Impact of Multi-access Links on the Internet Topology Modeling

Abstract

Abstract-Comprehensive analyses that aim to better understand the topology of real world networks have been an important research challenge. Internet topology measurement studies provide samples of the underlying network at various levels. Although router-level Internet topology measurement systems target low level Internet infrastructure, they primarily focus on the Layer-3 connectivity and ignore the underlying multi-access links. In this paper, in addition to the thoroughly studied degree distribution, we analyze the subnet and interface distributions of major Internet topology datasets. We also investigate the impact of the higher granularity modeling at link level versus router level modeling. Our analysis establishes a foundation for the Layer-2 Internet topology generation and introduces the link layer characteristics into the network modeling.

Bipartite Internet topology at the subnet-level

“…In a recent study, we point that the interface and subnet distributions follow power-law in addition to observed degree distribution [5]. In this paper, we propose to replicate fine grained features of the Internet via interface and subnet distributions while capturing large scale characteristic of the Internet via observed degree distribution.…”

“…At large scale, most topology generators capture the degree distribution of the Internet [8], [9]. At local scale, we identified node interface distribution and subnet size distribution to be crucial characteristics to capture [5].…”

“…In our earlier study [5], we analyzed data from major large scale Internet topology measurement projects and identified power-law distribution in all three distributions. Hence, in this paper, we present a new approach to match power-law distributions in parallel.…”

“…We may alter the assortative mixing [13] by ordering subnets and nodes are with respect to their size or another feature. However, measured data sets were nonassortative in terms of attachment between low/high interfaces and subnets [5].…”