In this paper LAN management has been analyzed in its relation to hypertext. This research has confirmed that there are no general and available standards and products that cover all aspects of LAN management. The use of automated tools to collect and report on LAN management is expected to increase. Many of the existing software engineering tools can provide or can be modified to provide graphic systems for LAN management. However the benefits of hypertext for LAN Management can be summarized in the following:
Hypertext saves time: Hypertext can often save time by allowing network operators to browse through information without having to pay attention to detail. In this sense, the technology offers a quick way of retrieving linked or cross-referenced information without stepping operators through a series of intermediate menus. In essence, hypertext offers the ability for network operators to have direct manipulation of the information at hand. The net result is a saving of time by making more efficient the task of pinpointing and retrieving relevant information.
Hypertext aids in discovery: Hypertext can also aid in the discovery of new ideas or relevant information by indicating links to information that might not have been originally sought.
Hypertext offers better operator control/navigation: Hypertext offers nonlinear access to information and program control that opens up avenues not only for exploration but for operator-defined system navigation.
Hypertext provides a collaborative work environment: Hypertext can also promote a collaborative work environment by allowing operators working on individual pieces of text or graphical information to be linked together in a larger hypertext work.
Using Mosaic as hypertext browser for LAN Management: reduces the time, training, and costs required by management tasks, increases a portability of user skills between different platforms, reduces the skill level required to perform management tasks, and provide a consistent management environment for heterogenous systems.
The most important results we expect in the future of hypertext based LAN management are summarized as follows:
The proposed model is flexible enough to allow new methods to be incorporated as they are identified or as communication technology changes.
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