Webbased Network and Systems Management

1
Web-based Network and Systems Management

• James Won-Ki Hong
• Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering
• POSTECH, Pohang Korea
• Tel [phone]
• Email jwkhong_at_postech.ac.kr
• http//dpnm.postech.ac.kr/jwkhong

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Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Key Web Technologies
• 3. WBEM
• 4. JMAPI
• 5. WBM R D Efforts
• 6. Summary

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Todays Networks
SDH
FDDI
Access Networks
ATM
Token Ring
PCS
SS7
PSDN
WANs
Fast Ethernet
PSTN
Gigabit Ethernet
ISDN
B-ISDN
IN/AIN
Ethernet
Computer Networks
Telecom Networks
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Standard Management Frameworks

• Internet Network Management Framework (IETF)
• SNMPv1 (Internet Full Standard)
• SNMPv2, SNMPv3
• OSI Network Management Framework (ISO/ITU-T)
• CMIP, X.700 Series
• Telecommunications Management Network (ITU-T)
• M.3000 Series
• DMI Management Framework (DMTF)
• DMI 1.x, DMI 2.0

5
Traditional Management Systems
client/server Applications
Network Devices
Desktop Systems
Host Systems
Telecom Devices
Many Proprietary Frameworks No Common Foundation,
No Consistent View
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Web-based Management
Foundation for a Solution
Web-Based Technologies

• Open, ubiquitous, cross platform, scalable
• Low entry cost
• Ideal for Integration of multiple domains
• Preserve existing investments

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What is Web-based Mgmt?

• Uses the World-Wide Web (Web) technology for the
  management of networks, systems and applications
• the use of Web server and browser technology for
  monitoring, trouble shooting and reporting
  network and systems and application management
  information
• May incorporate new Internet technologies such as
  Java, CORBA, Active X, CGI, DCOM, etc.

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Simple Web-based Mgmt (1)
Internet Web Browser
HTTP
Web Server
Independent Mgmt Program
Devices or applications
Agent
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Simple Web-based Mgmt (2)
Internet Web Browser
HTTP
Web Server
CGI
Devices or applications
Agent
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Simple Web-based Mgmt (3)
Internet Browser
HTTP-Based Access
Requires embedded Web server and agent in each
managed device!
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Filling in the Blanks
HTTP, HTML
Web-based Technology
SNMP, CMIP, TMN, DMI, etc
Whats Missing

• Inclusion of existing standards (SNMP, CMIP,
  TMN, DMI, etc.)

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Advanced Web-Based Mgmt
Internet Browser
HTTP-Based Access
Management Services
HTTP-Based Access
SNMP CMIP DMI Other
Devices or Applications
Devices or Applications
Devices or Applications
Devices or Applications
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Key Web Technologies

• HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
• HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
• Common Gateway Interface (CGI)
• Java
• CORBA
• Web Resource Access Methods

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HyperText Markup Language (HTML)

• The basic textual content of Web resource
• Static HTML vs. Dynamic HTML
• Static HTML
• documents are stored at servers storage
• Dynamic HTML
• created instantly and contains information which
  is the result of some query that the client has
  sent
• HTML interaction
• hyperlinks (clickable buttons), send request, and
  response
• Platform independent

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HyperText Markup Language (2)

• HTML Client-Pull
• used to automatically refresh or replace document
  by another after a certain time-interval has
  passed
• achieved by HTML META tag and useful for
  automatic updates (i.e., monitoring)
• for example
• ltHTMLgtltHEADgtltMETA HTTP-EQUIVRefresh
  CONTENT10gt
• ltTITLEgtExample documentlt/TITLEgtlt/HEADgt
• ltBODYgtHeres some textlt/BODYgt
• reload this page after 10 seconds has elapsed.
• ltMETA HTTP-EQUIVRefresh CONTENT10
  URLhttp//server/page.htmlgt
• replace this document by another called
  page.html after 10 seconds.

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Client-Pull Interactions
HTTP Client
HTTP Server
Request
Connection 1
Response 1 HTML document refresh after x
seconds
x
Request
Response 2 new or updated HTML document
Connection 2
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HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

• The primary transfer protocol used by WWW
• simple client-server based application protocol
  built upon TCP
• typical transaction
• client establishes a connection to the server
• client issues a request for information and waits
• server processes the request
• server sends a response
• client closes the connection

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HyperText Transfer Protocol (2)

• HTTP operations GET and POST
• GET operation
• used to retrieve information from the server
• the response will contain the information
  requested by the client (if successful)
• POST operation
• used to send information to the server
• when the server receives a POST operation, it
  passes the data included in it to the executable
  resources (CGI script or Java object)

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HyperText Transfer Protocol (3)

• HTTP 1.0 vs. HTTP 1.1

Text
C l i e n t
Web S e r v e r
Web S e r v e r
C l i e n t
Text
JPG
JPG
GIF
GIF

• HTTP 1.0
• non-persistent connection
• for each text or image in a
• document, a separate connection
• is needed

