QoS Management–Related Tasks: Beyond Policy-Based Management

2011

Policy-based management is considered an effective approach to address the challenges of resource management in large complex networks. Within the IU-ATC QoS Frameworks project, a policy-based network management framework, CNQF (Converged Networks QoS Framework) is being developed aimed at providing context-aware, end-to-end QoS control and resource management in converged next generation networks. CNQF is designed to provide homogeneous, transparent QoS control over heterogeneous access technologies by means of distributed functional entities that co-ordinate the resources of the transport network through policy-driven decisions. In this paper, we present a measurement-based evaluation of policy-driven QoS management based on CNQF architecture, with real traffic flows on an experimental testbed. A Java based implementation of the CNQF Resource Management Subsystem is deployed on the testbed and results of the experiments validate the framework operation for policy-based QoS management of real traffic flows.

The 2007 International Conference on Next Generation Mobile Applications, Services and Technologies (NGMAST 2007), 2007

In heterogeneous Internet access network environments (UMTS, WLAN, WIMAX, WLAN DVB-T, DVB-H), there is a challenge for automated configuration and adaptation of policies aimed at management of Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees and resource usage. The paper is focussed on a QoS policy management architecture, which allows interaction and adaptation of QoS policies of different actors (network operator, service provider and user) using a scalable policy repository. Design issues of such an architecture are discussed, emphasising on policy information models for dynamic resource, transport and measurement adaptation in heterogeneous network environments, modular and extendable ontology driven policy repository design, as well as flexible management interfaces for policy specification.

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2001

Policy-based Management has been the subject of extensive research over the last decade. More recently, the IETF has been investigating Policy-based Networking as a means for managing IP-based multi-service networks with quality of service guarantees. Policies are seen as a way to guide the behaviour of a network or distributed system through high-level, declarative directives. We mainly view policies as a means of extending the logic of a management system at runtime, so that it can be adaptive to changing or newly emerging requirements. We are interested in particular in the coexistence of "hard-wired" hierarchical management systems with policy logic in a fashion that the overall system becomes programmable and extensible. In this paper we consider generic issues behind hierarchical policy-based management systems and we present initial work on such a system for dimensioning and dynamic resource management in IP Differentiated Services networks.

Abrmt-Poli~).-bared management m d QOS monitorlag are both taru misted to the m n n y e " t of modem Qos4.abled network Al. thoogh related to urh other, lbpw takr are " o U y exemted in a non hlepted fashion Tbls paper p-k an prchitstM ulat integrates pliq-bared manammt and QoS monitodng throogb the atension ol the originni IETP policy-baced managancot srrhitstum. The d n ad-wtagr of using our proposed appm~m k that network ;ulmllnlrtraton are f m d to execute other mk& nbile the Qosvlabled network k stili monitord. Another advantage k Ihat we art monitorbg poUdcs aod *U-ilyiagillheyarrmpwledin I l l e ~ ~ t a r ~ r * r v e ~ n I t. r i k d ~ l ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ w h i ~ kamalcsforeatarntinLcfETPsoluUo~. Kyaords: Nctarork and System Monitodng. D(strIbuted Monitoring, End-to-cnd QOs h IP nelwork.

Offering QoS on TCP/IP networks is the object of intense research. New applications, such as telemedicine, distance learning, videoconference and others can only be implemented on environments that ensure QoS for the existing services. Usually, routers are the network resources that undergo changes in order to implement it – hosts have little or no influence. This paper presents an implementation of QoS structures offered directly from the host. It also presents a marking process that is run on the end systems and can be remotely managed via SNMP. A signaling application is also described in order to allow QoS requests to inherited applications that do not perceive QoS service on the networks.

Bell Labs Technical Journal, 2004

2002

This paper introduces the notion of PoP (policy of policies) used to define standard policy replacement strategies in a policy-based network. We also propose an architecture to support PoP within PDPs (policy decision points originally defined by the IETF). The notion of PoP, and the proposed architecture allow the automation of the policy replacement task currently manually executed by the network administrator based on the network business plan.

International Workshop on Quality of Service, 2000

Network node functions, such as QoS or the security functions of routers, are becoming increasingly complex, so programs, not only configuration parameters, are required to control network nodes. In a policy-based network, a policy is defined at a policy server as a set of rules that deploy at network nodes where it must be translated into an executable program or

2002

We present an integrated network resource and QoS management framework based on the idea of decoupling the network control plane from the data plane. Our framework is capable of providing perflow QoS guarantees using scalable core-stateless packet forwarding mechanism at the network core. Virtual Time Reference System provides the abstraction of the data plane. Bandwidth broker performs all control and resource management functions while router functionality is kept mnimal to make the performance of its main function, packet forwarding, efficient. We present the bandwidth broker architecture, its modules and their implementations as well as the implementation of the packet forwarding mechanism at the routers. We describe also the design of the interface between the bandwidth broker and the routers as well as the interface between the bandwidth broker and the users (applications).

Recently, network researchers have taken a great interest in quality of experience (QoE) and in the new aspects it brings in the study of the link between network conditions and user satisfaction. Also, the realization that the information of users' satisfaction can be directly applied in the network management in a real-time manner has resulted in a fair amount of publications. Although the systems and frameworks presented in these publications tackle the subject of QoE-driven management quite successfully, they often concentrate on certain applications or technologies. We present a generic QoE management framework, which is applicable to a broad range of systems. We also demonstrate an instantiation of this framework as a network access point management system for RTP-based video. This system is not only able to positively affect the perceived quality of the multimedia application considered, but also to reduce over-prioritization and optimize resource usage. (J. Seppänen), martin.varela@vtt.fi (M. Varela), ext-angeliki.sgora@vtt.fi (A. Sgora).