TL;DR: In this paper, the central concepts of a theory of networks and of network management are discussed, and the authors argue that government's special resources and its unique legitimacy as representative of the common Interest make it the outstanding candidate for fulfilling the role of network manager, a role which means arranging and facilitating interaction processes within networks In such a way that problems of under or non representation are properly addressed and interests are articulated and dealt with in an open, transparent and balanced manner.
Abstract: In this article we address the elaboration of the central concepts of a theory of networks and of network management. We suggest that the network approach builds on several theoretical traditions. After this we clarify the theoretical concepts and axioms of the policy network approach and argue that this framework has important explanatory power both on the level of strategic interaction processes as well as on the level of institutional relations. We argue that government's special resources and its unique legitimacy as representative of the common Interest make it the outstanding candidate for fulfilling the role of network manager, a role which means arranging and facilitating interaction processes within networks In such a way that problems of under or non representation are properly addressed and interests are articulated and dealt with in an open, transparent and balanced manner.
TL;DR: In this article, a secure communication path is established between the network management server and a mobile wireless capable device, where the network asset is managed via the secure path with the mobile wireless-capable device.
Abstract: Systems and methods of providing mobile network management of assets on a network are presented. In accordance with the method, a network management server is provided to control a network asset on a network. The network asset is connected to the network management server via a connection path. A secure communication path is established between the network management server and a mobile wireless capable device. The network asset is managed via the secure communication path with the mobile wireless capable device. The network is administered via the secure communication path with the mobile wireless capable device.
TL;DR: In this article, a method and apparatus for concurrently displaying from a single window on a network management station the health status of all network devices and objects of a computer network is presented.
Abstract: A method and apparatus for concurrently displaying from a single window on a network management station the health status of all network devices and objects of a computer network. The network devices may be categorized according to state or device type, as determined by the network manager. The method and apparatus provides a network manager with the ability to determine the current state of network devices and objects within an enterprise network and invoke further actions such as configuration, performance, fault, and security management tasks. The network manager can drag and drop icons from one network management system application window to another network management system application window to obtain fault information about network devices and objects, thus allowing multiple network management system applications to run concurrently on the same network management station. The network manager is further able to add new network devices and objects by dragging site, folder or device icons from one network management system application window to a second network management system application window for displaying the health status of the new devices. The dragged-in devices are added to the appropriate status panes within the second window according to the method of the present invention.
TL;DR: The element management system (EMS) as discussed by the authors addresses the need for effective and efficient management of heterogeneous telecommunications networks that include network elements of different types (i.e., radios and fiber optic devices, made by different manufacturers).
Abstract: The element management system ('EMS') of the present invention addresses the need for effective and efficient management of heterogeneous telecommunications networks that include network elements of different types (530, 531, 532, 533), such as radios and fiber optic devices, made by different manufacturers. This EMS provides a core set of element-independent network management messages that support basic network management functions, such as fault and performance monitoring (503) and configuration management (502). Element-independent messages to an individual network element are mapped to an element-dependent message for that network element; messages from individual network elements are correspondingly mapped into the core set of element-independent messages. Management applications and user interfaces in the EMS thus send and receive network management information using the core set of messages, in the common protocol of those messages. The EMS of the present invention thus supports rapid and low-cost integration of additional network elements of different types and different manufacturers, additional management functionality and additional and modified telecommunications services. The present invention also provides a method for developing the core set of element-independent network management messages for basic telecommunications management functions.
TL;DR: Network management: principles and practice, Network management: Principles and practice , مرکز فناوری اطلاعات £1,000,000; اوشاوρزی £1,500,000.
Abstract: Network management: principles and practice , Network management: principles and practice , مرکز فناوری اطلاعات و اطلاع رسانی کشاورزی
TL;DR: In this paper, a GPS receiver is used to calculate the position of the user's mobile device and a request processor for processing and selectively responding to requests for information regarding the location of the mobile device.
