Authors:
Y. Song, D. Cypher, and D. Su

This paper presents the simulation and performance of PNNI ATM networks by using an ATM PNNI Routing Protocol Simulator (APRoPS). This simulator was developed based on the ATM Forum's PNNI routing protocol specification. With this simulator, one can design and test almost any network configuration and evaluate its performance within the constraints of the physical machine running the simulation. Therefore one can evaluate the scalability, robustness and maintainability of PNNI routing status.

Using a small ATM network test bed, we conducted a performance study of various vendors' implementations of PNNI to obtain some measurements and to test the ability of the simulator. The output of the numerous simulation runs and test bed performance measurements are used to make suggestions for PNNI parameters, and to provide observations that may be useful in designing ATM networks using PNNI.