Message Network Simulation

Abstract : This thesis attempts, through computer simulation, to develop a simplified model of a packet switching data communications network to be able to determine the effects of various system parameters on network performance. The network being modeled consists of a single transmitter and receiver with numerous switching stations. The simplifying assumption is that all the packet switching stations can be reduced to a single virtual network by using an exponentially distributed network transit function. The body of the thesis provides a simple description of real-world packet switching operations, a general overview of the simulation model, and the results and conclusions obtained from the simulation.