Simulation of the IARC NASDA Information System Archive and Analysis Subsystem Using Extend™

Abstract

In this paper we present a discrete event simulation of the Archive and Analysis Subsystem (AAS) to be installed by the Japanese space agency, NASDA, as part of the Japanese contribution to the Interna tional Arctic Research Center (IARC) at the Uni versity of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF). Scientists will utilize the AAS to support their Arctic research. The objective of this effort is to develop a simula tion model that will allow engineers to anticipate the loading of certain system components, especially the storage and network subsystems. At the start of this effort we determined that the simulation mod eling software Extend™, a product of Imagine That, Inc., of San Francisco, would be most appropriate in meeting our objectives within the given cost and time constraints. We present our architecture and model assumptions within the context of the engi neering design of the AAS. We also present results in the form of graphical displays from the model output, based upon our assumptions. We describe some of the difficulties encountered in making use of the Extend™ simulation software in modeling our subsystem and our approach to overcoming these difficulties.