| Session: Network Management/Network Monitoring
Mobile adhoc networks are characterized by low-bandwidth, lossy links and by constant topology change. Traditional network management techniques, which were designed for static wired networks, do not perform well in such environments because their rigid framework and polling requirements imposes additional burden on the network. In this paper, we outline the various challenges faced in collecting state and managing mobile adhoc networks, and then describe the requirements of a network management paradigm that addresses these challenges. Finally, we propose an network management architecture and protocol called SOLOMON for managing adhoc networks with minimal overhead and complexity while satisfying latency criteria. SOLOMON is an autonomous, fully distributed, self-optimizing network management protocol for managing ad hoc networks. It utilizes innovative techniques such as self-criticality, summarization and stigmergic information exchange to gather state and enforce policy with minimal overhead. The term "self organized" is used to denote the SOLOMON protocol's ability to organize and configure clusters amongst the network autonomously based on mission requirements and current network state. The performance analysis conducted on static adhoc networks demonstrates that the distributed architecture of SOLOMON delivers superior performance compared to traditional SNMP in terms of lower overhead, faster convergence, higher reliability and improved fault tolerance. |
| Amit is a Computer Scientist at General Electric Research and Development (GE CR&D) in Niskayuna, NY, where he develops innovative technologies for optimizing and managing wireless mobile adhoc networks under funding from Lockheed Martin. His primary research interests are in MANET network management, routing and transport protocols, active networking and self-critical systems theory. He has co-authored a book titled “Active Networks and Active Network Management: A Proactive Management Framework,” published by Kluwer Academic Publishers. Amit's contributions to the areas of wireless adhoc networking and active networks are covered by over 20 patents and publications. Amit can be reached at amit.kulkarni@crd.ge.com. |