Abstract: There is provided a device, comprising a positioner configured to determine, at least in part, a position of the device and a request processor for processing and selectively responding to requests for information regarding the position of the device. The positioner comprises a GPS receiver used to calculate the position of the device. A communications network in which the device operates may finally calculate the position. Further, the device may be configured to automatically respond to certain network management location information requests, which are generated by a communications network in which the device operates. The device may also be configured to automatically respond to information requests that result from an emergency communication initiated by the user or that originate from certain specified agencies. Alternatively, the device may be programmed to respond to certain request types depending on input from the user of the device. The request types may be related to services and events that are based on the location of the device or that are based on input from the user.
TL;DR: The National Laboratory for Applied Network Research is creating a network analysis infrastructure (NAI) to support network research and engineering of high performance research networks and the collection of network management and control data.
Abstract: The National Laboratory for Applied Network Research is creating a network analysis infrastructure (NAI) to support network research and engineering of high performance research networks. The NAI includes a passive monitoring project, an active monitoring project, and the collection of network management and control data. Together these projects have deployed more than 120 monitors around the high-performance research networks in the United States. This article describes NAI and the projects using it. The article concludes with a discussion of the future plans for the infrastructure.
TL;DR: A method and apparatus for network management is described in this paper, where a method comprises collecting performance data having accompanying meta data including information defining the performance management data and information indicating operations to be performed on the performance Management data, and generating output data for display using collected performance management Data according to the information indicating the operations that should be performed.
Abstract: A method and apparatus for network management is described. In one embodiment, a method comprises collecting performance data having accompanying meta data including information defining the performance management data and information indicating operations to be performed on the performance management data, and generating output data for display using collected performance management data according to the information indicating the operations to be performed on the performance management data.
TL;DR: Smart Packets improves the management of large complex networks by moving management decision points closer to the node being managed, targeting specific aspects of the node for information rather than exhaustive collection via polling, and abstracting the management concepts to language constructs, allowing nimble network control.
Abstract: This article introduces Smart Packets and describes the smart Packets architecture, the packet formats, the language and its design goals, and security considerations. Smart Packets is an Active Networks project focusing on applying active networks technology to network management and monitoring. Messages in active networks are programs that are executed at nodes on the path to one or more target hosts. Smart Packets programs are written in a tightly encoded, safe language specifically designed to support network management and avoid dangerous constructs and accesses. Smart Packets improves the management of large complex networks by (1) moving management decision points closer to the node being managed, (2) targeting specific aspects of the node for information rather than exhaustive collection via polling, and (3) abstracting the management concepts to language constructs, allowing nimble network control.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a management system internal to a network device that sends various management data files and corresponding metadata files to an external management system external to the network device.
Abstract: The present invention provides a management system internal to a network device that sends various management data files and corresponding metadata files to a management system external to the network device. The external management system then uses the metadata files to process the management data files. As a result, the external management system dynamically learns how to manage a network device through the metadata files. Moreover, new types of management data files—perhaps corresponding to new hardware within the network device—may be sent from the internal management system to the external management system along with corresponding new metadata files and the external management system will be able to process the new management files without having to be re-booted or restarted. In addition, multiple network devices coupled with the external management system may send various different types of management data to the external management system and using the metadata files from each network device, the external management system will be able to process the various management data types. In one embodiment, the metadata files are JAVA class files.
TL;DR: In this article, a method and apparatus to configure, monitor and manage network devices without regard for device type and/or manufacturer is disclosed, which includes a network manager unit disposed between the network administrator and the network devices.
Abstract: A method and apparatus to configure, monitor and manage network devices without regard for device type and/or manufacturer is disclosed. One implementation of this embodiment includes a network manager unit disposed between the network administrator and the network devices. The network manager unit allows the administrator to holistically view, configure and manage an entire network without regard to device type and/or manufacturer. The administrator can implement this holistic approach with the use of a central repository for all configuration information and/or a central posting location for all network events.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a new cost-effective and efficient framework for network management of telecommunications networks by monitoring the network-level concepts of routes and paths, which includes a data collector for collecting data from individual network elements, a management server for processing the routing data collected into manageable route and path objects and a graphical unit interface (GUI) for allowing a user to manage and monitor routes and path in the IP network.
