comnet iii - London South Bank University
Transcription
comnet iii - London South Bank University
COMNET III ________________________ Getting Started Guide ______________________ Release 2.0 CACI Call or Fax for an Immediate Response Worldwide CACI Products 3333 N Torrey Pines Ct Third Floor La Jolla, California 92037 USA Tel (619) 457-9681 Fax (619) 457-1184 Wash., DC Area CACI Products 1600 Wilson Blvd Thirteenth Floor Arlington, Virginia 22209 USA Tel (703) 875-2900 Fax (703) 875-2904 UK CACI Products Coliseum Business Centre Riverside Way Camberley, Surrey GU15 3YL UK Tel +44 (0) 1276 671 671 Fax +44 (0) 1276 670 677 Copyright © 1998 CACI Release 2.0 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without written permission from CACI. For product information contact: CACI Products Company 3333 North Torrey Pines Ct La Jolla, California 92037 Telephone: (619) 457-9681 Fax: (619) 457-1184 CACI Products Division Coliseum Business Centre Riverside Way Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3YL, UK Telephone: +44 (0) 1276 671 671 Fax: +44 (0) 1276 670 677 The information in this publication is believed to be accurate in all respects. However, CACI cannot assume the responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use thereof. The information contained herein is subject to change. Revisions to this publication or new editions of it may be issued to incorporate such change. COMNET III, COMNET Baseliner, and COMNET Predictor are trademarks of CACI Products Company. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a trademark of Adobe. STK is a registered trademark of Analytical Graphics Incorporated. STK/Pro, STK/Chains, and STK/ Connect are trademarks of Analytical Graphics Incorporated. Table of Contents PREFACE .................................................................................................................... a CHAPTER 1 Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC 1 System Requirements .............................................................................. 1 Installation on Windows 95 and Windows NT ........................................ 2 License Activation and Running COMNET III ....................................... 4 Online Documentation CHAPTER 2 ........................................................................... 12 Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX ........ 13 System Requirements ............................................................................ 13 Installing COMNET III under UNIX Online Documentation CHAPTER 3 ........ .................................................... 14 ........................................................................... 25 COMNET III Sample Models ............................................ 27 Loading and Running the Sample Models ............................................. 27 Sample Model Descriptions ................................................................... 29 i ii • Table of Contents CHAPTER 4 Modeling with COMNET III What is Simulation? 49 .......................................................................... 49 Modeling as an Iterative Process Seeing the Big Picture .......................................... ....................................................... 49 ....................................................................... 50 Common Modeling Mistakes ............................................................ 50 How COMNET III is Unique ............................................................ 51 COMNET III Modeling Terminology ............................................... 54 Preface Purpose COMNET III is a performance analysis tool for computer and communications networks. Based on a description of a network, its control algorithms and workload, COMNET III simulates the operation of the network and provides measures of network performance. No programming is required. Network descriptions are created graphically through a highly intuitive interface that speeds model formulation and experimentation. You can predict the performance of networks ranging from simple LANs to complex enterprise-wide systems—quickly and easily. COMNET III supports a building-block approach where blocks are “objects” you are familiar with in the real world. You start with a library of objects that closely model the objects in your real networks, with one COMNET III object representing one or more real world objects. The COMNET III object’s parameters are easily adjusted to match the real-world object. This object-oriented framework gives you the flexibility to try an unlimited number of “what if” scenarios. Your recommendations will be supported by an easy-tounderstand animated picture of the network configuration you have selected. a b • Preface Documentation The documentation for COMNET III consists of three manuals: • COMNET III Getting Started Guide • COMNET III Reference Manual • COMNET Baseliner User Guide The COMNET III Getting Started Guide is for first-time COMNET III users. It provides an overview of discrete event simulation modeling, the COMNET III product, and details system requirements and installation guidelines. The COMNET III Reference Guide details all aspects of COMNET III. It is an excellent document to use to look up how various features in COMNET III work. The COMNET Baseliner User Guide is a detailed document describing how to import network topology and traffic files captured with various Network Management Systems (NMS) and traffic collectors. In addition to the manuals listed above, CACI Products Company provides white papers on various aspects of network modeling. These papers are available from the CACI home page at: http://www.caciasl.com. Technical Support CACI Products Company provides technical support for its licensed users. Worldwide Europe Phone: 619-824-5200 +44 (0) 1276.671.671 Fax: 619-457-1184 +44 (0) 1276.670.677 Email: [email protected] [email protected] CHAPTER 1 Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC To install COMNET III on a UNIX system, see the next chapter, Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX. System Requirements Please review these PC system requirements before installing COMNET III. Operating System Minimum Requirements Recommended Windows 95 and NT 4.0 Pentium processor w/32 MB RAM, 25 MB free disk space Pentium Processor w/64 MB RAM, 40 MB free disk space 1 2 • Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC Installation on Windows 95 and Windows NT From CD ROM 1. Insert the COMNET III CD ROM into your computer’s CD ROM drive. 