Design and implementation of performance testing tool for ATM networks

ATM has proved its importance both in the industry of telecommunication and computer networks. In any network a switch (ATM switch) forms a major component. In order to retain its prominence, the ATM network in general and ATM switch in particular has to work not only as per the published specifications but also there must be a universal methodology by which a user can measure and compare its performance.; This thesis presents the design and development of a methodology for the measurement of the performance parameters of any ATM switch. The methodology is simple and so concrete that it can also be applied to any type of traffic generating source.; A software tool, PMT (Performance Measuring Tool) has been developed for the measurement of QoS parameters of ATM switch. The tool provides different conspicuous features like graphic interface, different types of traffic generation, results in different format and execution log.; A new algorithm is also presented that allows the user to generate more than one stream from the single source with less dropping of cells. The tool is also capable of generating other traffic types (DS1, DS3 etc.) over SONET frame.; As ATM is cell switching and connection oriented technology so, the performance at connection level is also important to measure. We have also investigated the performance of the switch at the user network interface for a connection.