Managing the Linux kernel with AgentX- Design and Implementation

ISBN-13: 9783836412858 / Angielski / Miękka / 2007 / 92 str.

Oliver Wellnitz

Opis

Network management is essential for the operation and supervision of mediumto large computer networks. The Simple Network Management Protocol(SNMP) is the standard protocol for network management in the Internet. OrdinarySNMP agents are mostly monolithic, run in the user-space and oftenpoll information from the OS kernel. This book examines to what extent theIETF standard sub-agent protocol AgentX is suitable for the management ofUNIX/Linux kernel components. For this purpose, AgentX sub-agents havebeen implemented inside the kernel subsystem they manage. They use theAgentX protocol for communication with a master agent in user-space. Withthis approach, kernel subsystems can be managed in an efficient and comprehensiveway. The author describes the general design of this new in-kernelmanagement architecture and its interface to the user-space. As an example,two kernel sub-systems, namely the network interfaces and Linux Netfilter,are implemented as MIB modules and explained. This book is intended forsoftware developers of network and system management solutions as well asresearchers in this area.