In network design, the gap between theory and practice is woefully broad. This book narrows it, comprehensively and critically examining current network design models and methods. You will learn where mathematical modeling and algorithmic optimization have been under-utilized. At the opposite extreme, you will learn where they tend to fail to contribute to the twin goals of network efficiency and cost-savings. Most of all, you will learn precisely how to tailor theoretical models to make them as useful as possible in practice.
Throughout, the authors focus on the traffic demands encountered in the real world of network design. Their generic approach, however, allows problem formulations and solutions to be applied across the board to virtually any type of backbone communication or computer network. For beginners, this book is an excellent introduction. For seasoned professionals, it provides immediate solutions and a strong foundation for further advances in the use of mathematical modeling for network design.
- Written by leading researchers with a combined 40 years of industrial and academic network design experience.
- Considers the development of design models for different technologies, including TCP/IP, IDN, MPLS, ATM, SONET/SDH, and WDM.
- Discusses recent topics such as shortest path routing and fair bandwidth assignment in IP/MPLS networks.
- Addresses proper multi-layer modeling across network layers using different technologies-for example, IP over ATM over SONET, IP over WDM, and IDN over SONET.
- Covers restoration-oriented design methods that allow recovery from failures of large-capacity transport links and transit nodes.
- Presents, at the end of each chapter, exercises useful to both students and practitioners.
Industry Reviews
Pioro and Medhi's book is very refreshing and gives a comprehensive view of network design. It unifies many important topics on network design that are not found in one place; for example, this book provides the first thorough treatment of multi-layer design. Practitioners will find the book useful due to its development of both models and algorithms that are more applicable to real-world problems. --Dr. Robert D. Doverspike: Bell Labs, Bellcore (now Telcordia), and AT&T Labs - Research, USA The authors successfully bridge the gap between networking technology and system modeling and optimization, providing a comprehensive and authoritative reference on communication and computer network design through mathematical optimization-oriented modeling. It is an essential book for graduate students and academia and industry researchers. --Professor Luigi Fratta, Politecnico di Milano, Italy This book provides an in-depth view of network design problems both from a theoretical and a practical perspective. It will become the reference work in the area of telecommunication network design for the years to come. --Professor Andre Girard, INRS-EMT, Canada "I heartily recommend this impressive work to all students interested in a career in networking as well as to many experienced planners faced with the current problems of network design and evolution, where they continually seek network design solutions, that optimize cost/benefits. Outside of the telecommunications sector per se the book should also be of great interest to members of the operations research community as it provides them with a current window on the technologies and problems arising in telecommunication and computer network design. This should provide fertile ground for applications of new theoretical developments and guide their research toward practical ends. To sum up, Pioro's and Medhi's book is a must read for a broad audience with basic mathematical skills who are interested in network design, a topic that continues to be of immense and growing importance in our everyday business activities and lives." - IEEE Communications Magazine "This book presents the basic principles and methods for developing optimization models for contemporary communication and computer network design. The book focuses on optimization problems and methods for traffic routing, flow, and resource capacity optimization...practioners, graduate students, and researchers will find the book useful for academic and industrial purposes." -Demetre Voukalis, in ZENTRALBLATT MATH
