Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Local Area Network (LAN) Performance Evaluation Model: An Analytic Model for Assessing the Impact of Changing LAN Hardware and Software Configurations

摘要

The purpose of this study was to develop a performance evaluation model to analyze the impact of changing hardware and software configurations on a Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) based on local area network (LAN). The analysis focuses on the specific network software and computing equipment used on the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) LAN. The analysis was accomplished in two parts. First, a functional model of the network was prepared using available technical documentation and by consulting with system experts. The second part of the process was performance modeling. Individual traffic loading models were developed for each device to be connected to the AFIT LAN. Packet sizes characteristic of the networking software and access method were then specified for each device, and an aggregate data rate for each device was computed. Three performance measures: maximum channel efficiency, throughput, and minimum average delay were then selected to evaluate overall network performance. A standard spreadsheet program was used to construct the model. The results of the modeling analysis indicate the AFIT LAN will meet the school's expanding networking requirements.