AgentBased Schemes for PlugAndPlay Network

1
AgentBased Schemes for Plug-And-Play Network
Components
Andrzij Bieszczad,Syed Kamran Raza, Bernard
Pagurek,Tony White Systems and Computer
Engineering, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By
Drive, Ottawa,Ontario,Canada KIS 5B6
Summer Seminar3 Jong-wook, Choi jwchoi_at_cespc1.ku
moh.ac.kr http//cespc1.kumoh.ac.kr/jwchoi/
2
Contents
1.Introduction 2.Plug-and-Play strategies 3.Conclu
sions and future work
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
2
3
1.Introduction
Currently, the manager of the network has to
perform all required tasks manually Provisioning
process, which is traditionally performed by
network managers, is time consuming and
frustrating In this paper, we analyze several
approaches that can be used to implement
plug-and-play network components.
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
3
4
1.Introduction
First, we adapt the simple plug-and-play
installation process based on a local
databases Next, we extended the basic model by
proposing that the driver repositories be remote
and distributed In the third model, A natural
extension of the distributed model is the use of
CORBA to handle a distributed environment
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
4
5
1.Introduction
Finally, we introduce a solution based on mobile
agents we list the advantages and disadvantages
of each of the schemes. we argue that the
solution based on mobile agents is superior to
all the other models
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
5
6
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme with local repositories
• In this scheme(Fig.1), the data and procedures
  that are required by a device to operate in a
  network are stored in repositories maintained by
  network managers.
• A special process(a network plug-and-play agent)
  running as part of the operating system of the
  management workstation handles the installation
• The network plug-and-play agent has to implement
  a communication protocol that needs to be handled
  on both sides,
• the device and the management workstation
  providing plug- and-play services

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
6
7
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme with local repositories(Cont.)
• First,
• after a new device has been successfully
  connected to the network, the network
  plug-and-play agent has to detect its presence,
  so the initialization process can be started
• The next step is to activate an identification
  routine, in order to
• determine the type of the component
• Then, the repository of configuration routines is
  searched for the provisioning modules that
  correspond to the detected device.

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
7
8
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme with local repositories(Cont.)
• The component plug-and-play agent retrieves the
  necessary items from the repository and installs
  them accordingly
• It may negotiate with the network plug-and-play
  agent to determine all necessary details of the
  installation

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
8
9
2.Plug-and-Play strategies
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
Fig.1. Plug and Play with Local Repository
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
9
10
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme with local repositories(Cont.) -
  Advantages
• Plug-and-Play capabilities ease the task of
  network managers
• The network plug-and-play agent provides a scheme
  for auto-provisioning new components
• A network operator does not need to know all
  procedures and data that are required to install
  dozens of network components.
• The scheme is relatively efficient,
• because it involves local repositories, and
  local communication.

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
10
11
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme with local repositories(Cont.) -
  Disadvantages
• Every network has to maintain repositories of all
  potential devices
• Each device has to implement plug-and-play
  negotiation protocols
• Even with a standard plug-and-play protocol,
• The plug-and-play agents remain
  platform-dependant
• There is a need for a discovery process running
  constantly on a dedicated resource in the network
• This process consumes resource

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
11
12
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme with remote repositories
• This scheme that we analyze is an extension of
  the previous model
• Vendors realized that maintaining repositories of
  data locally constitutes a problem for the user
• After the original purchase of their product, the
  database quickly becomes
  obsolete.
• In this extension, certain details are brought
  from remote databases, which are maintained by
  the vendor

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
12
13
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme with remote repositories(Cont.)
• As in the first scheme, we need a network
  plug-and-play agent,
• which runs on one of the network computers and
  implements the plug-and-play protocol
• In contrast to the previous model, however, the
  provisioning modules are obtained from remote
  databases
• Each vendor needs to maintain a repository of
  provisioning modules
• Before the network operating company purchases a
  device, the address of the repository(URL) must
  be stored on the device

