INCA: An Agent-Based Network Control Architecture

This paper describes the design and implementation of INCA, an open architecture for the distributed management of multi-service networks and systems applications. The Intelligent Network Control Architecture is populated by stationary and mobile intelligent agents. These agents perform monitoring and control of network and systems components, thereby supporting the integrated management of networks and services. The architecture provides transaction capabilities to control transport and mobility of agents, agent prioritization, and multiple agent code transfer schemes. Managed objects used to access resources on network elements and new system functionalities can be created, distributed, and replaced dynamically. An example INCA application demonstrates that prioritized agents are necessary to support the timely execution of critical tasks. The design of our agent based network management platform is not bound to a particular programming language or computing environment; the current implementation however, is based on Java and RMI.