Distributed fault management over ATM networks

Experience with the development and application of a distributed problem-solving paradigm over local ATM networks is reported. The paradigm consists of a collection of problem-solving agents that autonomously execute and coordinately cooperate each other to achieve a goal. It is implemented based on the Java Expert System Shell (Jess) and SUN´s Remote Procedure Call (RPC). However, communication between agents has been the bottleneck of this paradigm. The most promising opening uses emerging commercial technologies such as ATM networks to serve the communication needs. The architecture and performance issues for a local ATM network which meets the paradigm requirements are described. We then discuss a real application in network fault management and compare the performance of three different interfaces: DEC´s ATM API, RPC, and Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM). The paradigm obtained very good results in fault management applications over local ATM networks