An Implementation of a Network Configuration Management System Using Mobile Agent

Abstract

The job of the network administrator becomes difficult as the number of hosts in a computer network increase. Network management requires the network administrator to have vital configuration information about hosts so as to provide viable solutions. In situations where the hosts span a large area or in several buildings as in tertiary institutions, the task is daunting and susceptible to errors. This paper highlights the successful implementation of a mobile agent system for the detection and collection of configuration information of hosts in such a campus-wide network. The mobile agent system was developed and implemented using the Java Development Kit coupled with Visual Basic. The implementation was successful when tested on a local area network of ten computer systems.
It was concluded that mobile agent is a promising communication paradigm that allows network management activities to be carried out autonomously.

Keywords: network administration, information, configuration, Java, mobile agents