A Survey of Distributed Enterprise Network and Systems Management Paradigms
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paper_title: KQML as an agent communication language

paper_content:

This paper describes the design of and experimentation with the Knowledge Query and Manipulation Language (KQML), a new language and protocol for exchanging information and knowledge. This work is part of a larger effort, the ARPA Knowledge Sharing Effort which is aimed at developing techniques and methodology for building large-scale knowledge bases which are sharable and reusable. KQML is both a message format and a message-handling protocol to support run-time knowledge sharing among agents. KQML focuses on an extensible set of performatives , which defines the permissible “speech acts” agents may use and comprise a substrate on which to develop higher-level models of interagent interaction such as contract nets and negotiation. In addition, KQML provides a basic architecture for knowledge sharing through a special class of agent called communication facilitors which coordinate the interactions of other agents. The ideas which underlie the evolving design of KQML are currently being explored through experimental prototype systems which are being used to support several testbeds in such areas as concurrent engineering, intelligent design and intelligent planning and scheduling.
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paper_title: An introduction to TMN

paper_content:

The “Telecommunication Management Network” standard (ITU-T M.3010), the Network Magagement Forum “OMNIPoint” program, and many related developments are summarized. TMN and OMNIPoint are presented as a means to achieve integrated network management in the telecommunications industry by calling for all management systems to include an interoperable interface which permits each system to be integrated into a larger management hierarchy. By means of such interfaces, hierarchical integration of management systems can be achieved within the administration of a single service provider. Interoperable interfaces also make possible the interconnection of multiple service providers and the connection of customer to service provider, resulting in the possibility of industry wide integration of management infrastructures at all levels.
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paper_title: Distributed management by delegation

paper_content:

This paper introduces a novel approach to distributed computing based on delegation-agents, and describes its applications to decentralize network management. Delegation agents are programs that can be dispatched to remote processes, dynamically linked and executed under local or remote control. Unlike scripted agents, delegation agent programs may be written in arbitrary languages, interpreted or compiled. They can thus be more broadly applied to handle such tasks as real-time monitoring, analysis and control of network resources. Distributed management by delegation (MbD) uses this to manage remote elements and domains. MbD provides a paradigm for distributed, flexible, scalable and robust network management that overcomes the key limitations of current centralized management schemes.
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paper_title: Annotated Typology of Distributed Network Management Paradigms

paper_content:

Over the past few years, network management has steadily evolved from a centralized model, where all the management processing takes place on a single network management station, to distributed models, where management is distributed over a number, potentially large, of nodes. Among distributed models, one, the weakly distributed hierarchical model, has been around for several years, whereas a flurry of new ones, based on mobile code, distributed objects or cooperative agents, have only recently emerged. Which of these techniques will eventually win ? Will several ones have to coexist ? How do they compare to each other ? In order to provide a framework to analyze these issues, this paper presents a comprehensive typology of all network management paradigms known to date, whether they have been successfully implemented already or whether they are still confined to the research community. By comparing these models with those used in another research field, enterprise management, we delineate a common trend of evolution, and attempt to predict what the future holds for network management.
---
paper_title: Distributed management by delegation

paper_content:

This paper introduces a novel approach to distributed computing based on delegation-agents, and describes its applications to decentralize network management. Delegation agents are programs that can be dispatched to remote processes, dynamically linked and executed under local or remote control. Unlike scripted agents, delegation agent programs may be written in arbitrary languages, interpreted or compiled. They can thus be more broadly applied to handle such tasks as real-time monitoring, analysis and control of network resources. Distributed management by delegation (MbD) uses this to manage remote elements and domains. MbD provides a paradigm for distributed, flexible, scalable and robust network management that overcomes the key limitations of current centralized management schemes.
---
paper_title: Mobile software agents: a new paradigm for telecommunications management

paper_content:

This paper introduces the concept of mobile (software) agents and identifies its principle impact on the area of telecommunications management. In particular we propose to enhance the existing management agent functionality (i.e. the managed system) by an agent execution environment in order to enable the realization of "mobile management applications", implemented by mobile agent scripts. This would allow a dynamic distribution and better decentralization of telecommunications management intelligence.
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paper_title: Understanding code mobility

paper_content:

The technologies, architectures, and methodologies traditionally used to develop distributed applications exhibit a variety of limitations and drawbacks when applied to large scale distributed settings (e.g., the Internet). In particular, they fail in providing the desired degree of configurability, scalability, and customizability. To address these issues, researchers are investigating a variety of innovative approaches. The most promising and intriguing ones are those based on the ability of moving code across the nodes of a network, exploiting the notion of mobile code. As an emerging research field, code mobility is generating a growing body of scientific literature and industrial developments. Nevertheless, the field is still characterized by the lack of a sound and comprehensive body of concepts and terms. As a consequence, it is rather difficult to understand, assess, and compare the existing approaches. In turn, this limits our ability to fully exploit them in practice, and to further promote the research work on mobile code. Indeed, a significant symptom of this situation is the lack of a commonly accepted and sound definition of the term mobile code itself. This paper presents a conceptual framework for understanding code mobility. The framework is centered around a classification that introduces three dimensions: technologies, design paradigms, and applications. The contribution of the paper is two-fold. First, it provides a set of terms and concepts to understand and compare the approaches based on the notion of mobile code. Second, it introduces criteria and guidelines that support the developer in the identification of the classes of applications that can leverage off of mobile code, in the design of these applications, and, finally, in the selection of the most appropriate implementation technologies. The presentation of the classification is intertwined with a review of state-of-the-art in the field. Finally, the use of the classification is exemplified in a case study.
---
paper_title: Annotated Typology of Distributed Network Management Paradigms

paper_content:

