Performance Evaluation and Monitoring of Heterogeneous Networks

This paper presents the different perspectives of performance management for heterogeneous networks. On top of different interconnected networks, transport connections may be monitored for an overall QOS evaluation and management. The presented platform is a special environment spread on top of several chosen processing nodes. This construction augments the different nodes facilities to provide the overlying management applications with a uniform support across the ‘peer nodes’. The platform is composed of several modules, each performing a given functionality. In the present context, the platform’s functionalities are repartitioned amongst its modules in an atomic way i.e. each module regroups all functionalities belonging to a given aspect (e.g. storage, notifications, communications, etc.) which permits it to achieve its role in an integral, but not independant, manner. Obviously, all modules must “cooperate”, in order for the platform to provide its intended services correctly. The potential heterogeneity of the underlying network was evaluated in the experimental phase of the PEMMON european project by the use of prototypes integrating two different network technologies, ethernet (TCP/IP based) and X25, and an ATM simulator.