Internet Topology and Its Models

Title: Internet Topology and Its Models

Research Question: Can the topology of the Internet be accurately modeled using existing methods?

Methodology: The researchers compared the topology of the Internet (measured using traceroute AS graph) with two synthetic network models: Fitness Barabási-Albert (FBA) and Interactive Growth (IG). They analyzed the power-law degree distribution, rich-club connectivity, and triangle coefficient to determine the accuracy of the models.

Results: The FBA and IG models generated networks with similar sizes and power-law degree distributions as the AS graph. However, the IG model more closely matched the AS graph's rich-club connectivity and had a higher number of triangles, indicating a higher degree of network redundancy and flexibility.

Implications: The study suggests that existing topology models may not fully capture the complexities of the Internet's topology, particularly in terms of redundancy and robustness. The IG model, which allows for both node growth and link creation, appears to be a better representation of the Internet's topology. This finding could have implications for network design and management, as well as for the development of more accurate simulation models.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0402026v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0402026v1