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See: 7575 on datatracker.ietf.org

The title of this RFC is “Autonomic Networking - Definitions and Design Goals (RFC 7575).”

RFC 7575 defines the fundamental concepts and design goals for Autonomic Networking, a paradigm aimed at enabling self-managing networks that require minimal human intervention. In traditional networks, network administrators manually configure and manage devices, a process that becomes increasingly complex as networks grow in scale. Autonomic Networking seeks to address this challenge by allowing network devices to automatically perform tasks such as network configuration, network optimization, and network healing, based on predefined network policies and network environmental conditions. The framework described in RFC 7575 establishes the principles and requirements for building such autonomous systems. The related RFC is RFC 7576, which provides the architecture for autonomic networking. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_networking https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7576

A key concept in RFC 7575 is that autonomic networks must be self-managing. This means that network devices, or autonomic nodes, should be capable of making decisions based on real-time data without needing direct commands from a human operator. Autonomic nodes use embedded intelligence to adjust to changing network conditions, such as fluctuating traffic loads or device failures, and automatically adapt to these changes. This self-managing capability is the core of Autonomic Networking and provides the foundation for the design goals established in this RFC. The related RFC is RFC 7546, which discusses the Generic Autonomic Signaling Protocol used for communication between autonomic devices. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_networking https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7546

RFC 7575 also stresses that Autonomic Networking must support scalability. As networks grow in size and complexity, manually managing each device becomes impractical. By enabling devices to autonomously discover each other, form relationships, and configure themselves, autonomic networks can grow without requiring additional effort from administrators. This scalability ensures that Autonomic Networking can be deployed in environments ranging from small local networks to large enterprise or service provider networks. The related RFC is RFC 7937, which discusses the challenges of scaling network systems and solutions provided by autonomic features. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalability https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7937

Security is another critical goal outlined in RFC 7575. Autonomic networks must protect themselves against unauthorized access and attacks while ensuring that their self-managing capabilities do not expose vulnerabilities. Autonomic Networking introduces mechanisms for secure communication between autonomic devices, including encryption and authentication methods that prevent malicious actors from interfering with the network’s autonomic functions. This is especially important as autonomic devices make decisions without human oversight, meaning that security must be built into the network’s self-management processes. The related RFC is RFC 8994, which defines the Autonomic Control Plane (ACP) and its role in secure autonomic communications. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_networking https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc8994

RFC 7575 also introduces the concept of intent-based networking as a key design goal. In an Autonomic Networking environment, administrators define high-level policies or “intents” that specify the desired behavior of the network. Autonomic devices interpret these intents and adjust their behavior to achieve the specified outcomes. This approach contrasts with traditional methods, where administrators must manually configure each device based on low-level instructions. Intent-based networking allows for more abstract and flexible management, making it easier to manage large and dynamic networks. The related RFC is RFC 8328, which outlines a framework for intent-based networking. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intent-based_networking https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc8328

A fundamental aspect of Autonomic Networking is its ability to self-optimize, which is also a key design goal in RFC 7575. Self-optimization refers to the capability of network devices to continuously monitor their environment and adjust their performance to maximize efficiency. For example, devices may dynamically alter their routing decisions or bandwidth allocations based on real-time traffic patterns to ensure optimal network performance. This reduces the need for manual tuning and ensures that the network remains efficient, even as conditions change. The related RFC is RFC 6349, which discusses methods for optimizing network throughput in self-managed networks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_networking https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6349

The ability to self-heal is another core goal established in RFC 7575. In traditional networks, when a failure occurs, it often requires manual intervention to diagnose and fix the problem. Autonomic Networking aims to eliminate this dependency by enabling devices to automatically detect faults and apply corrective actions without human involvement. This capability ensures higher network availability and resilience, particularly in environments where uptime is critical. Self-healing mechanisms can range from rerouting traffic around failed links to automatically replacing faulty configurations. The related RFC is RFC 7012, which focuses on fault detection and recovery mechanisms in autonomic systems. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_networking https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7012

A distinctive feature of Autonomic Networking described in RFC 7575 is self-configuration. This means that network devices should automatically configure themselves when added to the network, without requiring manual setup. This capability simplifies the deployment process, particularly in large networks where configuring each device manually is inefficient. Autonomic devices can use protocols like IPv6 for automatic address configuration and discover neighboring devices to integrate themselves into the network. The related RFC is RFC 4862, which outlines IPv6 address autoconfiguration methods. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPv6 https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4862

The title of this RFC is “ Definitions and Design Goals (RFC 7575).” RFC 7575 lays the groundwork for Autonomic Networking by defining its design goals, including self-management, scalability, security, and self-optimization. The framework introduces key concepts such as intent-based networking, self-healing, and self-configuration, all of which aim to reduce the complexity of network management and improve overall performance. By enabling devices to autonomously perform tasks based on high-level policies, Autonomic Networking ensures that networks can scale and adapt to changing conditions without requiring constant human intervention, making it a transformative approach to network management.