Software development for automated network design supporting unicast and multicast traffics in next generation network

This paper presents a summary of our experiences in developing a software tool for IP/MPLS NGN traffic engineering computations. The developed NGN software consists of three main modules. Firstly, the NGN design module can be used to help network engineers find the minimum link capacity needed for NGN unicast (e.g. VoIP service) and multicast service (e.g. VDO conference) provision while maintaining the resultant QoS at a specified target level. Secondly, the NGN performance analysis module is based on a discrete-event simulation of sequential routing and trunk reservation CAC. This module can be used to help network engineers analyse the performance of NGN. It can also be used to predict the effect of link failure, traffic surge and new routing plan implementation. Finally, both the NGN design and performance analysis modules can be executed via the developed NGN GUI module. With GUI, network engineers can visualise the status of network components. Further, GUI permits both entering and editing all relevant network parameters efficiently. It is therefore very convenient for our developed NGN software to be utilised in practice and should be an indispensable traffic engineering tool for improving the NGN planning and operational tasks.