NetScript: A Language and Environment for Programmable Networks
Introduction and Motivation NetScript is a programming language
and environment for building networked systems. Its programs are
organized as mobile agents that are dispatched to remote systems
and executed under local or remote control. The goal of
NetScript is to simplify the development of networked systems
and to enable their remote programming. At present, networked
systems are difficult to design, implement, deploy and manage.
Intermediate network nodes (e.g., routers, switches) are
constructed as black-boxes; in contrast, end-nodes
(workstations, servers) can execute arbitrary applications
software. To program new functions into intermediate nodes one
must first go through a complex standardization process that can
last over a decade. Thus, for example, while end-nodes can be
easily programmed and used to support multimedia applications,
the intermediate nodes must wait for standard protocols to
emerge to support routing and assured QoS de