2. After a few seconds the COMNET III AUTORUN installation screen will appear. If the AUTORUN installation screen does not appear, then choose Start, and Run from the Windows desktop for Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0. Type X:\AUTORUN\AUTORUN for the Command Line (where X is the letter of the CD ROM drive) and choose OK. The AUTORUN program will bring up a dialog window with options to install COMNET III. 3. Click on the “Install COMNET III” button. This will activate the COMNET III installation wizard which will step you through the installation of the COMNET III program files. A program group will be created, and icons will be placed on the Start menu. Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC • 3 4. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not already installed on your workstation, then click on the “Install Adobe Acrobat Reader” button. This will activate the Adobe Acrobat Reader installation wizard which will step you through the installation of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Adobe Acrobat Reader is necessary in order to view the online documentation. A program group will be created, and icons placed on the Start menu. The installation will also tell COMNET III where to look for Adobe Acrobat Reader when it is launched to view the COMNET III documentation set. 4 • Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC 5. Next, click on Install COMNET III Manuals to install the COMNET III documentation and add a Documentation folder to the program group. License Activation and Running COMNET III The final step is to run COMNET III and select the method of license activation. COMNET III is run with either a hardware license key or a software license key. Most commercial installations of COMNET III for Windows 95/NT will use a hardware key for license activation, although some will use a software license key. Trial licenses of COMNET III always use a software license key. Consult the appropriate paragraph below, depending upon which version of license activation for COMNET III that you will be using. To activate a trial license refer to the following paragraph. To activate a hardware license, refer to page 7. To activate a software license, refer to page 8 and to activate a university license refer to page 11. Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC • 5 Trial License Activation for Windows 95 and NT For commercial customers with a 30-day trial copy, follow these instructions: 1. After COMNET III has finished installing and creating a program group and icons, you need to launch COMNET III to complete the installation and license activation. 2. When you first launch COMNET III, the Activation dialog window appears and you are prompted to choose the method of software licensing you wish to use. Click on the Trial software license key option and then click the OK button. Another dialog will appear, “A license has not been issued to run COMNET III on this computer. Would you like to register a license now?” Click on OK. The license registration dialog window appears (see below). To obtain a License Key, send your Hostcode (found on the License Registration dialog), your release number and your Software Serial ID number to the CACI License Manager according to the directions on the License Registration dialog. Once you have received your Software License Key, enter it on the License Key field. Click the Register button. 3. 6 • Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC Before you begin to build models, you will want to load the COMNET Baseliner License Key. The COMNET Baseliner feature allows you to import network topology and traffic files in order to help you baseline an existing network. 4. To install the COMNET Baseliner license pull down the File menu in COMNET III and select Import. 5. From the sub-menu under Import, select Network Topology. This brings up the CACI License Manager dialog box (see below). 6. Click OK which brings up the License Registration dialog box. Enter the COMNET Baseliner License Key in the License Registration dialog box and click Register to establish a valid COMNET Baseliner license. Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC • 7 Hardware License Activation for Windows 95 and NT The commercial version of COMNET III for Windows 95 and Windows NT is shipped with a hardware license key which is attached to an open parallel port on the back of the workstation. The hardware license key for Windows NT requires that you install certain drivers which come on the COMNET III CD ROM. Typically, for Windows 95, you will not be required to install the drivers. For Windows NT PCs, you must be logged onto your workstation as the administrator in order for the hardware key drivers to be installed correctly. 1. Place the hardware key on the parallel port of the workstation. 2. After COMNET III has finished installing and creating a program group and icons, launch COMNET III to start the license activation. NOTE: If you are running Windows 95, activation of the hardware key typically will proceed automatically and the COMNET III edit window will be open. If so, your installation and license activation is complete. Otherwise, continue through the following instructions. 3. When you first launch COMNET III, the Activation dialog window appears and you are prompted to choose the method of software licensing you want to use. The default is Hardware security device on... and this is the method you typically use for a commercial license of COMNET III. 4. Click on the pull-down box to the right of the Hardware security device on ... and select the Windows operating system that is running on your PC. 8 • Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC 5. When everything is set to your PC specifications click the Install driver first button. When the hardware key drivers are installed successfully you are prompted with a message to reboot your PC. 6. Once you have rebooted, you can run COMNET III. Perpetual Software License Activation for Windows 95 and NT For commercial customers with a perpetual software license key, follow these instructions: 1. After COMNET III has finished installing and creating a program group and icons, you need to launch COMNET III to complete the installation and license activation. 2. When you first launch COMNET III, the Activation dialog window appears and you are prompted to choose the method of software licensing you wish to use. Click on the Perpetual software license key for... option. You will then select the COMNET III feature set you have licensed from the pull-down list and then click the OK button. 