Distributed network management for coalition deployments

Large heterogeneous networks have traditionally been managed either by an eclectic mixture of specialized software or by integrated but ad-hoc methods. Networks that support coalition deployments must also deal with the limited interoperability and scalability typical of COTS management systems. Coalition exercises during the Joint Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (JWID99-R) provide a reference for the technical requirements of coalition network management. The distributed network management (DNM) paradigm provides a potential solution by distributing monitoring and control functionality throughout the network to provide improved flexibility scalability, functionality, and federated control. This paper reviews the network management portion of the AUSCANNZUKUS maritime contribution to the JWID99-R Coalition Wide Area Network, and gives an overview of three approaches to DNM that offer potential solutions for managing such a network. Initial work on a CORBA-SNMP based coalition network management system is described.