Reenterable Colored Petri Net Models of Networks, Grids, and Clouds: Case Study for Provider Backbone Bridge

Abstract

We introduce reenterable models of networks which contain only one instance of each component and accept a given topology as a parameter. Dynamic elements of the model (tokens) which simulate packets, records of switching and routing tables are supplied with a topology location tag. Switching tags allows us to simulate all the devices of a given topological scheme. The network model is supplied with special measurement subnets which allow fast computation of the network bandwidth, the packet delivery time, and jitter on-fly directly in the process of simulation, without storing intermediate statistical data, for the network performance and QoS evaluation. The advantage of the technique is a fast reconfiguration of models that is very significant for the model-driven design of networks. A case study presents the reenterable model of a Provider Backbone Bridge that comes to replace the Multiprotocol Label Switching technology.