Performance Management of Public ATM Networks - a Scaleable and Flexible Approach

ATM technology promises a flexible, multi-service network that will support the broadband future. It will need to be robust and efficient in delivering quality of service and this will not be achieved by network protocols alone. Performance management systems will be needed. The flexibility required from future networks will also be required from their management systems. Approaches derived from the developing technologies of distributed object-oriented computing (CORBA) and distributed artificial intelligence (agents) could allow management systems to be implemented as sets of small-grain, co-operating distributed objects. Such systems will be more flexible, more robust and easier to modify . This paper presents a framework being developed for understanding performance management functions and an approach to their implementation based on agent technology and the use of CORBA platforms.