Article Spotlight: Characterization of the Traffic in IP-Based Communication Networks

In this study which delves into network packet characterisation by analysing the approximations for the size of the inbound packets, two identicial networks with distinct IP services have their packet tracked at the work station level. This leads to 2 measurements: Monitoring the work of different protocols and the usabiity of their ports and packet size monitoring and the moments between the entry of the packets into the network. With data capture taking place over 1 second intervals, it can be accurately observed that the change between 0 and 1.2 MB/s that the traffic is uneven and heterogenous, typical for these kinds of networks. As for protocol use, it can be observed that multimedia content is the main driver of traffic volume for this network, mostly from HTTP and SSL packets. As for distribution of the intervals between packets' inbound activity, Dagum approximation can be observed, achieved through the weight coefficients and the Kolmogorov-Simrnov criteria, thus allowing for inferences of the optimal use of the monitored network. As for network B, which consits of the IP-based PBXs (OSV – Open Scape Voice and Asterisk now) and several IP-phones connected to a single switch and a workstation also connected to a mirroring port that momnitors the traffic, there is observably more traffic load due to the active devices making up the bulk of the traffic. The active devices are mainly IP phones and the IP PBX (the Asterisk telephone exchange), which accounts for the distribution of traffic through UDP port 5010. The points in which the network is most loaded are for video content when accounting for the compression used in the SIP sessions, with video information compressed with H.264 and audion information with G711. A connection matrix reveals that the group of devices interconnected by a device with IP 10..21.23.69, an Asterisk telephone exchange, with analysis showing that all traffic pass through this point. On the other hand, the OSV exchange (Open Scape Voice) is only active for the exchange signalling between two devices.