3. Another dialog will appear, “A license has not been issued to run COMNET III on this computer. Would you like to register a license now?” Click on OK. The license registration dialog window appears (see below). To obtain a License Key, send your Hostcode (found on the License Registration dialog), your release number and your Software Serial ID number to the CACI License Manager according to the directions on the License Registration dialog. Once you have received your Software License Key, enter it on the License Key field. Click the Register button. Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC • 9 Table 1. COMNET III Feature Sets Feature Set Code Feature Set Name Basic Product Circuit Switching Module Distributed Software Module Satellite/ Mobile Module Application Profiler 11 Basic Product Yes ------ ------ ------ ------ 1100 Enterprise Modeler Package Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 1101 Update for 1.4 customers Yes Yes Yes ------ ------ 1102 Distribute Software Package Yes ------ Yes ------ ------ 1103 Mil/Sat Package Yes Yes ------ Yes 1104 Client/Server Package Yes ------ Yes ------ Yes 1199 Model Viewer ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 10 • Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC Before you begin to build models, you will want to load the COMNET Baseliner License Key. The COMNET Baseliner feature allows you to import network topology and traffic files in order to help you baseline an existing network. 4. To install the COMNET Baseliner license pull down the File menu in COMNET III and select Import. 5. From the sub-menu under Import, select Network Topology. This brings up the CACI License Manager dialog box (see below). 6. Click OK which brings up the License Registration dialog box. Enter the COMNET Baseliner License Key in the License Registration dialog box and click Register to establish a valid COMNET Baseliner license. Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC • 11 University License Activation for Windows 95 and NT For university customers, follow these instructions: 1. After COMNET III has finished installing and creating a program group and icons, you need to launch COMNET III to complete the installation and license activation. 2. When you first launch COMNET III, the Activation dialog window appears. Enter your Software Serial ID Number in the appropriate field. Click on the OK button. 3. Another dialog will appear, “A license has not been issued to run COMNET III on this computer. Would you like to register a license now?” Click on OK. The license registration dialog window appears (see below). To obtain a License Key, send your Hostcode (found on the License Registration dialog), your release number and your Software Serial ID Number to the CACI License Manager according to the directions on the License Registration dialog. Once you have received your Software License Key, enter it on the License Key field. Click the Register button. 12 • Installing and Running COMNET III on a PC Online Documentation The following documents will be installed when you choose Install COMNET III Manuals from the COMNET III Installation CD. The manuals can also be downloaded from the CACI website (http://www.caciasl.com). Once installed, they can be launched from the Windows Start menu, by selecting the Documentation folder under the COMNET III program group. 1. COMNET III Getting Started Guide (C3START.PDF) 2. COMNET III Reference Manual (COMNET.PDF) 3. COMNET Baseliner User’s Guide (BASELINR.PDF) The COMNET III Getting Started Guide gives an introduction to COMNET III and describes how to install COMNET III. The COMNET III Reference Manual contains information on all aspects of COMNET III. The COMNET Baseliner User’s Manual details the use of COMNET Baseliner, which allows for the import of network topology information from various network management consoles. CHAPTER 2 Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX System Requirements Please review these system requirements before installing COMNET III. Operating System Minimum Requirements Recommended Solaris 2.5, or SunOS 5.5 SPARC Station w/32 MB RAM, 50 MB free disk space SPARC Station w/64 MB RAM, 50 MB free disk space HP-UX 10.2 HP 700 Series w/32 MB RAM, 50 MB free disk space HP 700 Series w/64 MB RAM, 50 MB free disk space SGI-IRIX 6.3 32 MB RAM, 50 MB free disk space 64 MB RAM, 50 MB free disk space 13 14 • Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX Installing COMNET III under UNIX In the first part of the installation, the COMNET III programs, system libraries, and sample models are installed in a single program directory. It is not required that root perform the installation, although this will be the case if you choose to install in a directory that requires root access. At many installations, a system administrator performs the first part of the installation. In the second part of the installation, individual COMNET III users set up their own model directory. At many single user sites, the same individual performs both parts of the installation. Part 1: Building the Program Directory 1. Change to the directory where you want to install the COMNET III program files. You must have write permission in this directory. 2. If you have downloaded the COMNET installation from the web, uncompress the file as follows: uncompress Comnet20-commercial-solar.tar.Z The name of the file may be different, depending on which platform you are installing COMNET III on. Now skip to step 4. If you received COMNET III on a CD ROM, insert the COMNET III CD ROM into the CD ROM drive and mount it as follows: /usr/bin/ps -ef | /bin/grep vold The Volume Manager is running if you get a response similar to: root 28158 16925 7 13:14:27 1 0:06 /usr/sbin/vold In this case the CD is automatically mounted. If the Volume Manager is not running, become root and mount the CD manually: mkdir -p /cdrom/comnetdistr mount -F hsfs -r <Device Name> /cdrom/comnetdistr Device Name is typically /dev/dsk/4s0. On HP-UX become root and mount the CD manually: Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX • 15 mkdir /comnetdistr /etc/mount <Device Name> /comnetdistr -t cdfs 3. Copy the tar file, Comnet-<Platform Name>, to your installation directory. 4. Untar the file: tar xvf Comnet20-commercial-solar.tar The name of the file may be different, depending which platform you are installing COMNET III on. 5. Remain in the COMNET III installation directory where you just untarred the comnet tar file and run the COMNET III install script by typing: ./c3install The ./c3install script creates the script files comnet, simdraw, and c3batch. The comnet and simdraw script files can be edited to include additional X-Windows options used to control the appearance of X-Windows applications. X-Windows controls can be passed as -xrm options on the command line in each script file. The c3batch script is used to run a simulation in batch mode. Just type c3batch <model name>. For example, c3batch ACME, runs the model ACME.c3. The c3install script also sets the permission on the COMNET III system libraries contained in the ObjLibs and SG2Libs directories so that only the owner has write access to these directories. 