MTENS: a New Simulator for the Design of MPLS Networks with Traffic Engineering Support

AbstractIn a multi-service IP/MPLS network, it is a key challenge to provide Quality of Service (QoS) to end-users applications while effectively using network resources and providing reliable services. In this framework, native TE mechanisms can be used to improve network performance, whereas a set of procedures that protects the traffic flows carried on different paths enforces resilience techniques. The paper presents the main functionalities of MTENS (MPLSTE network simulator), a new NS2-based simulator, specifically developed to facilitate the design of MPLS networks with TE support. Moreover, to highlight the effectiveness of MTENS in the design of MPLS-TE networks, the paper shows a case study concerning the performance evaluation of different recovery strategies when path computation algorithms with QoS constraints are used for primary and backup label switched paths.