A Time-Based Service Monitoring mechanism for monitoring Service Level
Agreements (SLAs) over specific time intervals is described. To provide
for the time-based monitoring of service, data is received for defining
one or more tests for monitoring the level of network service that is
being provided to a particular customer. Based on the received data,
information is created and stored that defines a specific time range for
when the one or more tests are to be enforced. The one or more tests are
distributed to one or more agents that are configured to communicate with
devices that are associated with the network. The devices are then
configured to perform the one or more tests within the specific time
range. Based on the results, the customer is provided information
indicating whether they are receiving the level of service that has been
guaranteed by the service provider over the specific time intervals.