Differentiated Services: an Experimental vs. Simulated Case Study

TL;DR

This study compares real-world DiffServ network experiments with simulations to evaluate their accuracy, re-engineering simulation modules to improve modeling and provide better insights for advanced networking research.

Contribution

It introduces a re-engineered DiffServ simulation module and highlights the importance of critical evaluation of simulation accuracy in networking studies.

Findings

Simulation results closely match experimental data after module improvements

Re-engineering enhanced the DiffServ model's accuracy and capabilities

Provides guidelines for more reliable simulation-based networking research

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a proof of concept of the accuracy of simulations for advanced networking study. The particular target technology is the Differentiated Services (DiffServ) architecture. The method has been to apply experimental activities conducted in a real network to a simulation environment, to gather the same performance parameters and to compare results. A worthy re-engineering of the DiffServ module of the deployed software program has been carried out and significant contribution have been made to overcome the encountered limitations and to enrich its modeling capabilities. Final results give useful suggestions for a more critical approach to simulations targeted for advanced networking study.