PROJECT PLANNING

My proposed project is to investigate in depth queuing and compression techniques, and be able to achieve traffic optimization is my main target. So far I have gained a vast amount of knowledge about these topics.

In the next semester I would like to put this knowledge into practice by implementing these techniques in an “actual” network, I would be required to simulate traffic congestion.

I will be experimenting with each one of the techniques that I have covered in this proposal and I will record the results of these tests.

Having gathered these results I will be able to make comparisons, as to which technique is the most efficient.

My objective is to achieve the best solution for traffic optimization for every Wide Area Network technology including Frame Relay, X.25, ISDN, etc

These are some of the main objectives I wish to achieve:

• Investigate traffic optimization solutions among queuing and compression

• Implement these techniques in a network simulation scenario.

• Introduce traffic congestion to the network as a means of extensively testing these techniques

• Draw up comparisons between the proposed techniques

• Repeat these processes with each of the Wide Area Network services (Frame relay, X.25, ISDN) where possible, and try to identify a feasible solution for each.

• Implement Voice over IP (VoIP) and Video conferencing on these networks to analyse the quality of voice and video calls. Then introduce other network traffic to see how it deteriorates or affects the voice-critical applications

• Do a research about the latest hardware (routers) that can improve the traffic flow of the network.

• Find out about prices, performance, compatibility, and recommend which hardware will improve the network the most

EQUIPMENT

In order to be able to implement the techniques that I have investigated, I will be required to use certain equipment.

For traffic generation I would need the following:

• Packet InterNET Groper

A program, which tests reachability of destinations by sending ICMO requests and waiting for replies.

Computers

A number of PC’s perhaps 6 or more, will be required to form the network and share data between them. At least a couple of them will also require video conferencing equipment (camera, microphone, speakers) so that queuing techniques can be tested efficiently on these mission-critical applications.

Routers

A vital part of the network is the router since it handles all the traffic and dispatches it appropriately. Most importantly this is where we can implement our queuing and compression techniques.

I will need at least three of the following routers:

• 7204 routers
• 1720 running IMA
• 2600 running IMA
• 3600 running IMA

IOS Version

To implement Low-Latency Queuing, it is necessary to have Cisco-Express Forwarding enabled on the router. Therefore, the version of IOS must be at least IP Plus or higher.

Cisco states that the version of IOS must be at least 12.0.7.

Cables

A range of cables will be necessary to bring the network up such cables include: serial, console, cross over, straight through, etc. The number of cables will depend on the number of equipment that I will be provided.