The role of human operators in configuring, managing, and troubleshooting interconnected computer networks

The number of interconnected computer networks that form the Internet has been growing at an exponential rate. Components of the networks tend to be highly heterogeneous in both hardware and software. The Internet is managed via a number of standard protocols and interfaces that provide the constraints and guidelines for interconnection and operation. While these protocols offer some help, there is still a lack of formal methods to manage the networks due to the rapid rate of evolution that characterizes these networks. A related problem is the ability to view the network at different levels of detail. We have been investigating the tasks and functions of operators and studying traffic patterns on networks with the goal of developing comprehensive tools to assist operators in performing a wide range of tasks. In this paper, we describe the role of the humans and an outline of our research aimed at assisting the operators at various levels