Distribution transparent MIB based on MSA (Management System Agent) model

OSI Management model defines only peer to peer communication process between a managing application (AP) and a managed AP. Thus, when more than one managed AP stores portions of Management Information Base (MIB) distributively, the managing AP needs a sophisticated distributed processing function. This paper proposes an agent, called Management System Agent (MSA) which provides location transparency and schema transparency of MIB for managing APs, to ease the realization of managing APs. Location transparency hides the distribution of MIB from managing APs. Schema transparency also enables managing APs to invoke management operation on unified schema. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the MSA model through applying it to implementation of Customer Network Management (CNM) system focusing X.25 public data networks.