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
13
14
2.Plug-and-Play strategies
A scheme with remote repositories(Cont.) It is
designed to contact the vendors repository and
obtain all required provisioning modules This
scheme involving downloadable code is
increasingly popular amongst software vendors
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
14
15
2.Plug-and-Play strategies
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
Fig.2. Plug and Play with Remote Repository
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
15
16
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme with remote repositories(Cont.) -
  Advantage
• Relegating the maintenance task to the vendor of
  a device solves the update problem
• Vendors can keep the newest provisioning modules
  in their repositories
• With the installation routine divided into two
  parts,
• A small generic agent is easier to maintain

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
16
17
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme with remote repositories(Cont.) -
  Disadvantage
• Each vendor needs
• to provide native versions for all networks in
  which the device may potentially be installed
• The security of the network is endangered by
  downloadable code
• There is no mechanism for discovering new
  components
• There are no provisions for handling network
  dynamics and reconfiguration.
• a newly added workstation may need drivers for a
  printer that was installed before.

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
17
18
2.Plug-and-Play strategies
A scheme based on CORBA The installation process
is implemented as a distributed application with
several objects residing on the new device, and
on the network and vendors resources All agents
are connected to CORBA-compliant ORBs All
applications that want to use the interface have
to include stubs that are obtained by compiling
IDL specifications
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
18
19
2.Plug-and-Play strategies
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
Fig.3. Plug and Play using CORBA
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
19
20
2.Plug-and-Play strategies
A scheme based on CORBA - Advantages The most
important improvement is platform independence It
is easy to upgrade vendor plug-and-play agents A
number of network plug-and-play agents can be
distributed in the network New or updated
provisioning modules can be uploaded by the
vendor plug-and-play agent
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
20
21
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme based on CORBA - Disadvantages
• CORBA is required on each device
• This is very expensive and might not be
  acceptable for small devices
• New or modified vendor plug-and-play agent
  interfaces can be provided only through DII,
  which is complex

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
21
22
2.Plug-and-Play strategies
A scheme based on mobile code The device is
plugged-in and attached to the network As soon as
it is turned on(by discovery netlet), its
bootstrap program installs and activates some
software modules These modules are capable of
sending mobile agents on the network. The
configuration process(agent) starts with the
dispatch of a mobile agent to the vendor site for
the registration purposes After successful
registration, another mobile agent is sent over
the network to discover the configuration
requirements of other network components
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
22
23
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme based on mobile code(Cont.)
• when the mobile agent returns to its origin
  device the plug-and-plug components software
  determines the configuration requirements of the
  supported network and sends another mobile agent
  with these demands(request for drivers) towards
  the vendor site
• The agent arrives at the vendor component and
  access the corresponding interface to the driver
  repository
• Through the permanent assignment of the discovery
  netlet, the device knows what and where should be
  updated
• If a new network component is discovered that
• requires provisioning modules, then another
  supply deglet travels to the vendor plug-and-play
  agent

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
23
24
2.Plug-and-Play strategies
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
Fig.4. Plug and Play using Mobile Agents
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
24
25
2.Plug-and-Play strategies

• A scheme based on mobile code(Cont.) - Advantages
• The scheme is platform independent
• A new device initiates the installation process,
  so there is no need polling
• An ongoing automatic discovery performed by
  discovery netlets allows for automatic dynamic
  reconfiguration
• Updates and modifications to the provisioning
  modules are
• brought from the vendor and installed in the
  network automatically
• A dynamic network of distributed plug-and-play
  services is possible
• Any agent can be upgraded easily

AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
25
26
2.Plug-and-Play strategies
A scheme based on mobile code(Cont.) -
Disadvantages A framework for mobile agents must
be installed in the network There is a potential
security risk Discovery netlets are always alive,
so they consume processing resources and lower
the throughput of network
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
26
27
3.Conclusions and future work
In this paper, we have presented several schemes
for plug-and-play network components We have
supported our claims that The scheme based on the
use of mobile code is superior to all others
presented in this paper We believe that in the
course of the implementation process that we
will define an ontology that can be generalized
to accommodate any networked device
AGENT-BASED SCHEMES FOR PNP NETWORK COMPONENTS
KNUT Computer Engineering Distributed Processing
Lab.
27