Modeling and Simulation of an ABR Flow Control Algorithm Using a Virtual Source/Virtual Destination Switch

Abstract

The Available Bit Rate (ABR) service class of Asynchronous Transfer Mode networks uses a feedback control mechanism to adapt to varying link capacities. The Virtual Source/Virtual Destination (VS/VD) technique offers the possibility to segment the otherwise end-to-end ABR control loop into separate loops. The improved feedback delay and the control of ABR traffic inside closed segments provide a better performance for ABR connections. This article will present the use of classical linear control theory to model and develop an ABR VS/VD flow control algorithm. Discrete event simulations are used to analyze the behavior of the algorithm with respect to transient behavior and correctness of the control model. Linear control theory offers the means to derive correct choices of parameters and to assess performance issues, like stability of the system, during the design phase. The performance goals are a high link utilization, fair bandwidth distribution, and robust operation in various environments, which are verified by discrete event simulations. The major contribution of this work is the use of analytic methods (linear control theory) to model and design an ABR flow control algorithm tailored for the special layout of a VS/VD switch, and the use of simulation techniques to verify the result.

Keywords

ATM networks performance modeling and analysis ABR flow control linear control theory virtual source/virtual destination

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

McDysan, D. E. , and D. L. Spohn . 1994. ATM theory and application. New York: McGraw-Hill.

ATM Forum Technical Committee . 1999. Traffic management specification, Version 4.1, March, Mountain View, CA.

Kalyanaraman, S. , R. Jain , J. Jiang , R. Goyal , and S. Fahmy . 1998. Design considerations for the virtual source/virtual destination (VS/VD) feature in the ABR service of ATM networks. Computer Networks and ISDN Systems 30 (19): 1811-1824.

Cseh, C. , R. Karabek , and P. Reichl . 1997. Segmentation of the traffic control loop for available bit rate-service. Proceedings of the Fifth IFIP Workshop on Performance Modelling and Evaluation of ATM Networks, Ilkley, UK, July.

Extended version in Annals of Telecommunications 55(11-12), Hermes-Science Publications, November-December 2000.

Baalmann, J. , and C. Cseh . 1999. Rate indication flow control algorithm using the virtual source/virtual destination technique for available bit rate service. Proceedings of the 3rd IFIP Workshop on Traffic Management & Design of ATM Networks, London, April.

Goyal, R. , X. Cai , R. Jain , S. Fahmy , and B. Vandalore . 1998. Per-VC rate allocation techniques for ABR feedback in VS/VD networks. Proceedings of Globecom ’98, Sydney, November.

Ajmone-Marsan, M. , A. Bianco , R. Lo Cigno , and M. Munato . 1997. Four standard control theory approaches for the implementation of RRM ABR services. In ATM Networks Performance Modelling and Analysis, vol. 3, edited by D. Kouvatsos . Boston: Kluwer.

Rohrs, C. R. , and R. A. Berry . 1997. A linear control approach to explicit rate feedback in ATM networks. Proceedings of INFOCOM’97, Kobe, Japan, April.

10.

Özbay, H. , S. Kalyanaraman , and A. Iftar . 1998. On rate-based congestion control in high speed networks: Design of an H-infinity based flow controller for single bottleneck. Proceedings of the American Control Conference, Philadelphia, June.

11.

Kolarov, A. , and G. Ramamurthy . 1999. A control theoretic approach to the design of an explicit rate controller for ABR service. IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking 7(5), 741-753, October.

12.

Briem, U. , E. Wallmeier , C. Beck , and F. Matthiesen . 1998. Traffic management for an ATM switch with per-VC queueing: Concept and implementation. IEEE Communications Magazine 36(1), 88-93, January.

13.

Dorf, R. C. 1989. Modern control systems. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

14.

Narváez, P. , and K.-Y. Siu . 1997. Optimal feedback control for ABR service in ATM. Technical Report 1-97, D’Arbeloff Laboratory for Information Systems and Technology, MIT, Boston.

15.

Benmohamed, L. , and S. M. Meerkov . 1993. Feedback control of congestion in packet switching networks: The case of a single congested node. IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking 1(6), 693-708, December.

16.

Kim, B.-K. , and C. Thompson . 1998. Optimal feedback control of ABR traffic in ATM networks. Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC’98), Atlanta, GA, June.

17.

Phillips, C. L. , and R. D. Harbor . 1991. Feedback control systems. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

18.

Golmie, N. , F. Mouveaux , L. Hester , Y. Saintillan , A. Koenig , and D. Su . 1998. The NIST ATM/HFC network simulator, operation and programming guide, Version 4.0. NISTIR 7703R2, December.

19.

Jiao, Y. 2000. Development and evaluation of traffic models for available bit rate-traffic in ATM-networks. Diploma thesis, University of Technology Aachen, Department of Computer Science IV, Aachen, Germany, July.