Distributed simulation network traffic analysis of ModSAF

Modular Semi-Automated Forces (ModSAF) uses the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) protocol to broadcast information about the simulated entities via select protocol data units (PDUs) across a network. Simulation performance decreases with increasing entity count as a result of poor scalability of its communication system. This results in poor bandwidth estimation techniques for ModSAF for determining communication infrastructure requirements. Using network analysis techniques, experimental network traffic generated by ModSAF was analyzed by gradually increasing the entity count until simulation failure occurred. Analysis conducted shows that network performance was not a factor in the resulting simulation failure but that processor and memory utilization contributed to overall simulation degradation and subsequent failure. Moreover, traditional methods for simulation traffic do not account for the burstiness of the traffic observed. A peak-to-average bit rate factor (P/A BFR) was developed to provide more effective estimation techniques.