Performance prediction of smart permanent virtual circuits in ATM networks with CACI Comnet

Abstract

As networks become larger and more complex the design and management of systems become more and more difficult. New technologies, such as asynchronous transfer mode, new algorithms, and bandwidth demanding applications are implemented every day. How can network designers decide which combinations of connections, communication speeds, algorithms, and applications are the most appropriate for their business? A widely accepted answer is performance prediction through simulation. A model can be used to: evaluate various design alternatives or various operational policies; explore the behavior of proposed systems and connections before actually building them; and pre-test modifications. We apply simulation techniques to ATM networks. In an ATM network the basic data units, called cells, are routed through switched or permanent virtual circuits. A smart permanent virtual circuit is a connection that looks like a permanent virtual circuit at the local and remote endpoints with a switched virtual circuit in the middle. In an earlier paper the author (1997) presented a search algorithm for managing smart permanent virtual circuits. Our goal is to predict the performance of this search algorithm with the distributed software module of the simulation modeling system CACI Comnet.