Path Generation

Telecom Environment

Path Generation

Before you can run a simulation in netWorks telecom environment, you must identify the paths of interest through your network model. You accomplish this using the Paths dialog box (Figure 3.7), which appears when you select the

button in the command panel.

Figure 3.7: Paths Dialog Box

This dialog box provides two approaches for generating paths through your model network. One way is to select all of the endpoints (simple equipment models) between which you want to simulate traffic and then let the netWorks identify all possible pairwise paths between them. The other approach is to use the Create Path feature and select the source and destination of each path individually, then let netWorks determine the intermediate equipment models.

Different network models require different approaches to path generation, but the most common technique is to use endpoint selection through the Categories list box in the Paths dialog box. You select a class (or classes) of equipment models in the list box and then click the button. This creates all possible paths between any instances of the selected equipment model types. A note of caution -it is possible to select any simple equipment model as a source or destination of a path, but the interpretation of the simulation results may be a bit more difficult if you do not restrict the endpoints to similar classes of equipment (for example, all station equipment models).

It is possible for netWorks to identify paths through a model network that could not possibly occur in a real telecom network. For example, in Figure 3.8, there is nothing apparent that prevents the highlighted path from being generated even though it could never happen in a real telecom network.

Figure 3.8: Invalid Path Example

The netWorks application uses a concept of antidromes to address this issue. The "Antidromes" section of Appendix C, "Miscellaneous Features," provides a detailed description of antidromes and their usage.

Chapter Contents
Previous
Next
Top