NETWORK MANAGEMENT

Network Management

Network Management

Task 1 Network Management Tools

Introduction

The Java's new-age design is leading the object-oriented programming language design revolution; allowing even greater portability, state of the art security measures, and more extensive reusability. First, a brief description of what makes a programming language object-oriented so that its importance can be realized. Object oriented programming (OOP) emphasizes data, its storage, and its necessity, instead of algorithm usage to solve problems. The power to write programs that run on most everyone's computer is revolutionary. For Internet applications, though, the value of platform independence degrades exponentially without strict, built-in security. Java provides this security, and has the power to change the way we compute.

Network Management

Java Management API (JMAPI) provides universal framework for network management tools. Network management has always seemed an arcane and mystical job of the few and the brave. A product based solely upon this standard could have given free reign to anyone with the software to modify your network behaviour. Now not only your internal network can be safely monitored and controlled with this software, but you can even do the same for your remote office in another part of the world.

Even with important standards such as SNMP (simple network management protocol) and the RMON (remote monitoring) specification, it still takes a lot of training and even more practical experience to become even the least bit proficient. And expertise with one network management and monitoring package may not easily transfer to other packages.

Presumably, you could simply instruct your software to get the current version of the object when you decide to upgrade and the software will download this from the vendor's store.

Advantages and Disadvantages

With the new technologies that are emerging in web-based network management in addition to the old ones that are already in use, there will be a need for easy, effective and secure interdomain communication. An interface to SNMP is especially important. JIDM looks promising, but has its weaknesses that must be solved.

So far security has not been very important in Internet based network management. With the upcoming SNMPv3 this will probably change and it will further complicate interdomain communication.

One common problem with current network management systems is that new versions of network agents are being released very rapidly. Moreover access your network management software system from any Web browser. If your network is connected to the Internet, you could even effectively monitor and manage your network from your favorite local Internet Cafe and still show the boss you are actually doing work.

Why Java Useful in N/W

JMAPI provides not only a standard interface to managing a network through the Web, but it also provides a good solution as a platform-independent system in a distributed environment.

The API also is one of the few that provides uniform support for secure management of systems over the Internet. SNMP version 1 has no security by itself.

JMAPI boasts several major network vendors as supporters, including the top three -- 3Com, Bay Networks, and Cisco.

The individual components of the API promote reuse of ...