• HTTP 1.1
• persistent connection
• only a single connection is
• needed for multiple text and
• images in a document

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Common Gateway Interface (CGI)

• CGI is a protocol defined for executable
  resources to interface with information server,
  such as HTTP server

CGI
Incoming request
Standard input
Environment variable
Outgoing response
Standard output
HTTP Server
CGI script
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Common Gateway Interface (2)

• Server Push
• Possible through the use of CGI
• When a client make a request to the CGI script,
  the script returns documents, but the HTTP
  connection between server and client stays open
  till the last document is returned
• It is very useful technique for when the client
  is to be notified of certain real-time events
  (e.g., event reports)
• A problem with this is that a separate HTTP
  connection is kept open to each client for an
  indefinite time

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Server Push Interactions
HTTP Client
HTTP Server
Request
Connection
Document 1
Document 2
Document 3
. . .
. . .
Document N
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Java

• Java is common client-side executable code
  supported by most Web browsers

Java bytecode (applet)
Server side
Download (using HTTP)
Internet
Client side
Execute
Request Java applet
Interprete bytecode
Verify Bytecode
OK
Verify memory allocation
OK
STOP
STOP
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Java (2)

• possibilities for communication with the server
  through the use of sockets
• API exists that enable the use of UDP, TCP
• also provides an API for remote invocation of
  Java methods gt RMI API
• RMI API is basis for JMAPI of Sun Microsystems
• allows developers of distributed applications to
  use remote methods (procedure calls) between
  entities residing in different address spaces

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CORBA

• Distributed object-oriented technology
• OMGs solution for providing interoperability
  among the rapidly proliferating number of
  hardware and software products
• Object Management Architecture (OMA)
• CORBA Architecture
• Interface Definition Language (IDL)
• Implementation languages C, Java, Smalltalk,
  etc.

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Object Management Architecture
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CORBA Architecture
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Web Resource Access Methods(Using Web-Server)
Client (Browser)
Static HTML
HTTP
Web-Server
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Web Resource Access Methods(Using CGI)
Client (Browser)
CGI Request/Response (HTML files created
dynamically)
HTTP
CGI Script
request
response
Web-Server
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Web Resource Access Methods (Using Java Applets)
Client (Browser)
Java Applet
HTTP
sockets/ RMI
CORBA
RMI
CORBA/Java Server Objects
JDBC
Web-Server
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Web-based Enterprise Management (WBEM)

• Industry-wide effort
• initiated by Microsoft, Intel, BMC Software,
  Cisco, Compaq, and supported by 75 others (July
  1996)
• Supports existing industry standards
• integrates SNMP, HTTP, CMIP, and DMI into an
  architecture that can be managed by any Web
  browser
• Common basis for integration of management
  solutions
• create a set of standards that make all types of
  management data accessible via a common Web
  interface
• Uses ubiquity and openness of Web and Internet
  technologies

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Whats in the WBEM Proposal?

• HyperMedia Management Architecture
• Common Information Model (CIM)
• an extensible data description for representing
  the managed objects
• HyperMedia Management Protocol (HMMP)
• a communication protocol embodying CIM
• runs over HTTP
• HyperMedia Object Manager (HMOM)
• a generic definition for management services that
  aggregates management data and uses one or more
  protocols to present a uniform representation to
  the browser using HTML
• could be implemented using Java, ActiveX, CGI,
  CORBA or COM

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WBEM Management Architecture
Internet Browser
Applet
Dir. Services
Data Access
Other
HyperMedia Management Protocol
Commmon Information Model
Management Services (HMOM)
HTTP-based access (including HMMP)
SNMP, CMIP, DMI, Other
HyperMedia Managed Objects
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JMAPI

• Java Management API (JMAPI) is a set of
  extensible Java language classes and interfaces
  for the development of seamless system, network
  and service management solutions for
  heterogeneous networks
• JMAPI specifically addresses management problems
• Utilizing the Java Management API, developers are
  able to create consistent applications with a
  decreased learning curve and reduced development
  cycle
• Attempts to integrate a diverse set of autonomous
  applications together under a common look, feel,
  and behavior everywhere they run

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JMAPI Requirements

• Java-enabled Web Browser
• most web browsers (e.g., Netscape) are already
  Java-enabled
• Java Development Toolkit (JDK) 1.1 or later
• JDK 1.0 does not support security or RMI
• JDBC supported relational database
• e.g., Sybase
• HTTP Server
• for bootstrapping in Java classes
• Java runtime system on every component

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JMAPI Elements Interfaces
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R D Efforts on Web-based Network and Systems
Management

• Integrated Web-based management architecture
• Internet/Intranet Network Traffic Monitoring,
  Analysis and Reporting using MRTG
• Web-based Internet/Intranet Application Service
  Management Mail Server Management
• TMN-based Integrated Network Management using Web
  Technology

