Resource management in IP networks
Abdoul Rassaki Wahabi · SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University) · 2001
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: lP networks offer scalability and flexibility for rapid deployment of value added lP services. However, with the increased demand and explosive growth of the Internet, carriers require a network infrastructure that is dependable, predictable, and offers consistent network performance. This thesis examines the functionality, performance and implementation aspects of the MPLS mechanisms to minimize the expected packet delay in MPLS networks. Optimal path selection and the assignment of bandwidth to those paths for minimizing the average packet delay are investigated. We present an efficient flow deviation algorithm (EFDA) which assigns a small amount of flow from a set of routes connecting each OD pair to the shortest path connecting the OD pair in the network. The flow is assigned in such a way that the network average packet delay is minimized. Bellman's algorithm is used to find the shortest routes between all OD pairs. The thesis studies the problem of determining the routes between an OD pair and assigning capacities to those routes. The EFDA algorithm iteratively determines the global minimum of the objective function. We also use the optimal flows to compute the optimal link capacities in both single and multirate networks. The algorithm has been applied to several examples and to different models of networks. The results are used to evaluate the performance of the EFDA algorithm and compare the optimal solutions obtained with different starting topologies and different techniques. They all fall within a close cost-performance range. They are all within the same range from the optimal solution as well.