NetScript approaches the programming of network node engines in analogy to Postscript's approach to programming printers. Network node functions are abstracted in terms of universal language constructs that process packet streams and allocate resources to support this processing. NetScript active elements are organized as dataflow engines that are dynamically deployed and executed at network nodes where they process packet streams e.g., analyze headers, classify, filter and forward packets.
VANs are units of programmability, management, and security.
One programs, manages, and secures a VAN as a single unit instead of manipulating each node separately. NetScript introduces a completely novel approach to manageability. NetScript will replace this process with a systematic compiler-generated integral support of manageability. This management software, furthermore, derives from the very semantics of active elements and thus enables automation of their operations management functions. This compiler-generated instrumentation will also be used to support intrusion detection and protection against attacks.