Is network tra?c self-similar of multifractal

This note addresses the question of whether self-similar processes are suucient to model packet network traac, or whether a broader class of multifractal processes is needed. By using the absolute moments of aggregate traac measurements , we conclude that measured local-area network (LAN) and wide-area network (WAN) traac traces, with the sample means subtracted, are well modelled by random processes that are either exactly or asymtotically self-similar.