Using Real-Time Measurements in Support of Real-Time Network Management

Increased reliability is necessary if the Internet is to carry information such as voice, video and other enhanced services. Congestion in the network because of the statistical nature of packet forwarding is a serious issue that could impede achieving the reliable, timely delivery of data and quality of service. At present humans monitor the network for congestion with a variety of data collection mechanisms and take corrective actions on an ad-hoc basis. Putting humans in the control loop yields corrective actions that are too slow because of delays in collecting data and too error prone because of the complexity of the network. This paper presents Rondo, an automated control system that manages congestion in core networks in near real time. It discusses the architecture and design of the Rondo system with emphasis on the rerouting engine and data-collection subsystem. Rondo relies heavily on MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching), a relatively new technology that is intended to provide more efficient control over network routing than the destination-based routing used in the Internet of today. We recognized that MPLS could be used to alter traffic routes dynamically in response to measured or anticipated loads even though its typical application is in a more static environment. Index terms – automated network control, network management, network performance measurement