Performance management of public ATM networks-a scaleable and flexible approach

Asynchronous transfer mode technology promises a flexible, multiservice network that will support the broadband future. It will need to be robust and efficient in delivering quality of service, which will not be achieved by network protocols alone. Performance-management systems will be needed. If future networks are to be flexible-allowing new services to be added easily-then their management systems will need to be equally flexible. Approaches derived from the developing technologies of distributed object-oriented computing (common object request broker architecture-CORBA) and distributed artificial intelligence (agents) could allow management systems to be implemented as sets of small-grain, cooperating distributed objects. Such systems should be more flexible, more robust, and easier to modify. This paper presents a framework being developed for understanding performance-management functions and an approach to their implementation based on agent technology and the use of CORBA platforms.