Network management performance analysis and scalability tests: SNMP vs. CORBA

The performance of network management applications is becoming an increasingly important factor as the scale of the networks they have to manage increases. This paper presents a series of comparative performance tests on two common platforms used for network management: SNMP and CORBA. In terms of network performance, the two platforms are used to achieve the same network management tasks. The bandwidth consumed and the time taken to complete the tasks is compared. Both systems were tested by manipulating different types of management objects (single or tabular) in different network environments. The results highlight the bottlenecks in each system and the reasons for them. The paper compares both systems and identifies their respective advantages and disadvantages. The work shows that their different features will decide what kind of application they are most suited to.