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The problem of improving the performance and scalability of current monitoring systems, which generally follow a centralised and static management model is considered herein. Several alternative solutions based on Mobile Agents (MAS), specifically tailored to network monitoring are described. In particular, the key problem of computing efficiently the initial number and location of MAS is addressed, and techniques for rapid MA deployment are described. Mathematical models for the proposed MA solutions and for the common technique of centralised polling are built and a comparative analysis of their performance is carried out. Performance is expressed in terms of monitoring trafic and delay. Results on traffic show that MAS typically offer improved performance, although they do not always scale better than polling. However, results on delay demonstrate that MA solutions improve both scalability and performance under most circumstances.

The OSIMIS (OSI Management Information Service) platform provides the foundation for the quick, efficient and easy construction of complex management systems. It is an object-oriented development environment in C++ [Strou] based on the OSI Management Model [X701] that hides the underlying protocol complexity (CMIS/P) and harnesses the power and expressiveness of the associated information model [X722] through simple to use Application Program Interfaces (APIs). OSIMIS combines the thoroughness of the OSI models and protocols with advanced distributed systems concepts pioneered by ODP to provide a highly dynamic distributed information store. It also combines seamlessly the OSI management power with the large installed base of Internet SNMP [SNMP] capable network elements. OSIMIS supports particularly well a hierarchical management organisation through hybrid manager-agent applications and may embrace a number of diverse technologies through proxy systems. This paper explains the OSIMIS components, architecture, philosophy and direction.

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