Towards an integrated management system for heterogeneous network environments

An approach to solve the management problem presented by heterogeneous network environments is proposed which is based on the integrated network management system (INMS) model. The operator accesses the INMS through a unified network management interface (UNMI) that provides a generic, vendor-independent view of the network. Each of the various native network management systems interacts with the INMS through a network management gateway. Each gateway maps the native management protocol into a common management protocol that is based on the evolving ISO standards. The key to the UNMI and the common management protocol is the development of a generic network description language that describes the anatomy, behavior, and control of disparate networks.<>