1. Management for IP-based Applications Mike Fisher BTexaCT Research mike.fisher@bt.com

2. Introduction Future networks and applications Active Networks Management Problems Active Management

3. Evolution of the Internet Demand for new applications/ customisation Infrastructure can’t keep pace with application explosion Multimedia –need for QoS, correlated flows, multipoint Control of end-to-end application performance Flexible infrastructure and adaptable management

4. Public Network Administrator 1 Administrator 3 Administrator 2 Policies (SLAs) User Multi-owner Network ?

5. Programmable Networks computation in the network, not just routing users can introduce programs –delegate control and responsibility –improved resilience to change –… increased risks from sharing control

6. Active Network Technology Dynamically update software on network element to change node behaviour Users/Operators/Value-Added Service Providers create new services to run on active nodes Active nodes include routers, proxies, firewalls etc Two categories: –capsule-based approach - packets may contain both data and active code to be executed at node –discrete approach - active code downloaded out-of-band from code libraries/caches

7. Locating Active Programmability Core network devices Edge devices Border devices Host

8. P1520 reference model

9. Architectural Requirements Divide programmability Active Router –OSI layer-3 functions –embedded scripts or programs, from trusted sources –low memory and computational power Active Server –application layer active networking –many specialised nodes transcoding node requires efficient maths operations node supporting active caching require high-performance I/O

10. Active Architecture

11. Active Router Architecture Standard Router Packet Flow ACP Routing Table L- Interface EE Other Route Controller L+ Interface EE Other Node Agent Event Service XML/HTTP IIOP Proxylet ExtendedProxylet

12. Monitor Interface Execution Environment for Proxylets (EEP) Proxylet Proxylet Server (push cache) Control Interface Server Client Policy Server (push cache) Control Interface Active Server

13. router normal link virtual network link Active Virtual Network virtual space client active router active server

14. Management problems High percentage of IP VPN costs New features (e.g. multicast, QoS) do not get added Changing MIBs is extremely difficult Centralised control model limits scaling Inefficient information flows Manual intervention Made worse by demands of new applications

15. A solution? Minimise operator intervention Enable flexible addition of features Support diverse information models Use high-level policy-based interfaces Distribute and delegate Give responsibility to customers Active Management System

16. Active Management No central point of control Autonomous decision making based on policies and local knowledge Dynamically introduce –new active server types –new policy sets –new mechanisms for policy storage and retrieval –new algorithms for policy decisions and enforcement

17. Active Management Autonomous controller EEP Proxylets Management agent Users Admins Hierarchical Autonomous

18. Management agent Execution Policy EEP

19. Summary Flexibility in services demands an active approach Two levels of programmability –active server –active router Approach to management –programmable infrastructure –delegate application management Policy-based active management required