1. An XML Schema for NMWG Yee-Ting Li, UCL

2. Metrics All results from Network Monitoring stored in some format All results from Network Monitoring stored in some format Usually as a flat text file Usually as a flat text file Could store in a table in a Database Could store in a table in a Database –Need to convey the meaning the data and the format in which it is kept (meta data etc) XML! XML!

3. NMWG Working Group at GGF Working Group at GGF Focuses on describing metrics (characteristics) for use in Grid Environments Focuses on describing metrics (characteristics) for use in Grid Environments –How to make more use of Network information Encompasses work from IPPM Encompasses work from IPPM Two documents planned: Two documents planned: –Characteristics and measurements document Describes the structure and relationship of metrics (characteristics) against each other Describes the structure and relationship of metrics (characteristics) against each other Hierarchy of characteristics Hierarchy of characteristics –Tools Document Maps tools such as iperf and ping to specific points on the characteristic heirachy Maps tools such as iperf and ping to specific points on the characteristic heirachy

4. NMWG Overview Similar to IETF IPPM Similar to IETF IPPM –But focuses more on how to use the metric rather than measure it Defines singleton and statistical characteristics Defines singleton and statistical characteristics –Singletons are a specific instance of a characteristic –Statistical characteristics are formed as a result of 2 or more singletons Defines classes of characteristics that describe WHAT you are measuring Defines classes of characteristics that describe WHAT you are measuring –e.g. bandwidth, delay etc. –Uses a hierachy to give structure and relationships to characteristics Defines a ‘Measurement Methodology’ to describe HOW to measure the characteristics Defines a ‘Measurement Methodology’ to describe HOW to measure the characteristics Defines samples of data and their inherent sampling patterns Defines samples of data and their inherent sampling patterns

5. NMWG Overview Results gathered into an Observation Results gathered into an Observation Realised by a Measurement Methodology Realised by a Measurement Methodology Which measures a Characteristic Which measures a Characteristic Which describes a Network Entity Which describes a Network Entity

6. NMWG Overview

7. An XML Schema for NMWG XML Schemas describe the structure and content of XML document XML Schemas describe the structure and content of XML document Document language to describe virtually anything! Document language to describe virtually anything! –Uses meta data to give context to documents Industrial standard Industrial standard Cross platform Cross platform –nothing more than a text file Extensible and Flexible Extensible and Flexible Used throughout Web Services and OGSA technologies Used throughout Web Services and OGSA technologies

8. NMWG Schema Goal To be able to fully describe network metrics/characteristics To be able to fully describe network metrics/characteristics –In complete and extensible way –Able to store as much information as required –Able to have as little information as required To be used in a real system with real results To be used in a real system with real results –Capable to describing WHAT a tool measures and HOW and WHERE Focusing actually implementing what the NMWG document says… and doesn’t say… Focusing actually implementing what the NMWG document says… and doesn’t say… –With view on actually using it to retrieve results… –As a results doesn’t always exactly match what NMWG says/suggests –As a results doesn’t always exactly match what NMWG says/suggests

9. NMWG Schema - Overview Measurement Methodology is root Measurement Methodology is root –Used to describe the application used to gather the results –The network it is conducted on –The results (observations) of the characteristics

10. NMWG Schema - measurementMethodology

11. NMWG Schema - Characteristics

12. NMWG Schema - observationSample Tried to incorporate method of describing more than one observation at once Tried to incorporate method of describing more than one observation at once –When we retrieve historical information of the bandwidth for the last month May singleton values as well as statistical values May singleton values as well as statistical values –Collate all ping values for last year! Some tools may report more than one characteristic Some tools may report more than one characteristic –Eg ping: 2WD and loss, traceroute: rtt and path, pipechar: capacity and path etc.

13. NMWG Schema - observationSample

14. NMWG Schema - Example Ping Ping

15. NMWG Schema - Example Iperf Iperf

16. NMWG Schema - Example Traceroute Traceroute

17. NMWG Schema - Example pipechar pipechar

18. Summary A useable implementation of XML Schema for Network Monitoring A useable implementation of XML Schema for Network Monitoring –Can report single observations or a group of observations in a single document Demonstrated suitability for most common monitoring tools Demonstrated suitability for most common monitoring tools –Easily extended to most tools Also includes non-network information that may contribute to poor network performance Also includes non-network information that may contribute to poor network performance –Host configuration, kernel parameters etc. However doesn’t quite fit into NMWG framework However doesn’t quite fit into NMWG framework –Needs further refinement of both the Schema and what NMWG define