Enabling autonomicity in the future networks

Nowadays we are witnessing a strong interest from the network operators towards provisioning all-IP services. The user demands and the effort of the operators to address them with traditional network management processes push the networks to a complexity where traditional network management methods do not scale and cannot guarantee error-free configurations, optimal resource utilization and dynamic adaptation to adverse conditions during network operation. Operators are seeking new functionalities and mechanisms that allow the network to self-manage with as little of human intervention as possible. Autonomic networking is an answer to these complexity issues related to network management. Within the EFIPSANS project, funded by European Commission(EC), we have proposed the Generic Autonomic Network Architecture (GANA)-an Architectural Reference Model for Autonomic Networking and Self-Management, which offers a modular solution to designing autonomic networks that exhibit self-management capabilities. In this paper we briefly present the GANA Model, a step on the path towards the realization of autonomic networks. We also present the integrated EFIPSANS testbed and the implemented mechanisms, designed to demonstrate a substantial selection of essential autonomic behaviours.