A novel frame relay dimensioning strategy for Cost efficient internet access in urban networks

Abstract

Frame relay is a technology which is implemented by major fixed network telecommunications carriers worldwide and it has become one of the most extensively-used WAN protocols. Its cheapness, compared to leased lines, and extreme simplicity of configuring user equipment are the main reasons for its popularity. With Frame Relay, users can get the most of their internet by running various internet-based applications. It's the best choice for companies with high networking requirements. Frame relay is a fast packet switching technology which has been designed around the very reliable optical fiber transmission networks. The network switches being modeled use the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) link algorithm to route both new traffic and traffic seeking alternate routes due to unanticipated network failure. In the model, traffic seeking an alternate route due to failure is distributed over routes with similar routing priorities in a manner duplicating the OSPF algorithm method of even distribution rather than a fill down approach. As frame relay networks are a commercial venture, cost and interswitch bandwidth must be minimized whilst reliability and redundancy must be maximized. To achieve these two goals, the frame relay operator must have extensive knowledge of both network performance and the traffic profile. One way of attaining this knowledge is to use a source model. The source model is implemented based on actual live traffic parameters. It can be used for analysis and simulation of the frame relay network. It is not the intent of this research to replicate existing frame relay networks, but rather to develop an accurate and robust model to be used by network dimensioning engineers in carrying out their duties. The developed model worked well since the simulated data matched the actual real data. With minor changes to account for network statistic presentation, the resultant model can equally be applied to non-frame relay data networks.