6. Here you will have the option of installing the Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Reader is required to view the COMNET III online documentation. Part 2: Activating COMNET III Trial License Activation for COMNET III on UNIX For commercial customers with a 30-day trial copy, follow these instructions: 1. Start COMNET III by typing comnet at the command prompt. When you first launch COMNET III, the Activation dialog window appears and you are prompted to choose the method of licensing you wish to use. 2. Click on the Trial software license key option and then click the OK button. 16 • Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX 3. Another dialog will appear, “A license has not been issued to run COMNET III on this computer. Would you like to register a license now?” Click on OK. The license registration dialog window appears (see below). Enter the Software License Key found in the upper-right corner of your letter included with your distribution package. Click the Register button. Before you begin to build models, you will want to load the COMNET Baseliner License Key. The COMNET Baseliner feature allows you to import network topology and traffic files in order to help you baseline an existing network. 4. To install the COMNET Baseliner license pull down the File menu in COMNET III and select Import. Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX • 17 1. From the sub-menu under Import, select Network Topology. This brings up the CACI License Manager dialog box (see below). 2. Click OK which brings up the License Registration dialog box. Enter the COMNET Baseliner License Key in the License Registration dialog box and click Register to establish a valid COMNET Baseliner licens 18 • Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX Hardware License Activation for COMNET III on UNIX The commercial version of COMNET III for UNIX is shipped with a hardware license key which is attached to an open serial port on the back of the workstation. 1. When you first launch COMNET III, the Activation dialog window appears and you are prompted to choose the method of licensing you want to use. The default is Hardware security device on... . This is the method you typically use for a commercial license of COMNET III. 2. Click on the pull-down box to the right of the Hardware security device on ... and select the serial port you have placed the hardware key on. See the ReadMe file for platform dependent guidelines that will help you choose the correct option. 3. When everything is set to your workstation’s specifications, click the OK button. When the hardware key drivers are installed successfully you are prompted with a message to reboot your computer. 4. Once you have rebooted, you can run COMNET III. Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX • 19 Perpetual Software License Activation for COMNET III on UNIX For commercial customers with a perpetual software license key, follow these instructions: 1. After COMNET III has finished installing, launch COMNET III to complete the installation and license activation. 2. When you first launch COMNET III, the Activation dialog window appears and you are prompted to choose the method of software licensing you wish to use. Click on the Perpetual software license key for... option. You will then select the COMNET III feature set you have licensed from the pull-down list and then click the OK button. 20 • Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX TABLE 2. COMNET III Feature Sets Feature Set Code Feature Set Name Basic Product Circuit Switching Module Distributed Software Module Satellite/ Mobile Module Application Profiler 11 Basic Product Yes ------ ------ ------ ------ 1100 Enterprise Modeler Package Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 1101 Update for 1.4 customers Yes Yes Yes ------ ------ 1102 Distribute Software Package Yes ------ Yes ------ ------ 1103 Mil/Sat Package Yes Yes ------ Yes 1104 Client/Server Package Yes ------ Yes ------ Yes 1199 Model Viewer ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 3. Another dialog will appear, “A license has not been issued to run COMNET III on this computer. Would you like to register a license now?” Click on OK. The license registration dialog window appears (see below). To obtain a License Key, send your Hostcode (found on the License Registration dialog), your release number and your Software Serial ID number to the CACI License Manager according to the directions on the License Registration dialog. Once you have received your Software License Key, enter it on the License Key field. Click the Register button. Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX • 21 Before you begin to build models, you will want to load the COMNET Baseliner License Key. The COMNET Baseliner feature allows you to import network topology and traffic files in order to help you baseline an existing network. 4. To install the COMNET Baseliner license pull down the File menu in COMNET III and select Import. 5. From the sub-menu under Import, select Network Topology. This brings up the CACI License Manager dialog box (see below). 6. Click OK which brings up the License Registration dialog box. Enter the COMNET Baseliner License Key in the License Registration dialog box and click Register to establish a valid COMNET Baseliner license. 22 • Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX University License Activation for COMNET III on UNIX For university customers, follow these instructions: 1. After COMNET III has finished installing and creating a program group and icons, you need to launch COMNET III to complete the installation and license activation. 2. When you first launch COMNET III, the Activation dialog window appears. Enter your Software Serial ID Number in the appropriate field. Click on the OK button. 3. Another dialog will appear, “A license has not been issued to run COMNET III on this computer. Would you like to register a license now?” Click on OK. The license registration dialog window appears (see below). To obtain a License Key, send your Hostcode (found on the License Registration dialog), your release number and your Software Serial ID Number to the CACI License Manager according to the directions on the License Registration dialog. Once you have received your Software License Key, enter it on the License Key field. Click the Register button. Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX • 23 Part 3: Building a Model Directory This part of the installation should be performed by each individual COMNET III user after the COMNET III program directory has been established. 