A Framework for Policy-Based Management of QoS Aware IP Networks.

In today's Internet, Policy-Based Network Management is gaining more and more proselytes. Its appeal is due to the given opportunity of a standard and consistent way for network configuration, independently of the underlying architecture and Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning model assumptions. The event-driven paradigm, well established in the general-purpose programmers world, through the Policy-Based approach begins to play its role also in the field of network management. In this paper we describe a policy framework suited for dynamic network management in QoS-enabled IP networks. First, we design an object model conceived to represent policies in a network-independent fashion. Then, we describe a management and configuration system based on Common Open Policy Service (COPS). Finally, we show a system prototype pointing out the main features of a Differentiated Services network management and configuration based on Policy System Management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]