Performance evaluation of an FDDI-ATM gateway by simulation method / Norini Hamdan

Networks are evolving towards a Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (BISDN). The initial steps towards B-ISDN involves the use of backbone networks to act as the switching center for linked Local Area Networks (LANs), consequently forming a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). Fibre Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) is widely used as the most promising solution to the problem of high speed interconnection in the near term and on the local area basis. In order to realise a Broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) network. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) has been selected as a transport technology for this network. The evolution of the interconnection towards B-ISDN necessitates the backbone ring of an FDDI to be connected via an interface to ATM networks of the B-ISDN. In this thesis, an interconnected FDDI ATM based B-ISDN network is presented and the performance of FDDI ATM based B-ISDN gateway is analysed. Inter-network messages of varying sizes are transmitted from FDDI network via the gateway to ATM networks of the B-ISDN. The performance measure of concern is the Mean Waiting Time (MWT) of inter-network traffic. A simulation model is used to analyse the effect of varying the probability of inter-network packet (p), effect of load, effect of varying ring length (distance) and effect of varying message size on the overall performance of interconnected FDDI ATM based B-ISDN network subjected to different traffic conditions.