A Framework for Multi-Service IP Network Planning

The planning of multi-service IP networks requires the consideration of many different and also diverse issues. Since Internet technology has been developed in a rather pragmatic way (“we believe in rough consensus and running code”), various approaches and concepts exist in most areas of networking, which are relevant for network planning (e.g., types of applications, routing schemes, Quality of Service mechanisms). In this paper, the key issues of the network planning process for multi-service IP networks are covered in a structured way. To provide a foundation for any network dimensioning procedure, we first introduce and categorize current IP Quality of Service mechanisms and identify their implications for network planning. Furthermore, a systematic approach for classification and modeling of Internet traffic is suggested and a universal link model together with appropriate dimensioning formulae is proposed. Finally, we go over different network planning scenarios and discuss relevant characteristics and possible solution approaches.