Review of Network Management Problems and Issues

Book excerpt: Computer networking is broadly considered to include hardware, software, procedures, and people. Networking encompasses many activities: creation of network products, distribution processes, user activities, and supporting services like marketing, documentation, information services, and maintenance. Network management covers both the establishment of networking operations and actual operation of the network facilities. It includes all management functions performed at such network nodes as computing centers, documentation facilities, and service distribution centers. In order to survey the problems facing development of network management, user requirements and system requirements are outlined in a qualitative manner. Examples of political, economic, and legal constraints are summarized, such as the economic impact of extended networks on regional and local computing activities. Critical issues for networking management, and other areas of significant management concern are outlined. Organizational alternatives a reconceived in terms of a four layer organization model . Conclusions deal with continuing problem areas, the need for a structural model for network management, critical experiments and tasks to be undertaken to further networking capabilities, and a suggestion to establish planning teams to initiate some of the steps required for further networking development.