网络性能仿真软件综述

A Survey on Different Kinds of Software for Network Performance Simulation

网络性能仿真有助于网络运行数据的统计和网络性能的分析,对网络的设计、运营、优化与综合评估至关重要。由于网络的异构性、数据传输过程的复杂性、业务属性的多变性和网络设备的局限性,传统网络性能仿真方法难以确保所获取仿真结果的准确性。网络性能仿真软件通过搭建网络模型和模拟真实网络场景下的信息传送过程,可获取高可信度的仿真结果,对网络研究与应用起到巨大的推动作用。光网络以其通信容量大、信号串扰小和保密性能好等特点已得到广泛应用,并衍生出多种光网络专用型仿真软件。阐述了主流的通用型和光网络专用型网络性能仿真软件的基本功能、主要特点与适用范围,总结并分析了各类软件的多种属性,提出了网络性能仿真软件的未来发展设想,为专业人员挑选合适的网络性能仿真软件提供参考。

Network performance simulation is beneficial to the statistics of network operation data and the analysis of network performance,which plays an important role in the design,operation,optimization and comprehensive evaluation of the network.It is difficult for traditional network simulation methods to ensure the accuracy of the simulation results owing to the heterogeneity of the networks,the complexity of the data transmission process,the multi-variant attributes of services and the limitation of the network equipment.However,network performance simulation software can acquire simulation results of high-reliability by building network models and simulating information transfer process in real network scenarios,which has a great promotion of network research and application.Optical networks have been used widely due to their large communication capacity,low signal crosstalk,and excellent confidentiality performance,which lead to the development of specific simulation software of many types for optical networks.This paper summarizes basic functions,main characteristics and applicable domains of the mainstream simulation software with two types for both the general networks and the optical networks dedicated.Overview and analysis of their multi-attributes are made,and their future development vision is also presented.The contribution of our work aims to provide some references for professionals to select appropriate simulation software of network performance.