Enabling scalable and fault-tolerant multi-agent systems by utilizing cloud-native computing

Abstract

Multi-agent systems (MAS) represent a distributed computing paradigm well suited to tackle today’s challenges in the field of the Internet of Things (IoT). Both share many similarities such as the interconnection of distributed devices and their cooperation. The combination of MAS and IoT would allow the transfer of the experience gained in MAS research to the broader range of IoT applications. The key enabler for utilizing MAS in the IoT is the ability to build large-scale and fault-tolerant MASs since IoT concepts comprise possibly thousands or even millions of devices. However, well known multi-agent platforms (MAP), e. g., Java Agent DE-velopment Framework (JADE), are not able to deal with these challenges. To this aim, we present a cloud-native Multi-Agent Platform (cloneMAP) as a modern MAP based on cloud-computing techniques to enable scalability and fault-tolerance. A microservice architecture is used to implement it in a distributed way utilizing the open-source container orchestration system Kubernetes. Thereby, bottlenecks and single-points of failure are conceptually avoided. A comparison with JADE via relevant performance metrics indicates the massively improved scalability. Furthermore, the implementation of a large-scale use case verifies cloneMAP’s suitability for IoT applications. This leads to the conclusion that cloneMAP extends the range of possible MAS applications and enables the integration with IoT concepts.

Guaranteeing Performance in a Fault Tolerant Architecture Solution using Software Agent’s Coordination

“…A fault-tolerant system continues its functionality toward achieving a specified goal in the presence of faults. However, the absence of a fault-tolerant capability is a consequential loss, particularly to critical service systems dependent on web services for service provisions (Laranjeiro et al, 2008;Peng & Huang, 2014;Chimmanee & Jantavongso, 2016;Dahling et al, 2021). Succinctly, related studies on fault-tolerant approaches and mechanisms, performance of fault-tolerant mechanisms, and their reports were explored to guide the study's focus.…”

“…However, expressed that the use of triplicate redundancy has been prevalent for fault tolerance by software agents regardless of their minimal support for design diversity during execution time for interactive applications. Another study added that their humanlike nature makes them autonomous and suitable for handling fault tolerance in critical systems (Dahling et al, 2021).…”

“…Each replica solution was a collection of at least four N-Version sets of replica groups with n-1 of them that were active and running concurrently for Software agents were hosted in the Java Agent DEvelopment (JADE) environment and their lifecycles were under the agency of Agent Management Services (AMS) coordination. JADE was one of the most suitable platforms for multi-agent systems (Leitao et al, 2016;Dahling et al, 2021). The service replica solutions were components with N-Versioned solutions built by different service vendors transparent to each other while providing computational services.…”

“…Suitable fault assessments are paramount to assure the system's performability in terms of fault tolerance and performance. Several studies have emphasized fault-tolerant architectures, their mechanisms, and criticality in ensuring service availability and delivery in service systems (Garcia & Toledo, 2007;Laranjeiro et al, 2008;Aghaei et al, 2011;Ahmed & Wu, 2013;Vargas-Santiago et al, 2017;Li et al, 2018;Pandey et al, 2019;Dahling et al, 2021). Relatively, existing fault-tolerant architectures have been centered around redundant mechanisms in terms of replication (active and passive), diversity, and N-Version Programming Laranjeiro et al, 2008;Hosseini & Arani, 2015;Kumari & Kaur, 2018;Pandey et al, 2019;Abdi & Shahoveisi, 2022).…”

Aggressive Fault Tolerance in Cloud Computing Using Smart Decision Agent

“…Al Obaidy et al [31] proposed an agent-based fault tolerant system to behave the powerful, reliable, predictable, scalable more flexible, autonomous and capable of intelligent behavior. Dähling et al [32] proposed a cloneMAP algorithm to achieve scalability and fault-tolerance. The cloneMAP eliminates the single points of failure in cloud environment.…”