Defining an Optimized Management Protocol for Next Generation Packet Networks

Traditionally SNMP has been the preferred protocol for Management in older generation packet networks like Ethernet, Token-ring etc. Efficient, low-bandwidth transport mechanisms (UDP over IP) as well an optimized, but limited, data model were the 2 main reasons for its popularity. The simplistic data model architecture used by SNMP (a flat MIB definition) was well suited for low complexity legacy packet nodes. There are many protocols which have arisen in the past few years to address the Management requirements of Next-generation nodes based on CIM, WBEM management framework. But these rely on TCP as the transport protocol making it not the optimal solution for low bandwidth and intermittent packet networks. This paper proposes a management protocol based on XMLP which would serve to address the scenario described above. The paper also proposes a Management Framework which could be used to seamlessly transition the management of Legacy SNMP nodes to this new protocol.