Applying distributed monitoring techniques in autonomic networks

The increasing size, complexity and the dynamic character of future networks make traditional monitoring systems inadequate to be continuously updated and sense the endless changes in the topology and communication conditions. The need for reduction in the network management complexity and the administrator´s operational burden imposes the design and implementation of self-functionalities and the adoption of self-management schemes. We propose a novel approach for improving network management based on distributed monitoring techniques. Autonomic mechanisms are designed to control traffic monitoring within a network in order to increase the accuracy of the acquired data without increasing the imposed overhead in the network. Nodes are able to correlate monitoring data and to adapt the monitoring functions according to existing networking conditions and predefined administration policies.