Equus: a QoS manager for distributed applications

Abstract

This paper discusses QOS management for distributed multimedia applications, focusing on end-system support. We propose a new software framework for managing resources which is composed of two key elements: the QOS management and application design models. The former has at its core a QOS manager which is responsible for admission control, QOS translation and performance monitoring. It also provides mechanisms and policies for employing dynamic adaptation to manage application access to resources. The application model is used to simplify the problems of QOS specification and re source allocation/accounting. Preliminary experiences with a prototype of this system in a workstation environment are reported. This has been implemented as the Equus QOS management platform currently running over Unix System V.4.