1. Create a directory for your COMNET III model files. As an example, you could create the /home/myfiles directory. Important note: whether you use an existing directory or you are creating your own directory, you must have write permission in the directory that you use for your model files. 2. Copy the samples directory to your model directory. For example: cp -R /home/bin/comnet3/samples /home/myfiles 3. To make it convenient to run the COMNET III programs, add the COMNET III program installation directory (in this example, /home/bin/comnet3) to your path. 4. To run COMNET III, change to your model directory and run the comnet script file: cd /home/myfiles comnet If you did not include the program installation directory in your path, then you would need to type the full path to the comnet script file: cd /home/myfiles 24 • Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX /home/bin/comnet3/comnet This completes the COMNET III installation. The next two paragraphs provide additional information for users who want to add objects to the object libraries in the ObjLibs directory or who want to add icons to the graphics libraries in the SG2Libs directory. Object Libraries To add objects to the COMNET III object libraries, you must have write permission in the ObjLibs directory and write access to the libs.dat file (if it exists) in the ObjLibs directory. Only the owner of the ObjLibs directory is granted write permission by the c3install program. If you do not have write permission to the ObjLibs directory, ask your system administrator (or whoever is the owner of the ObjLibs directory) to change the permission level or add the objects you want in the library. If you do not have write access to the ObjLibs directory and the owner does not change the permission levels nor add the objects for you to the library, you can make your own local copy of the system libraries in a directory where you do have write access. If you choose this approach be forewarned: keeping local copies of system libraries creates an extra burden for you when future releases of COMNET III are installed, because you need to make sure that you update your local copies of certain files in the system libraries. Suppose you want your own copy of the system libraries in the directory /home/mylibs. You need to copy both the ObjLibs and SG2Libs directories and their contents to /home/mylibs. For example, cp -r /home/bin/comnet3/ObjLibs /home/mylibs/ObjLibs cp -r /home/bin/comnet3/SG2Libs /home/mylibs/SG2Libs To tell COMNET III to look for the system libraries in /home/mylibs instead of the program installation directory, set the environment variable /SIMLIBS to /home/mylibs. For example setenv SIMLIBS /home/mylibs Note that it is only necessary to set SIMLIBS if you want to use system libraries that are not in the program installation directory (i.e., /home/bin/comnet3 in this example). Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX • 25 usermsg.sg2 Message Sources userrem.sg2 Remote Pads, Sockets userres.sg2 Response Sources userses.sg2 Session Sources usergen.sg2 Virtual Circuits The above files do not exist until you import a bitmap using File/Import or you create them using SIMDRAW. The files contain only user-provided icons. The CACIprovided icons are in files with names of the form caci*.sg2. Online Documentation The following documents are distributed with the COMNET III installation: 1. COMNET III Getting Started Guide (C3START.PDF) 2. COMNET III Reference Manual (COMNET.PDF) 3. COMNET Baseliner User’s Guide (BASELINR.PDF) The COMNET III Reference Manual can be opened from the Help menu by selecting Reference Manual. The COMNET III Reference Manual contains information on all aspects of COMNET III. All other documents must be opened from within the Adobe Acrobat Reader. The COMNET III Getting Started Guide gives an introduction to COMNET III and describes how to install COMNET III. The COMNET Baseliner User’s Manual details the use of COMNET Baseliner, which allows for the import of network topology information from various network management consoles. 26 • Installing and Running COMNET III on UNIX COMNET III Sample Models CHAPTER 3 Loading and Running the Sample Models Once you have started COMNET III, you can load the model you wish to run from the File menu. To begin, choose File/Open from the menubar. Use the Open dialog to browse for the sample model you wish to load and click on Open. By default, these models will be found under your COMNET system directory, in the Models\Samples sub-directory. The model will load and its layout appears on the screen. The Simulate menu can be used to adjust the model's simulation parameters and to start and halt the simulation. To run the model, choose Simulate/Start Simulation. • • • • The tool palette on the left will be grayed out and disabled. The simulation clock will appear at the bottom in the status bar. The simulation starts and the clock starts counting time into the simulation. The animation reflects frames being transmitted and packets being received by nodes. 27 28 • COMNET III Sample Models While the model is running you may: • Use the Simulate/Animate menu to turn animation on and off, set the speed of the animation, or schedule animation to turn on or off at a future time. • Use the Simulate/Trace menu to turn tracing on or off, or to specify whether execution trace statements appear on the screen or go to a file. The trace statements appear in the status box at the bottom of the screen. You can also specify that you would like to single-step through the execution. • Double click on any link or node icon and bring the device up or down, to simulate a link or node failure. You can also schedule a failure or recovery event at some time in the future. After the model has completed the simulation run, choose Browse Reports from the Report menu to look at the performance measures of the model. More detail on the sample models is available from the Sample Models Guide, an html document available online. COMNET III Sample Models • 29 Sample Model Descriptions 3TIER.C3 30 • COMNET III Sample Models 3TIER.C3 is a model of a 3-tier client/server application. It demonstrates the use of a dynamically assigned message text to convey information that is used by various tiers in a multi-tier client/server application. The message text is assigned dynamically by constructing strings using Assign Variable commands. Information is then extracted from the message text at the receiving end using expressions and the intrinsic procedures SUBSTR and POSITION. COMNET III Sample Models • 31 ALCANET.C3 This is a model of a PTT network that connects the US to Europe. The model mainly models voice communication over Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) links. There is one data source defined by using the COMNET III session source. Additionally, the trace to screen feature is turned on to show the call connection and the message session on screen. 