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Integrated WBM Architecture
Web Browser
(Management Applications)
Java applets
HTTP/ HMMP
CORBA/RMI/etc.
Existing Mgmt Systems
WBM Server
Web Server
Management Services
Config
Perform
Fault
Security
Account
SNMP
CMIP
DMI
Other
...
Gateway
Gateway
Gateway
Gateways
SNMP
CMIP
DMI
other
SNMP-based
CMIP-based
DMI-based
Proprietary
...
devices or apps
devices or apps
devices or apps
devices or apps
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Internet/Intranet Network Traffic Monitoring,
Analysis and Reporting using MRTG

• What is MRTG?
• Network traffic monitoring, analysis reporting
  system
• Extended Multi-Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG)
• added security, threshold reporting sensitive
  map functions
• uses Web browser, Web server SNMP agents
• generates HTML pages containing GIF images which
  provide a LIVE visual representation traffic
• based on Perl and C
• being used to monitor POSTECH, POSCO, DACOM
  enterprise networks

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MRTG

• System Requirements
• most UNIX platforms and Windows NT
• Web Server
• GD library
• used for generating graphs in GIF images
• Perl version 5.003 or later
• Web browser
• Netscape, MS Internet Explorer

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MRTG Architecture (1)
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Network Monitoring Map (1)
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Network Monitoring Map (2)
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Network Interface Index Page
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Traffic Monitoring Graph Output
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Active Subnet Error Reporting
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CPU Load Monitoring
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MRTG Experiences (1)

• Deployed at POSCO POSTECH
• POSCO (97.6 present)
• POSCO Headquarter POSCO Steel Works (Pohang),
  Kwangyang Steel Works, POSCO Center (Seoul)
• 20,000 network nodes
• 400 network interfaces (FDDI, ATM, Ethernet,
  WANs)
• 54MB disk space (100KB/interface)
• POSTECH (97.6 present)
• 2,000 network nodes
• 96 network interfaces (FDDI, Ethernet, Fast
  Ethernet, KORNET, KREONET WANs)

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Web-based Internet/Intranet Mail
Server Management System

• RD project by DPNM, POSTECH
• Applying Web, Java, SNMP technologies to manage
  mail server systems
• Java-based manager
• Mail service management functions (fault,
  configuration, performance)
• SNMP agent implementing Mail Monitoring MIB (RFC
  2249)
• Web server for downloading Java applets
• Web browser for providing user interface to human
  managers

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Mail Server Management System Architecture
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Mail Server Current Status Monitoring
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Mail Server MIB Browser
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Mail Server Trap Setting Information
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Mail Server Performance Monitoring
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TMN-based Integrated Network Management using
Web Technology

• RD project jointly pursued by Korea Telecom
  NMTL, POSTECH
• Applying TMN, Web, CORBA, Java technologies to
  integrate existing NMSs in Korea Telecom
• CORBA-based Inter-domain (CMIP, SNMP, CORBA,
  other) manager
• TMN management functions (alarm surveillance,
  traffic monitoring, etc.)
• Java-based management applications
• Web server and browser

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CORBA-based Inter-domain Manager Using Web
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Target System Structure
Web-broswer
Java Applet
HTTP
Object Request Broker (ORB)
Specification Gateway (IDL Compiler)
Metadata Repository
Management Functions
Protocol Gateway
Web Server
Fault
SMI
SNMP G/W
SNMP Devices
SNMP
Configuration
CMIP G/W
Account
CMIP
GDMO
CMIP Devices
Performance
Other G/W
Other
Other Devices
Security
Other
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Summary

• Problems with current management approaches
• many incompatible frameworks
• no common foundation, no consistent view
• Integration of existing NMSs and frameworks is
  essential but challenging
• WBEM and JMAPI are NOT silver bullets
• Web technology combined with CORBA/Java is a good
  foundation for an integrated solution
• Industry is taking this approach very seriously

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Useful References (1)

• Web-based Management
• http//dpnm.postech.ac.kr/wbm/
• http//www.mindspring.com/jlindsay/webbased.html
• http//misa.zurich.ibm.com/Webbin/
• WBEM
• http//wbem.freerange.com/
• http//www.freerange.com/wbempdk
• http//wbem.freerange.com/wbm/e-manage.htm
• http//www.intel.com/managedpc/
• http//www.microsoft.com/management/
• DMTF
• http//www.dmtf.org/
• http//www.dmtf.org/standards/index.php

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Useful References (2)

• JMAPI
• http//java.sun.com/products/JavaManagement/
• http//www.javasoft.com/products/JavaManagement/de
  mo/demo.html
• http//www.mindspring.com/jlindsay/javamgmt.html
• MRTG
• http//dpnm.postech.ac.kr/MRTG
• http//ee-staff.ethz.ch/oeiker/webtools/mrtg/mrtg
  .html
• MAESTRO Multimedia System Management
• http//dpnm.postech.ac.kr/maestro
• http//dpnm.postech.ac.kr/CorbaMan
• Internet Application Service Management
• http//dpnm.postech.ac.kr/internet/mias.html