Abstract: The invention provides a new cost-effective and efficient framework for network management of telecommunications networks by monitoring the network-level concepts of routes and paths. The invention is embodied in a route and path management (RPM) system which includes a data collector for collecting data from the individual network elements, a management server for processing the routing data collected into manageable route and path objects and a graphical unit interface (GUI) for allowing a user to manage and monitor routes and paths in the IP network. By monitoring routes and paths, the RPM provides network managers with the added capability of troubleshooting, performance monitoring, service level planning and provisioning packet forwarding paths between any source-destination endpoints in a network.
TL;DR: In this paper, a network (300) collects performance data associated with each network element and passes the performance data to a network management element (330), creating a global traffic conditioning control.
Abstract: Network (300) collects performance data associated with each network element, passes the performance data associated with each network element to a network management element (330), creating a global traffic conditioning control, communicates the global traffic conditioning control to at least one of the plurality of network elements, and re-shapes an internal control of at least one of the plurality of network elements based on the global traffic conditioning control. In another aspect, a network (400) detects congestion of a micro communication flow associated with at least one of a plurality of communication traffic flows at a first network element, detects a communication traffic flow priority at a first level associated with the congested micro communication flow, changes at a second network element, in an upstream communication flow in relation with the first network element, the priority from the first level to a second level.
TL;DR: In this paper, a method and system are disclosed for efficiently correlating events within a data processing system and then transmitting messages to various network entities in response to an occurrence of a particular network event.
Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for efficiently correlating events within a data processing system and then transmitting messages to various network entities in response to an occurrence of a particular network event. According to the present invention, a network mediation service receives raw message streams from one or more external data sources and passes the streams in real-time to the event notification service. The event notification service then passes the message to the message parsing service for processing. After the message has been parsed by the message parsing service, it is passed back to the event notification service which passes the message along an event channel to the network management service. The message is also passed to the event correlation service for event correlation. A knowledge-based database of message classes that define how to interpret the message text are used by the event correlation service to match correlation rule conditions to the observed events. After event correlation service processes the parsed event, it is passed to the network management service for resolution.
TL;DR: What the flow logs contain, the tools written to store and process these logs, and how the logs have been used to perform network management and security functions at OSU are described.
Abstract: Many Cisco routers and switches support NetFlow services which provides a detailed source of data about network traffic. The Office of Information Technology Enterprise Networking Services group (OIT/ENS) at The Ohio State University (OSU) has written a suite of tools called flow-tools to record, filter, print and analyze flow logs derived from exports of NetFlow accounting records. We use the flow logs for general network planning, performance monitoring, usage based billing, and many security related tasks including incident response and intrusion detection. This paper describes what the flow logs contain, the tools we have written to store and process these logs, and discusses how we have used the logs and the tools to perform network management and security functions at OSU. We also discuss some related projects and our future plans at the end of the paper.
TL;DR: In this paper, a network management system for a multi-layer network having multiple architectural or technological domains includes an inter-domain configuration manager arranged between a set of one or more network service management applications and a subset of network element domain managers, each of the domain managers being associated with a particular domain of the network.
Abstract: A network management system for a multi-layer network having multiple architectural or technological domains includes an inter-domain configuration manager arranged between a set of one or more network service management applications and a set of network element domain managers, each of the domain managers being associated with a particular domain of the multi-layer network. The configuration manager implements network service design and provisioning functions across the domains of the network in conjunction with stored connectivity information characterizing the multi-layer network. The network management system further includes an inter-domain fault manager and an inter-domain capacity manager, which provide respective fault management and transport capacity management functions across the domains of the multi-layer network. The inter-domain configuration manager, inter-domain fault manager and inter-domain capacity manager may be interfaced to the set of network service management applications and the set of network element domain managers through corresponding published Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
TL;DR: Three novel applications are presented, tailored to transfers of bulk network monitoring data, in which MAs are used to perform data aggregation, acquire atomic SNMP table views and support selective retrieval ofSNMP table objects that meet specific selection criteria.
