An Introduction to the NMW System
The following information is available on this page:
- An Outline of the NMW System
- The Components of the NMW System
- The Working Environment for the NMW System
- What's included in the package?
- Instructions for Installation
- Copyright
- Addresses you can contact
The NMW System was developed with the objective of using a network
worm in network management. The network worm(hereafter referred to as
worm) refers to a program which moves around the network and executes
autonomously.
The application of the worm in network management has the following
advantages.
- ・Investigation, Analysis and Control of the network
By moving around the network collecting information, it is
possible for the worm to take appropriate action corresponding to the situation for each of the multiple hosts.
- ・Reduction of network communication in network management
The worm only selects the information it requires and hence
communication over the network is reduced.
- ・Flexibility corresponding to network failures
In the event of a severed connection in the network, the
worm is able to respond to the situation accordingly.
The NMW System consists of the main worm and three supporting worm
systems. The main worm is compiled and executed by an interpreter
referred to as OWL(explained below). The main worm is dispatched
by the supporting worm systems and moves around the network.
The three supporting worm systems are as follows.
- wsd(daemon supporting worm)
- OWL(interpreter)
- wormc(interface controlling worm)
Wsd is the main program of the NMW System. The results of the
worm execution and the control messages are exchanged with wsd.
OWL is an interpreter with autonomous extension based on
scheme(a lisp-based programming language). Scm
(a scheme implementation) is the actual
OWL. When wsd receives a worm, OWL is started up.
OWL has several perl scripts which it accesses to
facilitate its workings. These scripts exist as functions in
scheme which can be used by the worm.
Wormc is an interface program for the user executing wsd. The
user uses wormc to execute the worm and send control messages.
Wormc only provides interface with the wsd of own host.
In addition, at present the results of the execution can only be seen
from the files recording the execution results.
The NMW System has been confirmed to work in the following OS.
- NEWS-OS 4.2.1R
- SunOS 4.1.3
- BSD/OS 2.0
- BSD/OS 1.1
- FreeBSD 2.0
In addition to this package, the use of the NMW System requires the
following.
- scm(R4RS) version 4e0 (4e1)
- perl version 4.0
(The development of the NMW System was conducted on scm 4e0 and
perl 4.0. It has not been confirmed if it works with newer versions
of the abovementioned software.)
These software are available from many FTP sites.
This package includes the following files and directories.
- README.1st
- This file
- INSTALL
- Installation guide
- Makefile
- Makefile common to various OS
- etc
- Directory containing wsd configuration files
- man
- Directory containing the manuals(under construction)
- owl
- Directory containing OWL-related files
lowlevel.scm is a function that is executed when starting
up scm
- owl/bin
- Executable file containing scripts from owl
- src
- Directory containing the source code files
Please refer to src/README.src for the contents
of each file.
- samples
- Directory containing the worm sample files
Please refer to README.samples for the contents
of each file.
Please refer to INSTALL for the instructions
for installation.
The ownership of the NMW System is shared by the following.
- Akihiro SHIMIZU
- OHNO Research Laboratory, Department of Mathematical and Computing
Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology
- WIDE Project
As a rule, it is forbidden to make copies or redistribute this
software. Please contact the address here if you
have to make copies or redistribute this software.
Please also notify us if you make any changes to this software.
Please note that the developers of this software will not be held
responsible for any mishaps or damage due to the use of the NMW System.
This software is to be used at your own risk.
A mailing-list has been prepared for any enquiries or reports of bugs.
Please send e-mail to the following address if you are interested to
be included in the mailing list.
- nmw-users-request@is.titech.ac.jp
Please pardon us if there be any delay in the processing.
To NMW System Beta-version Home Page
Chee How KEK (kek@is.titech.ac.jp)
last update: 23 Jun 95