A best effort traffic management solution for server and agent-based active network management (SAAM)

Abstract

Server and Agent-based Active Network Management (SAAM) is a promising network management solution for the Internet of tomorrow, "Next Generation Internet (NGI)." SAAM is a new network architecture that incorporates many of the latest features of Internet technologies. The primary purpose of SAAM is managing network quality of service (QoS) to support the resource-intensive next-generation Internet applications. Best effort (BE) traffic will continue to exist in the era of NGI. Thus SAAM must be able to manage such traffic. In this thesis, we propose a solution for management of BE traffic within SAAM. With SAAM, it is possible to make a "better best effort" in routing BE packets. Currently, routers handle BE traffic based solely on local information or from information obtained by linkstate flooding which may not be reliable. In contrast, SAAM centralizes management at a server where better (more optimal) decisions can be made. SAAM's servers have access to accurate topology and timely traffic-condition information. Additionally, due to their placement on high-end routers or dedicated machines, the servers can better afford computationally intensive routing solutions. It is these characteristics that are exploited by the solution design and implementation of this thesis.