A novel defense model for dynamic topology network based on mobile agent

It is common for the network topology to change during its operation, which demands that the network defense system adapt itself for the current topology. Aiming at such need, this paper provides a novel defense model for the dynamic topology network, which includes three modules: network topology discovery, adaptive agents re-configuration mechanism and active defense. The model is based on mobile agent technology, and contains two kinds of agents: topology discovery agent and defense agent. The model uses topology discovery agents to actively probe the current network topology and encodes it. Then the adaptive re-configuration mechanism of the model implements the distribution and migration of the defense agents according to the current topology. Thus, the re-configured defense agents provide active defense for the network. The whole model emerges with the Markov property, which is also analyzed in the paper. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.