32 • COMNET III Sample Models BANK.C3 This is a simple model of a bank Automatic Teller Machine transaction processing network containing many of the major elements of this type of network. This network is a small bank with branches in Boston and Washington DC and a Teller Machine transaction processing center in New York. The Teller Machines in each area are on a 4 MB Token Ring Local Area Network (LAN). Each LAN is connected to a Cisco 7010sp router that is connected, in-turn, by a point-to-point link to the router at the New York processing center. There is a backup connection between the routers in Boston and Washington DC through which packets can be rerouted if one of the backbone links goes down. The point-to-point links have a bandwidth of 9.6 kbps. The model is set up to represent a busy peak of Teller Machine usage. Each group node is set to generate an average of 120 transactions per minute by using an average interarrival time on the traffic generator of 0.5 seconds. We have also added another single node in each area where we have a transaction generator with an interarrival time of 30 seconds. When we come to look at the reports we will see the response time for these single transactions as they contend with the traffic generated from the group node. COMNET III Sample Models • 33 BANK_2 This model is a variation of the ‘Bank’ model. In this example a WAN Cloud has replaced the point-to-point links of the previous model. The WAN Cloud is used to model a Frame Relay WAN link between the central host and the remote sites. 34 • COMNET III Sample Models CALLCEN.C3 This model simulates a transaction processing application in a client/server environment. Local nodes send a message to the server. The server responds to the first incoming message and sends a response message back to the nodes. The nodes wait until they receive the server's first response, then send another message to the server. When the server receives the second update message from the nodes, it analyzes the data, writes the data to a customer file, and then sends a broadcast message to all the nodes that it has updated the customer file. COMNET III Sample Models • 35 CSTELCOM.C3 This model uses user-defined packet routing tables to route data along a specified path. The idea is to provide alternate routing for the "WS" node along links "3A" and "3B", and for the "COMMS" node along links "7A" and "7B". The user defined packet routing protocol defined under the backbone properties uses a "First Available" choice to determine the primary route. If the first choice is unavailable, then another choice is made among the remaining routes. If a route is always available, then no other route will chosen. In this model, the first primary route is always available. Therefore, the second primary route will never be used, and traffic will never be split among links 3A and 3B, and 7A and 7B. 36 • COMNET III Sample Models D7ASC.C3 This model shows client/server applications and traffic. Workstation client nodes request data from a server. The server processes the data request, reads a data file, and sends the data file back to the workstation client node. The client requests use a weighted list destination list to insure that 70% of the requests go to the "EServer" and 30% of the requests go to "T-Server". COMNET III Sample Models • 37 DEMO1.C3 This model shows a simple client/server application using just message and response sources. The model also shows the use of the Group Node to represent multiple nodes graphically as one node. “Workgroup 1”, “Workgroup 2”, and “Workgroup 3” each represent 30 separate client nodes. When the simulation is run, 180 total client nodes will be sending database requests to the “Host” database server. The “Host” database server responds to incoming messages and sends back a message. This response message could represent an acknowledgment or a data transmission. 38 • COMNET III Sample Models DEMO 2.C3 This model shows a model of a voice network connecting NATO HQ to the Pentagon, London, Paris, and Frankfurt. The network has been set up to handle both voice and data traffic, but only voice traffic has been defined. Three different classes of voice traffic have been defined at each site representing 9.6 Kbps, 32 Kbps, and 64 Kbps. COMNET III Sample Models • 39 DEMO2A.C3 This is the same model as DEMO2.C3, with higher levels of voice traffic added. 40 • COMNET III Sample Models DEMO3.C3 This model shows two client nodes “A” and “B” establishing multiple sessions with node “C”. During each session, a number of messages will be sent from the source node to node “C”. Node “C” then responds and sends a message back to the source node. The purpose of the model is twofold: 1. To model “adaptive” routing through the use of COMNET III’s routing penalty tables. A packet routing penalty table has been set up to provide an alternate route selection when link delay reaches 5 seconds. This is seen at the 500-second point of the simulation, when link “A-B” shows traffic utilization. At this point there is now a 5-second queuing delay at link “A-C” and “B-C”. 2. To show that multiple sessions can be established between source and destination before a session has completed. COMNET III Sample Models • 41 DEMO3A.C3 This is an expansion of DEMO3.C3. 42 • COMNET III Sample Models DEMO4.C3 This model is an expansion of the DEMO3.C3 model. The model shows how subnets can be used to provide a hierarchical representation of different segments of a network. In this model, the subnet is also used to allow the “Ethernet” subnet to use a different routing protocol from the main protocol. This means that all traffic routed through the “Ethernet” subnet uses a RIP Minimum routing protocol, while all traffic at the top, or backbone level uses a Minimum Penalty routing strategy. In addition to the different routing algorithms used, a different transport protocol is employed for the “Request” traffic inside of the “Ethernet” subnet. A special “LAN transport” protocol has been defined to transport data that originates and terminates inside of the subnet. For all “Inquiry” traffic that will terminate at Node “C” on the backbone, a “Generic” protocol will be used. COMNET III Sample Models • 43 EX-1.C3 This model simulates a LAN Email application and a LAN client/server session. A message and response traffic source is attached to each node in the LAN, and generates Email traffic to a random neighbor. When a node receives an Email message, it generates a response message which is sent back to the originating node. Each client node also establishes a periodic session with the server. 