Mobile Agent-Based Service Migration

Mobile agents are special software agents that can move spontaneously across multiple hosts of one or more networks. In case of a malicious attack and system failure, mobile agents can move from their damaged platforms to other clean, healthy platforms so that the services they offer can be continuously provided on the new platforms, thus achieving service migration. Service migration through strategic agent movement helps a system survive host damage and improves service availability. In this paper, we describe a mobile agent-based approach for service migration, where a group of agents collaboratively decide a migration plan to relocate from their current platforms to other more secure and reliable platforms. We specify a system architecture to support agent migration and propose a collaborative decision making model for a group of agents in their migration process.