BIRDS OF FEATHER SESSIONS

Tuesday, 15 May 2001 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm


BOF SESSION 1: SMing - The next Generation of SMI

Chairman:
David Durham, Intel
Juergen Schoenwaelder, Technical University Braunschweig

Abstract:
Work has started in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) on a new language, SMIng - the Next Generation Structure of Management Information.

Quoting from the IETF web page, SMIng's "objective is to replace both the SMIv2 and the SPPI with a single, merged language as the data definition language for the monitoring, configuration, and provisioning of network devices." Although this sounds a bit like the search for the Holy Grail, SMIng is very real and presents interesting possibilities for network management. The meaning of all the acronyms, the status of the SMIng work and its future implications will all be discussed.


BOF SESSION 2: Propelling Network Management Research Into the Mainstream

Abstract:
Most in the networking research community will agree that network management is an important problem, but general support for the research is lacking. Network management is considered a high risk area that is not of interest to a wide audience. This viewpoint impacts both funding and publication decisions, making the field less attractive to potential researchers. The BOF session will explore the reasons for the image problem and seek strategies for getting this critical research area the attention and recognition it deserves.

Types of issues to be discussed:

  • What are the fundamental issues?
  • Perception of research
  • Quality of research
  • Focus on practical results vs. theoretical foundations
  • What are the barriers that exist to resolving issues
  • How to remove barriers/ strategies for going forward

Organizer: Cynthia Hood
Cynthia Hood is an assistant professor of computer science and engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology. She also holds a visiting appointment at Argonne National Laboratory. Dr. Hood received a Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1997.

Prior to her Ph.D. studies, she worked at Bellcore for 5 years. Her main area of research is network management with a focus on fault and performance management. In 2000, she received the NSF CAREER award for her fault management research.