Title: Using simulation to determine reliability and availability of telecommunication networks

Authors: Javier Faulin, Angel A. Juan, Carles Serrat, Vicente Bargueno

Addresses: Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Public University of Navarra, Campus Arrosadia, Pamplona 31006, Navarre, Spain. ' Department of Applied Mathematics I – EPSEB, Technical University of Catalonia, Av. Doctor Maranon, 44-50, Barcelona 08028, Spain. ' Department of Applied Mathematics I – EPSEB, Technical University of Catalonia, Av. Doctor Maranon, 44-50, Barcelona 08028, Spain. ' Department of Applied Mathematics I – ETSII, Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, Madrid 28080, Spain

Abstract: The design of reliable networks is a fundamental task for system managers and telecommunication engineers, since reliability and availability are strongly related to other important concepts, such as quality and security. We have developed some simulation-based algorithms, implemented as C/C++ programs that can be used to obtain information about reliability and availability levels in a network. They can also be used to identify those critical components that should be improved or duplicated in order to increase overall reliability or availability. Furthermore, a procedure to obtain all minimal paths connecting a set of nodes in a network is introduced. Finally, two application examples, regarding Wide Area Networks (WANs), are discussed using these algorithms and procedure. [Received 22 July 2006; Revised 17 October; Accepted 26 October 2006].

Keywords: time-dependent systems; reliability; availability; telecommunication networks; discrete-event simulation; wide area networks; WANs.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIE.2007.014106

European Journal of Industrial Engineering, 2007 Vol.1 No.2, pp.131 - 151

Published online: 20 Jun 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article