An architecture for integrated network management

An architecture is proposed for an integrated network management system (INMS) based on an object-oriented approach. The INMS consists of a central manager (INMS center) and subnetwork management systems (subNMSs). Each of the subNMSs manages a subnetwork which usually consists of similar types of equipment. The INMS center manages network objects such as end-to-end paths and intersubnetwork links, which cannot be viewed from individual subNMSs. The network management protocols between the central manager and the subNMSs are based on the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) systems management protocols. An object-oriented network modeling is devised to facilitate interfacing the network management software to the managed objects. The kernel module of the proposed architecture is called the Network Resource Manager (NRM). The principal function of the NRM is a uniform management of the network objects which reside both in the individual subnetwork and in the INMS center