The Mobile Agent (MA) technology is gaining importance in the distributed management of networks and services for heterogeneous environments. MA-based management systems could represent an interesting alternative to traditional tools built upon the client/server model, either SNMP- or CMIP-based. Two main requirements currently limit the acceptance of MA solutions for management: the need of interoperability and the request for security. Without security, management systems cannot suit global untrusted environments, such as the Internet; without interoperability, they cannot interact with existing tools and legacy systems. The paper describes an MA-based management system with security and interoperability as the two main design objectives. It is an open management framework that grants interoperability by providing compliance with CORBA, the most diffused standard in the area of object-oriented components. In addition, it is based on a thorough security model and provides a wide range of tools and mechanisms to build and enforce flexible security policies. © 1999 Plenum Publishing Corporation.
An Open Secure Mobile Agent Framework for Systems Management
STEFANELLI, Cesare
1999
Abstract
The Mobile Agent (MA) technology is gaining importance in the distributed management of networks and services for heterogeneous environments. MA-based management systems could represent an interesting alternative to traditional tools built upon the client/server model, either SNMP- or CMIP-based. Two main requirements currently limit the acceptance of MA solutions for management: the need of interoperability and the request for security. Without security, management systems cannot suit global untrusted environments, such as the Internet; without interoperability, they cannot interact with existing tools and legacy systems. The paper describes an MA-based management system with security and interoperability as the two main design objectives. It is an open management framework that grants interoperability by providing compliance with CORBA, the most diffused standard in the area of object-oriented components. In addition, it is based on a thorough security model and provides a wide range of tools and mechanisms to build and enforce flexible security policies. © 1999 Plenum Publishing Corporation.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
