What Is Policy-Based Network Management?

Policy-based networking is the management of the network so that all kinds of trafficdata, voice, and videoget the bandwidth they need to effectively serve network users.

Policy-based network

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Policy-based networking is the management of the network so that all kinds of trafficdata, voice, and videoget the bandwidth they need to effectively serve network users.

Policy-based networking is the management of the network so that all kinds of trafficdata, voice, and videoget the bandwidth they need to effectively serve network users. With the consolidation of data, phone and video traffic on the same network, businesses will face the challenge of managing traffic so that one service does not precede another. Using policy statements, network administrators can specify preferred services, Internet Protocol (IP) -based networks, and times. This management is often referred to as Quality of Service (QoS) and is controlled using policy-based network software.

In fact, most policy-based network software now requires more detailed and network-aware declarations. Currently, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is developing a standard strategic framework and related protocols. A typical policy-based networking includes:

• A network management console for policy entry, editing, or invocation from the policy library;

• A server, called a decision point (PDP), retrieves a policy from a policy library and executes the policy (PEP) in the name of a policy enforcement point;

• Policy enforcement points (PEPs) refer to routers, switches, and other network devices that implement policies. They use access control lists (ACLs) and queue management algorithms, etc .;

• Policy Library, a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) -based policy directory server.

The drafting of the IETF standard for policy-based networks began in late 1999. Companies that currently provide proprietary policy-based networking software include Capron, Cisco, Nortel Networks, and 3Com. These companies know (and may also be committed to) the development of the standard. Their products will continue to evolve to support standards. ^[1]