Meta-management of Dynamic Distributed Network Managers (MEMAD)

Abstract

Distributed network management systems (NMS) have become a crucial necessity, especially for overcoming centralized NMS restrictions such as scalability and inefficient use of network resources. Such systems will also be instrumental in meeting the need for high-power computers and storage capabilities on the NMS platform. Modern technologies used in distributed NMS include management by delegating agents and mobile codes. These methods lead to the creation of a hierarchical architecture, since it simplifies management of the distributed agents. Peer management results in a dynamic, survivable and efficient way of managing the network, but it requires a complicated metamanagement mechanism to handle the managers. This study suggests an architecture for this purpose. We term this model Meta-Management of dynamic Distributed network managers (MEMAD). The purpose of MEMAD is to enable Peered Distributed Managers (PDMs) to manage the network by executing delegated or predetermined common management tasks. MEMAD defines a small, shared, replicated, and partitioned database as well as inter-communication SNMP based primitives for providing PDMs with the ability to cooperate efficiently in managing the network.