A domain-level data model for automating network configuration

Emerging research activities and technologies such as NETCONF have been closing gaps in the realization of automated network management; however they focus on individual network devices rather than the network domain as a whole. A robust model that maps a network domain's aggregate properties to device-specific NETCONF entities would allow a service provider to abstract a network's design from the configuration of its devices. Furthermore, it would extend the automation capability of a network management system by enabling configuration operations in terms of high-level concepts such as aggregate policies, best practices, network topology, and service requirements. One community that would benefit from this paradigm is a joint tactical network service provider, who must configure networks consisting of heterogeneous subscriber bases, network devices, and organizational policies at moment's notice.