Towards self-configuring networks

Current networks require ad-hoc operating procedures by expert administrators to handle changes. These configuration management operations are costly and error prone. Active networks involve particularly fast dynamics of change that cannot depend on operators and must be automated. This paper describes an architecture called NESTOR that seeks to replace labor-intensive configuration management with one that is automated and software-intensive. Network element configuration state is represented in a unified object-relationship model. Management is automated via policy rules that control change propagation across model objects. Configuration constraints assure the consistency of model transactions. Model objects are stored in a distributed repository supporting atomicity and recovery of configuration change transactions. Element adapters are responsible for populating the repository with configuration objects, and for pushing committed changes to the underlying network elements. NESTOR has been implemented in two complementary versions and is now being applied to automate several configuration management scenarios of increasing complexity, with encouraging results.