Over the past few years, network management has steadily evolved from a centralized model, where all the management processing takes place on a single network management station, to distributed models, where management is distributed over a number, potentially large, of nodes. Among distributed models, one, the weakly distributed hierarchical model, has been around for several years, whereas a flurry of new ones, based on mobile code, distributed objects or cooperative agents, have only recently emerged. Which of these techniques will eventually win ? Will several ones have to coexist ? How do they compare to each other ? In order to provide a framework to analyze these issues, this paper presents a comprehensive typology of all network management paradigms known to date, whether they have been successfully implemented already or whether they are still confined to the research community. By comparing these models with those used in another research field, enterprise management, we delineate a common trend of evolution, and attempt to predict what the future holds for network management.
---
paper_title: Annotated Typology of Distributed Network Management Paradigms

paper_content:

Over the past few years, network management has steadily evolved from a centralized model, where all the management processing takes place on a single network management station, to distributed models, where management is distributed over a number, potentially large, of nodes. Among distributed models, one, the weakly distributed hierarchical model, has been around for several years, whereas a flurry of new ones, based on mobile code, distributed objects or cooperative agents, have only recently emerged. Which of these techniques will eventually win ? Will several ones have to coexist ? How do they compare to each other ? In order to provide a framework to analyze these issues, this paper presents a comprehensive typology of all network management paradigms known to date, whether they have been successfully implemented already or whether they are still confined to the research community. By comparing these models with those used in another research field, enterprise management, we delineate a common trend of evolution, and attempt to predict what the future holds for network management.
---
paper_title: Distributed management by delegation

paper_content:

This paper introduces a novel approach to distributed computing based on delegation-agents, and describes its applications to decentralize network management. Delegation agents are programs that can be dispatched to remote processes, dynamically linked and executed under local or remote control. Unlike scripted agents, delegation agent programs may be written in arbitrary languages, interpreted or compiled. They can thus be more broadly applied to handle such tasks as real-time monitoring, analysis and control of network resources. Distributed management by delegation (MbD) uses this to manage remote elements and domains. MbD provides a paradigm for distributed, flexible, scalable and robust network management that overcomes the key limitations of current centralized management schemes.
---
paper_title: KQML as an agent communication language

paper_content:

This paper describes the design of and experimentation with the Knowledge Query and Manipulation Language (KQML), a new language and protocol for exchanging information and knowledge. This work is part of a larger effort, the ARPA Knowledge Sharing Effort which is aimed at developing techniques and methodology for building large-scale knowledge bases which are sharable and reusable. KQML is both a message format and a message-handling protocol to support run-time knowledge sharing among agents. KQML focuses on an extensible set of performatives , which defines the permissible “speech acts” agents may use and comprise a substrate on which to develop higher-level models of interagent interaction such as contract nets and negotiation. In addition, KQML provides a basic architecture for knowledge sharing through a special class of agent called communication facilitors which coordinate the interactions of other agents. The ideas which underlie the evolving design of KQML are currently being explored through experimental prototype systems which are being used to support several testbeds in such areas as concurrent engineering, intelligent design and intelligent planning and scheduling.
---

Title: A Survey of Distributed Enterprise Network and Systems Management Paradigms

Section 1: INTRODUCTION
Description 1: Write an introductory overview of the evolution of Network and Systems Management (N&SM) paradigms, emphasizing the shift from centralized to distributed management, and outline the aims of the paper.

Section 2: TERMINOLOGY
Description 2: Discuss the definitions and terminologies used in the paper for clarity, especially regarding different management paradigms, managers, agents, and the concept of delegation.

Section 3: A SIMPLE TAXONOMY OF ENTERPRISE NETWORK AND SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT PARADIGMS
Description 3: Introduce a basic taxonomy of N&SM paradigms based on organizational models, distinguishing between centralized and various distributed paradigms.

Section 4: DELEGATION GRANULARITY
Description 4: Analyze the criterion of delegation granularity in N&SM, explaining the concepts of micro-tasks and macro-tasks as well as delegation by domain and task.

Section 5: SEMANTIC RICHNESS OF THE INFORMATION MODEL, AND DEGREE OF SPECIFICATION OF A TASK
Description 5: Compare different information model abstractions (managed objects, computational objects, and goals) used in N&SM and their implications on task specification.

Section 6: DEGREE OF AUTOMATION OF MANAGEMENT
Description 6: Discuss the importance of automation in N&SM, the impact of different task granularities on automation, and the need for automated management in complex, large-scale systems.

Section 7: AN ENHANCED TAXONOMY OF ENTERPRISE NETWORK AND SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT PARADIGMS
Description 7: Present an enhanced taxonomy of N&SM paradigms incorporating four criteria (delegation granularity, semantic richness, degree of automation, and degree of specification of a task) to aid designers in selecting appropriate technologies.

Section 8: CONCLUSIONS
Description 8: Summarize the paper's findings regarding the classification of N&SM paradigms, the proposed taxonomies, and their benefits for designers of N&SM applications.