provided for developing its own specific information model. However, there is no provision of structuration of the information. On the contrary, CCITT [4] provides a generic network model without distinguishing between network and network element viewpoints [5] and without enhancing the service aspect. However, Network, Network Element and Service views are primordial for integrated management. The Internet community defines the MIB II (Management Information Base) [6]. The information is only attribute oriented. This is mainly for reasons of simplicity and quick provision of an operational network management framework. A main drawback is the lack of powerful modeling concepts. Each standard provides some elements of solution. However they still do not propose an integrated information model. In order to provide a complete answer that meets all requirements, it is necessary to reply to the following questions: Which are the main objectives of a satisfactory management information model? Which are the necessary conceptual tools? The answers lead us to propose an object oriented information model supporting both network and service aspects, which may be applied to any network element according to a particular visibility. To pass from this abstract model to its instantiation for a particular network configuration, we focus on the FDDI subnetwork management. Throughout this application, we enhance its efficiency for monitoring, controlling, analyzing and eventually managing the studied configuration. In addition, we provide the basic rules that guide us during the instantiation of the abstract model for any specific network.

An architectural approach for integrated network and systems management

Todays enterprises are accepting networked systems as a fundamental part of their information technology strategy. The constant growth in quantity and quality of networked systems and the thereby arising problems concerning complexity, heterogeneity and diversity of components in a multi-vendor environment require a sophisticated management of resources. Increasingly the automation of such management is being demanded.In this paper we introduce an architecture for the integrated management of all resources in a networked system, i.e. application, system and network resources. The architecture uses domains as flexible and pragmatic means of grouping resources and of specifying management responsibility and authority boundaries. It maintains a clear distinction between management objectives and the resources being managed in order to provide an integrated view of the various tasks of management as well as an integrated and uniform view of the distributed and heterogeneous managed environment. The uniform management model on which the architecture is based is expressive enough to capture the full richness of management structures and policies both within enterprises and between them. It allows for recursive and generic structuring, we consider as the basis for management activity automation.As an example, we apply our architectural concepts to structure the management of a high speed multi-network (ATM, DQDB, FDDI). Emphasis lies on an automated Quality of Service management in the FDDI management domain.

A Generic Service Management Architecture for Multimedia Multipoint Communications

With rapid advances in multimedia processing technologies, and in high bandwidth network technologies, new kinds of multimedia applications are now emerging. These applications require real-time, multimedia, and multipoint interactions involving multiple communicating entities and leading to a need of more sophisticated communication control functionalities. In this paper, a generic integrated and flexible service management architecture for multimedia multipoint communications is proposed, which offers three main generic functions, namely Quality of Service (QoS) negotiation, QoS monitoring and control, and session management.

Multimedia Multipoint Teleteaching over the European ATM Pilot

In this paper, we present the design and implementation of the BETEUS (Broadband Exchange for Trans-European Usage) communication and application platform. BETEUS is a European project aiming at developing generic, stable, flexible and scalable communication and application platforms which provide support for a collaborative work environments. In terms of collaborative work, BETEUS concentrates on distributed classroom, tele-seminar, multimedia document archival and retrieval and tele-tutoring. The problems found during the realization of the BETEUS platform are outlined and the proposed solutions explained. The follow-up of BETEUS in Switzerland through the TELEPOLY project which concerns operational teleteaching between the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (EPFL and ETHZ) is also presented.

Management of multimedia resources: from a generic information model to its application to an MPEG2 video codec

New open service architectures provide a management framework for telecommunications services, telecommunications networks and computing resources. However, the introduction of multimedia applications in these architectures will require the management of the underlying multimedia resources (e.g., codecs, converters, etc). Multimedia resources are the basic components that support multimedia communications. In this paper, we tackle this issue by proposing a generic management information model for multimedia resources and then instantiate it for the management of an MPEG2 video codec. This information model provides a data representation of the multimedia resources in order to manage them efficiently.

Network management viewpoints: a new way of encompassing the network management complexity

This paper defines viewpoints in order to deal with the network management complexity. A network management viewpoint leads to the representation of a network management system with emphasis on a specific concern. Five viewpoints are identified, namely information, functional, communication, architectural and organizational. The network management standards provisions and lacks for every viewpoint are enhanced and some elements of solutions are presented. Then, these viewpoints are integrated and applied to every management layer of an FDDI subnetwork considered as a componet of a high speed multi-network.

A generic architecture for VPN configuration management

This paper describes the specification of a management architecture allowing virtual private network (VPN) customers to dynamically modify the configuration of their VPN. The specification has been structured according to the ODP viewpoints. A special emphasis has been laid on how changes in the logical VPN configuration affect or are reflected in the underlying physical networks. As a result, an informational and a computational VPN configuration management architecture have been developed illustrating how processing and data can be distributed between the different layers and domains composing the architecture.

Towards Integrated Network Management : A Domain/policy Approach And Its Application To A High Speed Multi-network

In this paper we introduce a methodology for structuring the management of networked systems. Domains are used as a means for grouping resources according to different criteria. Moreover, we present a management model and the respective activity flows including interactions between managing components. As an example, we apply our concepts to structure the management of a high speed multi-network (ATM, DQDB, FDDI). Emphasis lies on Quality of Service management in the FDDI management domain.

Distributed system management treatments: toward the self-managing

In this paper, we present structuring concepts for distributed system management and a resulting distribution support tool kit. In order to deal with the complexity of the distribution environment management, an object model has been developed describing the behavior of the system objects and the necessary mechanisms for the control of this behavior. A computational model is used to define the treatments for the management information. Based on these models, the different tool kit management functions are designed and implemented.