Mobile Agents for Managing Networks: The MAGENTA Perspective

A network management system essentially manages a network. The management of network comprises of monitoring and control of a network. It plays an important role in the configuration, proper functioning, and maintenance of a network. Network management involves amongst other things the collection and visualization of network data, identification and management of faults, configuration and altering the behavior of network components, and security management and control. A network management system necessarily comprises of one or more Network Management Stations (NMS) interacting with management agents statically located at the network elements being managed. The NMS and the management agents utilize a network management protocol for interaction.