Agile systems manager for enterprise wireless networks

Abstract

Advances in enterprise wireless networks with wireless LAN along with the need for a pervasive computing is leading to a very large growth in a number of managed elements. The conventional management model of a centralized manager does not work well in this highly evolving network that is characterized by mobility and intermittent connectivity. This paper motivates a need for an agile systems manager, one that is resource and network aware and redistributes the management logic within a “virtual” management station to operate effectively in changing network conditions. This paper proposes mobile agent based approach for systems management infrastructure that can deploy, reconfigure, load balance and react to environment change autonomously. The paper presents a performance management implementation for managing a midsized network composed of combination of wireless and wired network elements. The paper presents experimental results that show significant advantages of the agile management system over the conventional management system.