The Benefits of Network Simulation

Network simulation provides almost complete control over teaching the lower level networking protocols.

• Many different aspects of networking can be controlled and examined on very dynamic "networks" -

  network topology,
  message arrival rate,
  message size and destination,
  transmission speeds and delays,
  frame corruption and loss,
  extent of node and link failures,
  signal strength and propagation models, and
  node mobility.

• Real network infrastructure is static and too reliable - Error rates on local area networks are typically 1:10⁹ or better. Errors need to occur about 8 orders of magnitude more frequently!

• Centralized control of a network permits the accurate management and collection of statistics and their analysis.