CS681/CS 462: Performance Evaluation of Computer Systems and Networks

Spring Semester, 2012

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Simulation Assignment for CS 462

CS 681 Simulation Project Submission Guidelines

Simulation Project Proposal:

IMPORTANT: You are NOT allowed to use an off-the-shelf simulation tool such as ns-2 for this project. You must write the simulation in a general purpose language (C/C++/Java/...).
Proposal should include the following information (appropriately worded so every thing fits in one page):
  • System to be studied: describe the essential features and behaviour. Make sure you do not use words/abbreviations without defining, unless they are well know (e.g. "TCP" is ok, but if a paper uses "LCTXDY" scheme, then you must define it properly.)
  • Interesting questions about the system that you will answer with simulation (this is extremely important - do not say "we will simulate XYZ system". Say "we want do a simulation to answer this question about this system.")
    • Try coming up with a "design question" rather than a simple analysis question. E.g. which algorithm is better? What should be the configuration of XYZ? What should be the value of a system parameter?
  • What specific measures you need to study to answer the above questions
  • Parameters you will vary for studying the effect of, or different mechanisms you will compare, or a similar interesting analysis.
  • Reference material (e.g. paper on which your project is based)
Grading (5%) is done not merely on your "project idea", but on the quality of the written proposal.

Sources for finding simulation projects ideas: Networking and Systems conferences/journals (Use Google, IEL Online, or ACM Digital Library) Some other points:
  • It is best to look for a paper that itself does a simulation study, or an analytical model that is verified with a simulation study. You are of course expected to appropriately simplify the problem so that 2 people can do the project in about 8 weeks.
  • In portal.acm.org or ieeexplore, a keyword search of "performance comparison" might yield something useful.
  • Typically, new network algorithms, or architectures will be shown to work well using simulations - you should aim to verify the paper results. You may even be able to discover something lacking in the paper you read.
  • Text-book problems can also be studied - however the project can't be too simple. E.g. "token ring simulation" will be considered too simple. However, IEEE 802.11b may be acceptable, assuming appropriate detail is included (and too much detail is excluded!).
  • I recommend 1st year students to pair up with 2nd year students. Else 2nd year students will have a definite advantage.
  • 2nd year students are free to choose a project related to their MTP. However, all students working on their final year MTPs are required to get a small statement signed by their guide that you are not simply "reusing" MTP work towards your CS 681 simulation. The intent is to ADDITIONALLY benefit your MTP, not to reduce your total workload. So please do not abuse this freedom. (I will write the words of the required statement soon.)
  • Sample proposals from previous years (neither one is perfect, but it gives you an idea): Proposal 1 , Proposal 2 , and Proposal 3
  • Sample final presentations from previous years. Project 1, Project 2, Project 3, and Project 4
  • Sample Code from last year's project.
  • Sample M/M/1 simulation code from Law and Kelton

Practice Problems