TL;DR: RMTP-II builds on a rich field of existing work, and adds to it the following novel contributions: it differentiates the roles of the nodes in the protocol, provides algorithms for smoothing and control of the return (TRACK) traffic, and provides explicit support for highly asymmetrical networks.
Abstract: This document provides an overview of the reliable multicast transport protocol II, RMTP-II. RMTP-II is a reliable multicast protocol, designed to reliably and efficiently send data from a few senders to large groups of simultaneous recipients. It works over both symmetric networks and asymmetrical network topologies such as those provided by satellite, cable modem, or ADSL carriers. Before sending, each sender must connect with a trusted top node to receive permission and control parameters for its data stream. The top node provides network managers with a single point of control for the senders, allowing them to monitor and control the traffic being sent. RMTP-II builds on a rich field of existing work, and adds to it the following novel contributions. It differentiates the roles of the nodes in the protocol, provides algorithms for smoothing and control of the return (TRACK) traffic, and provides explicit support for highly asymmetrical networks. It provides explicit network management controls through a centralized point of control, a fully distributed membership protocol that enables positive confirmation of data delivery, and fault recovery algorithms which are integrated to the reliability semantics of the protocol. It includes a novel reliability level called time bounded reliability, and offers a unique combination of TRACKs, NACKs, and FEC for increased scalability and real-time performance. Finally, it integrates distributed algorithms for RTT calculation to each receiver, and provides automatic configuration of receiver nodes.
TL;DR: In this paper, a method and system are disclosed for efficiently correlating network events within a data processing system and then transmitting messages to various network entities in response to an occurrence of a particular network event.
Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for efficiently correlating network events within a data processing system and then transmitting messages to various network entities in response to an occurrence of a particular network event. According to the present invention, a network mediation service receives raw message streams from one or more external networks and passes the streams in real-time to the event notification service. The event notification service then passes the message to the message parsing service for processing. After the message has been parsed by the message parsing service, it is passed back to the event notification service which passes the message along an event channel to the network management service. The message is also passed to the event correlation service for event correlation. A knowledge-based database of message classes that define how to interpret the message text are used by the event correlation service to match correlation rule conditions to the observed events. After event correlation service processes the parsed event, it is passed to the network management service for resolution.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a method and apparatus for supporting multiple redundancy schemes in a single network device, which allows customers having different availability/redundancy needs to be serviced by same network device.
Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for supporting multiple redundancy schemes in a single network device. In one network device, various redundancy schemes are supported including 1:1, 1+1, 1:N, no redundancy or a combination of redundancy schemes. In addition, the redundancy scheme or schemes for physical network device cards (i.e., universal port cards) or ports may be different from the redundancy scheme or schemes for forwarding network device cards. For example, a network manager may want to provide 1:1 or 1+1 redundancy for all universal port cards and/or ports but only 1:N redundancy for each N group of forwarding cards. As another example, the network manager may provide certain customers with 1:1 redundancy on both universal port cards (or ports) and forwarding cards to ensure that customer's network availability while providing other customers, with lower availability requirements, with various other redundancy scheme combinations, for example, 1:1, 1+1, 1:N or no redundancy for port cards or ports and 1:N or no redundancy for forwarding cards. The present invention allows customers having different availability/redundancy needs to be serviced by same network device.
TL;DR: In this paper, a distributed method and system of controlling a communications network having a plurality of spans of interconnected network elements some of which include a network element processor distributes network topology information to respective span databases; stores original fault objects in the respective span database; advertises fault objects to other network element processors in a local span when the original fault affects network elements other than the network element in which the fault occurred.
