In IEEE International Conference on Telecommunications 2001


A Framework for Practical Performance Evaluation and Traffic Engineering in 
IP Networks

Victor Firoiu, Ikjun Yeom, Xiaohui Zhang


ABSTRACT

We propose a model for performance evaluation (average throughput,
packet delay and loss probability) of IP networks that are dominated
by congestion-controlled (i.e., TCP-like) traffic.  Our model includes
heterogeneous TCP flows, UDP flows, short-lived TCP flows, and TCP
flows in a differentiated services network.  We also introduce a
practical approach to estimating the performance of large scale
networks where flows may encounter multiple congested links. Through
extensive simulations, we find our models to be accurate and efficient
to compute.

The model presented here is one of the first attempts to providing a
network calculus for congestion-controlled traffic.  This quantitative
network analysis is an essential part of traffic engineering and
network provisioning for IP networks with Best Effort and/or
Differentiated Services traffic.