Building a Java Network management application

Overview

In today's telecommunications environment, network management is becoming more and more complex. Java has revolutionized the way in which applications are built and deployed, providing new tools for network management. The Solstice Enterprise Manager, the main product of Sun Microsystem's design for complex network management, now offers a set of Java APIs. These APIs create a development environment that opens the way for telecom application developers and service providers to maximize the benefits of Java technology while enabling them to add value to their investments on Solstice Enterprise Manager. The network administrator can realize its superiority in scalability, device access, management protocol independence and transparent management object location.

Solstice Enterprise Manager's new development environment provides a high-level Java API and associated architecture that enables you to develop Low-cost, multi-platform Java applications to help you manage your network. These applications take full advantage of the advanced distributed Management services provided by Solstice Enterprise Manager 3.0.

Because of its simplicity, object-oriented, architecture neutrality, robustness, security, and portability, the Java programming language is being accepted by a wide range of developers. You can only develop Java applications once, and then you can deploy them anywhere, which eliminates the time it takes to migrate to different platforms. Application code developed in the Java programming language is inherently robust because the pointer is cleared and dynamic memory management is supported.

Manage anytime and anywhere

Applications developed with the new APIs can be stand-alone Java applications, web browser based Java applets, or even Java servlets. Web-based applets has the advantage of downloading as required to any device that can run a Java-enabled web browser, providing flexibility in network management. For example:

Standby network administrators can respond quickly to warnings from anywhere on the network.

Service providers can cost-effectively send real-time windows to their users ' management networks.

Operators can more accurately provide network services in the current every minute of the actual status report.

If you want to learn more about the Java programming language, refer to Sun Microsystems's introduction to the Java programming Language, Java tutorial or Java Programming Language enviroment White paper.

Low cost deployment

Thin-client/fat Server computing mode requires only limited processing on client programs, and most of the work is concentrated on the server. This mode keeps the client application's CPU and memory requirements low. Thin-clients can be run in a Web browser and on any network computer that supports Java? , such as: Sun Javastation, sparcstation system or PC. This greatly reduces the cost of deploying a specific management workstation and increases the options available when deploying the management console.

Designed for Thin-client/fat Server

The Java API and related architectures optimize efficiency and performance on the basis of application processing requirements and available resources. For example:

？ Memory and CPU-sensitive operations are performed on the server and are transparent to the user.

？ Both the topology and warning APIs provide a way to batch load records, which increases the responsiveness of the client.

？ The class state and cache count exist on the server to minimize the memory used by the client program.

Solstice Enterprise Manager

1. Today's network environment

With the expansion of Web services to every corner of the globe, today's telecommunications and information networks have become larger and more complex than ever before. The number of devices and components to be managed has grown dramatically, and this growth will be maintained for the foreseeable future. Examples abound, such as the worldwide proliferation of cellular networks, the development and deployment of global satellite networks, and the deployment of basic wireless networks in developing countries, among others. With the increasing demand for these networks, the ability to manage the network with minimal cost, time and complexity has become a critical issue. Efficient network management is the key to improving service quality. And more importantly, improvements in service quality can increase competitive advantage in a highly competitive telecommunications environment.