Abstract: A distributed method and system of controlling a communications network having a plurality of spans of interconnected network elements some of which include a network element processor distributes network topology information to respective span databases; stores original fault objects in the respective span databases; advertises fault objects to other network element processors in a local span when the original fault affects network elements other than a network element in which the fault occurred; advertises alarm objects to other network element processors that are respectively associated with a circuit affected by the original faults; stores the advertised fault and alarm objects in the respective span databases; and performs distributed processing of the advertised fault and alarm objects with the other network element processors and the respective span databases. Aggregation of other faults and alarms that may be occurring on the communications network due to other faults other than the received fault aids in determining causality of the fault. Causality may be determined by correlating other faults and alarms with the received fault. If not a root cause of another fault or alarm, the received fault is sympathetic to another fault or alarm. Sympathetic faults are suppressed while root cause faults are promoted to an alarm and reported to affected network elements. The number of alarms viewed by a network manager as well as the reporting of alarms and underlying faults are reduced by performing such distributed alarm correlation and fault reporting suppression.
TL;DR: This paper discusses how to take advantage of mobile agents technology and identifies some reference scenario where mobile agents represent a very promising approach and describes a prototype implementation based on the mobile agent platform called MAP and shows how it is possible to take advantages from using the features it provides.
TL;DR: In this article, a method, system, apparatus, and computer program product are presented for management of a distributed data processing system, where resources within the distributed datapath system are dynamically discovered, and the discovered resources are adaptively monitored using the network management framework.
Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product are presented for management of a distributed data processing system. Resources within the distributed data processing system are dynamically discovered, and the discovered resources are adaptively monitored using the network management framework. A network or system administrator configures some mission critical endpoints with multiple network interface cards (NICs) and specifies mission critical endpoints, non-mission critical actions, etc. During status collection activities associated with network or system management activities, the categorization of an endpoint as a mission-critical or non-mission critical endpoint affects the manner in which the status collection activity is performed. Applications can request the performance of actions at endpoints without regard to the categorization of the endpoint or without regard to the categorization of the requested action, and the network management system routes the action based on whether or not the specified endpoint is a mission critical endpoint. A non-mission-critical endpoint is associated with a mission-critical endpoint based on the non-mission-critical endpoint's communication history with the mission critical endpoint. The management system may use the status of a non-mission-critical endpoint as a reflection of the status of a mission-critical endpoint.
TL;DR: An intelligent algorithm is proposed that makes use of the user's location to simplify the procedure and results in a stable system, decreasing the signaling congestion and the call-drop probability.
Abstract: Position location of mobile terminals is expected to be one of the key services for mobile network operators in the near future. A variety of services may be offered, such as emergency-call assistance, fleet management, location-based value added services, navigation, stolen vehicle monitoring, improved network management and differential billing. Currently, network suppliers and research institutes worldwide are trying to conclude on the integration of positioning techniques, that fulfils related FCC and ETSI localization requirements, without exaggerating network costs. Furthermore, the rapidly increasing number of mobile subscribers in addition to the introduction of new circuit/packet-based data services, will cause serious traffic overload in cellular networks. Handover procedures use the signaling resources of the network and this is one of the system's parameters that has to be optimized. We propose an intelligent algorithm that makes use of the user's location to simplify the procedure and results in a stable system, decreasing the signaling congestion and the call-drop probability.
TL;DR: In this article, a power manager with a network agent in communication over a network with an network manager is connected to control several intelligent power modules each able to independently control the power on/off status of several network appliances.
Abstract: A network comprises a power manager with a network agent in communication over a network with an network manager. The power manager is connected to control several intelligent power modules each able to independently control the power on/off status of several network appliances. Power-on and load sensors within each intelligent power module are able to report the power status of each network appliance to the network manager with variables in response to commands. Each intelligent power module is equipped with an output that is connected to cause an interrupt signal to the network appliance being controlled. The network manager is able to test which network appliance is actually responding before any cycling of the power to the corresponding appliance is tried.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a system and method for integrating the management of process control and network operation into one HMI software platform, which allows the simultaneous management of network control data and network diagnostic data transmitted over an open architecture network.
Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for integrating the management of process control and network operation into one HMI software platform. The invention allows the simultaneous management of process control data and network diagnostic data transmitted over an open architecture network. The inventive system and method incorporates a network data interface in the HMI platform which retrieves network condition information using a standard network transmission protocol and then converts the diagnostic information into a useable process control format. The network information may then be readily accessed by the HMI software platform as any other process control information for display to users in a singular user interface. The resulting display allows for simultaneous monitoring and management of real-time process control and network information.
TL;DR: This work describes a prototype system where legacy routers are enhanced with an adjunct active engine, which enables the safe execution and rapid deployment of new distributed management applications in the network layer and allows smooth migration from IP to programmable networks.
Abstract: The emerging next generation of routers exhibit both high performance and rich functionality, such as support for virtual private networks and QoS. To achieve this, per-flow queuing and fast IP filtering are incorporated into the router hardware. The management of a network comprising such devices and efficient use of the new functionality introduce new challenges. A truly distributed network management system is an attractive candidate to address these challenges. We describe how active network techniques can be used to allow fast and easy deployment of distributed network management applications in IP networks. We describe a prototype system where legacy routers are enhanced with an adjunct active engine, which enables the safe execution and rapid deployment of new distributed management applications in the network layer. This system can gradually be integrated in today's IP network, and allows smooth migration from IP to programmable networks. This is done with an emphasis on efficient use of network resources, which is somewhat obscure by many of today's high-level solutions.
TL;DR: In this article, a distributed method and system of controlling a communications network having a plurality of spans of interconnected network elements some of which include a network element processor distributes network topology information to respective span databases; stores original fault objects in the respective span database; advertises fault objects to other network element processors in a local span when the original fault affects network elements other than the network element in which the fault occurred.
Abstract: A distributed method and system of controlling a communications network having a plurality of spans of interconnected network elements some of which include a network element processor distributes network topology information to respective span databases; stores original fault objects in the respective span databases; advertises fault objects to other network element processors in a local span when the original fault affects network elements other than a network element in which the fault occurred; advertises alarm objects to other network element processors that are respectively associated with a circuit affected by the original faults; stores the advertised fault and alarm objects in the respective span databases; and performs distributed processing of the advertised fault and alarm objects with the other network element processors and the respective span databases. Aggregation of other faults and alarms that may be occurring on the communications network due to other faults other than the received fault aids in determining causality of the fault. Causality may be determined by correlating other faults and alarms with the received fault. If not a root cause of another fault or alarm, the received fault is sympathetic to another fault or alarm. Sympathetic faults are suppressed while root cause faults are promoted to an alarm and reported to affected network elements. The number of alarms viewed by a network manager as well as the reporting of alarms and underlying faults are reduced by performing such distributed alarm correlation and fault reporting suppression.
TL;DR: In this paper, a method, system, apparatus, and computer program product are presented for management of a distributed data processing system, where resources within the distributed DPDP system are dynamically discovered, and the discovered resources are adaptively monitored using the network management framework.
Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product are presented for management of a distributed data processing system. Resources within the distributed data processing system are dynamically discovered, and the discovered resources are adaptively monitored using the network management framework. A network or system administrator configures some mission critical endpoints with multiple network interface cards (NICs) and specifies mission critical endpoints, non-mission critical actions, etc. During status collection activities associated with network or system management activities, the categorization of an endpoint as a mission-critical or non-mission critical endpoint affects the manner in which the status collection activity is performed. Applications can request the performance of actions at endpoints without regard to the categorization of the endpoint or without regard to the categorization of the requested action, and the network management system routes the action based on whether or not the specified endpoint is a mission critical endpoint.