44 • COMNET III Sample Models EX2.C3 This model expands on EX-1.C3. Whereas EX-1.C3 modeled a LAN, EX2.C3 models a WAN. The model also introduces the concepts of Subnets and Transit Nets. Each subnet (NW, NE, SE, SW) represents a LAN. The transit network which represents the backbone is defined as "SMDS". Each subnet is comprised of local Email messages and responses to local neighbors within the subnet, as well as the implementation of an Application Source to represent a client/server FTP request, transfer data, and write data. The application sources use a combination of Local and Global commands. Global commands can be applied to any node in the model, while local commands can only be applied to the node they were created on. Through the "FTP Request" application source, the client nodes will send an FTP request to a random server in any of the subnets and wait for a response. When a response comes back, the client will process and then write to general storage. The "server app" will wait for a client FTP request, process, read data, and then send data back to the client. The transit network represents the WAN backbone and will route traffic among the subnets. Each router in the transit network has a message source which will simulate the updating of routing tables on the routers. COMNET III Sample Models • 45 FRTEST.C3 This simple model demonstrates the "Assume direct unconstrained VC" capability of the WAN Cloud. When using a WAN Cloud you can assume that any message entering the Cloud will be routed to the proper exit point whether or not a virtual circuit has been defined between the exit and entry points. Note that you could also create a virtual circuit (VC) between two access points on a Cloud, and use the "Multiply transit cloud along VCs". This would potentially block a message from exiting the cloud if there were no virtual circuit pathway connecting the entry point to the exit point. 46 • COMNET III Sample Models JBA2.C3 This model demonstrates how to use application sources from the distributed software module to model client/server database applications. Local commands are used to simulate a client making an account inquiry and having the application screens on the client machine updated. This model is an excellent example of a Windows or Windows-like accounting application and how it behaves on a client system. Requests are made to an application server, which in turns makes requests of a database server. The database server responds to the application server which in turn responds to the client. COMNET III Sample Models • 47 MELCO.C3 This model shows a client/server application using a combination of message sources as server request messages, and an application source on the file server that processes the incoming message, reads a file, and sends a file back to the node making the server request. 48 • COMNET III Sample Models PREEMPT.C3 This model is a demonstration of priority preemptive port buffers. 1. A low priority message dumps 10 packets at a time into a buffer. 2. A high priority message dumps 1 packet slightly later. 3. The port output buffer from source to link is 10 packets. 3a. Preemption is a port-buffer behavior. 4. The link is slowed down to transmit 1 packet/second. CHAPTER 4 Modeling with COMNET III What is Simulation? Broadly defined, a simulation model is a simplified representation of a system, enabling the system’s properties and behavior to be studied. Because the model represents a system, it can be manipulated in ways that would be difficult, expensive, or impossible to perform on the actual system. Thus, simulation is an excellent way to test proposed systems or to evaluate existing systems. Modeling as an Iterative Process You will find that over the course of a simulation study, you will refine the model or models many times. The end result may look different than when you began. The scope of a project often changes which requires the basic model to change. The modeling process then becomes an iterative process. 49 50 • Modeling with COMNET III Seeing the Big Picture As you develop your model, it is important to not get bogged down in the detail of modeling every event that occurs on every application at every node in your model. If you are not careful, you may find yourself trying to emulate an existing network instead of simulating it. Emulating a network with COMNET III is undesirable. The reason is rooted in the difference between analytical modeling and discrete event modeling. In analytical modeling you are using a formula to make one calculation to obtain a performance measure. In discrete event simulation you observe events as they happen over time, and collect performance measures to calculate results. Typical performance measures of interest include utilization levels, waiting times, and queue sizes. Thus, for any network with many nodes and traffic sources, this can create an unnecessarily large and detailed model that takes a long time for a discrete event simulation tool to simulate. The output data produced is difficult to interpret because too much information is being gathered during the simulation run. Therefore, when using a discrete event tool like COMNET III, it is best to model one or two typical segments of the network in detail and then analyze the results. From the information gathered, it will be easy to extrapolate the results to reflect a department in an office, and then to reflect the office itself. Thus, an entire office or region could be represented by a single “super” node and “super” traffic source. In this way, you can run the simulation in a short time; the results will be meaningful and more realistic than those from an analytical model. Common Modeling Mistakes Not defining an attainable goal Modeling is a way to achieve a goal; it is not the goal itself. You must set clearly defined, attainable objectives for your simulation. As an example, suppose you wanted to determine the average end-to-end traffic delay across your the network backbone. To answer this question, you would build a model that would represent just the network backbone along with backbone traffic. There would be no need to model any network segments that are not in the backbone. Modeling with COMNET III • 51 Too much detail A model is a simplified representation of a system. Focus on only those features of the system that are important to the end result. How COMNET III is Unique COMNET III gives you unparalleled ability to rapidly build a model of a network, simulate