Using ODP as a Framework for CORBA-based Distributed Applications Management

Abstract

Today's complex IT infrastructures require an integrated management of networking devices, end systems, and applications. A necessary prerequisite are management models for resources that are generally applicable and useful even in environments that rely on different management architectures. The paper describes a novel approach to management models for (distributed) applications which meets these needs. The approach is based on concepts taken from the ODP viewpoint languages. It is applicable to a wide range of applications and independent of specifics of existing management architectures. This independence is very important as implementors of management systems gain the opportunity of choosing between at least three different management architectures.In this paper, the different phases of our approach are depicted: Starting from conceptual modeling, we show how the design of the model can be enhanced by using CASE-tools for refining the object classes. Furthermore, we describe a way to transform this model into concrete CORBA objects. This is demonstrated by means of a concrete example, namely a transaction processing monitor. Finally, it is shown how the implementation of the model fits into an integrated management environment spanning different management architectures.