TM internetworking devices use an object-oriented management framework.  Everything one can manage via its web-based administrative interface is an object.  Because the operating firmware understands the roles and responsibilities of the various classes of objects, and because the firmware is able to learn the relationships between objects, much of the work in making configuration changes is automatic.  In addition, because system events trigger object changes, the firmware is automatically able to handle a large class of failure (and resumption) conditions automatically without administrator intervention.

Consider this scenario:

• Two TM0300 units connect two offices together over business-class DSL connections to the Internet.
  
• Each TM0300 has a network interface object that defines the attributes of the network interface, such as ip address, netmask, etc.
• Each TM0300 also has configured a VPN tunnel object, that defines a VPN link from office to office over the Internet connections.  The VPN object knows its parent -- the interface over which it sends and receives encrypted packets -- is the defined Internet interface.
• The VPN objects automatically register firewall rules that allow the VPN packets to flow between the TM0300 units, removing the need for human intervention with this step.
• A host of firewall rules, translation rules (NAT), and other objects may be configured on each TM0300, with these objects inter-relating automatically with the network resources they utilize.
  

Now assume that one of the offices decides to move to a different ISP using a fractional T-1 service.  What configuration changes does an administrator need to make?

• Update the ip address and netmask attributes of the Internet connection object on the TM0300 connected to the new ISP service.
  
• Update the remote ip address attribute of the VPN object on the TM0300 at the other office.
  

That's all there is to do.  All the firewall rules, translations, VPN details, and so on are automatically reconfigured by the system without operator intervention.

Active Object Technology is a powerful aspect of Titanium MIrror's proprietary operating firmware used in all its internetworking appliances.  Learn more about it in the Products section of this website.