it, and generate output data in meaningful reports. This allows you to easily build a model of an existing or proposed network using real-world data, and then study its behavior in the simulation. Here are some features that distinguish COMNET III from other network modeling and performance prediction tools: Hierarchical, Event-Driven Simulation COMNET III provides hierarchical and event-driven simulation capabilities that had been previously unavailable for modeling large-scale systems. Point, Click, Model COMNET III’s interface is powerful, flexible, and easy to use. COMNET III allows you to drag, drop, and connect objects graphically to build models of voice and data communication networks. No programming is necessary. Any time you want to change a model, simply modify the object you want to change or drag a new object from the tool palette, drop it into the existing model, and connect it appropriately. No coding or recompiling is necessary. Complex Scheduling with the Distributed Software Module The Distributed Software Module (DSM) allows COMNET III to model the message traffic generated by a network application, as well as the behavior of the application itself. COMNET III does this by taking into account the interaction between the application and the node that is processing it. In this way, you get both message traffic and application performance information. 52 • Modeling with COMNET III Enhanced Multi-Protocol Modeling COMNET III provides the capability to simulate multi-protocol layering within a model. This means that COMNET III can accurately model TCP/IP over ATM. For example, a message may be generated on a TCP/IP network and routed to another workstation across the country running on TCP/IP. In between the two workstations is an ATM backbone over which the message is sent. COMNET III is able to generate the initial message and packetize it over the TCP/IP network. When the message gets to the ATM backbone, the message is further segmented into ATM cells and sent over the ATM backbone where it is re-assembled into TCP/IP packets which are then sent on to the receiving station. Importing Network Topology and Traffic Data Through COMNET Baseliner COMNET Baseliner has the unique ability to import both network topology information gathered from network management discovery tools and captured network traffic data from network sniffers, RMON, and RMON II probes. See the COMNET Baseliner User Guide for more information. COMNET Baseliner currently imports topology data from these tools: • • • • • • • • • • • • Cabletron SPECTRUM Castlerock SNMPc Digital POLYCENTER HP NetMetrix HP OpenView IBM Netview for AIX NAC MIND NAI Expert Sniffer Network Analyzer NAI Distributed Sniffer System NetSuite Files which support the CACI API format Additional systems added regularly Network traffic data can be imported from these tools: • 3COM LANSentry Modeling with COMNET III • 53 • • • • • • • • Compuware EcoSCOPE HP Netmetrix NetScout Systems NETscout Manager NAI Distributed Sniffer System NAI Expert Sniffer Network Analyzer Most RMON tools User-defined traffic files Additional systems added regularly Rapid Model Development COMNET III’s graphical interface allows you to rapidly develop models. Simply point, click, and drag network objects from the tool palette and drop them onto the canvas. Connect them, add at least one traffic source, and click the start simulation button. No programming or compiling is required. Multi-platform support COMNET III runs on Windows NT, Windows 95, Solaris, HP-UX, and SGI IRIX. Many Ways to Display Output COMNET III collects a great deal of data during a simulation and offers you several ways to view it. While the simulation is running, you can view data flow dynamically through real-time plots and snapshot reporting traced to the screen. For example, at any point in time, you can see how heavily any or all links are being used. After the simulation is complete, you can view the data in a variety of reports. For example, you can see the total utilization for each link for the entire simulation. 54 • Modeling with COMNET III COMNET III Modeling Terminology Nodes A node in COMNET III models switches, hubs, routers, end systems, pads and general network components. Specific types of nodes are processing nodes, router nodes, switch nodes, and computer group nodes. Links A link is an object to which nodes may be connected by arcs. A link represents the medium through which nodes send and receive data. The types of links include Aloha, CSMA, CSMA/CA Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11), CSMA/CD, DAMA (Demand-Assigned Multiple Access), FDDI and Priority FDDI, Point-to-Point, Polling, Priority Token Ring, Token Passing, and parameter sets for SONET and ISDN links. Traffic Sources Traffic sources are objects that act as network traffic generators simulating the flow of data over the network. Different types of traffic sources are used to model voice and data communications. WAN Clouds The WAN cloud object provides an abstract model for public or private data networks. It provides a higher level abstraction than is available if modeling the physical nodes and links of the network. The WAN cloud object is an alternative for modeling WANs instead of explicitly modeling the topology with routers and links. Subnets The subnet object serves two purposes. First, it manages the display of a large network. Rather than having one flat picture that has either many small icons or requires extensive scrolling, various sites or domains in the network can be placed in a subnetwork which is represented by one icon at the backbone level. Second, you can use different subnetworks to represent different domains in a network which operate under different routing protocols. Modeling with COMNET III • 55 Transit Networks The transit network object is an intermediate network that interconnects a collection of nodes. It provides an additional level of segmentation and reassembly at the boundaries of the transit network. It is called a transit network because its primary purpose is to model packets that enter on one side of the net, flow through the net, and finally exit on the other side of the net. In other words, it models packets transiting a network. Canvas The work area in COMNET III from which you build and run models. 56 • Modeling with COMNET III Tool Palette Select object(s) Diagonal arc Processing node Router Transit network Cloud Zoom into work area Horizontal/vertical arc Computer group Access point Subnet STK link Cloud VC Point-to-point link CSMA/CD link Token-passing link Message source Response source Application source Call source Background shape Background map Session source Source socket Remote link Background text