CS 6553 Performance Evaluation, Spring 1996 Assignment 1

Recall from class the discussion about the ATM network which we call ATM NOW (ATM Network Of Workstations). Recall that the simple experiment proposed in class had many problems and did not measure what was expected.

1) Design an experiment for testing the rate (bps) at which files can be transferred on the Ethernet in the Sun lab when the network is not busy. One of the factors should be file size. What other parameters are there? Find out as much as you need to know to answer this question.

2) Design an experiment for testing the rate at which files can be transferred on ATM NOW. The files should start out local to one machine and end up local to the destination machine. Assume there is no load on the network.

3) Design a method for loading the CPU for each of the above and design an experiment for showing how the load on the CPU affects the data rate.

4) Design a method for loading the network for each of 1) and 2) and design an experiment for showing how the load on the network affects the data rate. Use what you know (and what you find out) about Ethernet and ATM in choosing an appropriate load.