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Computer communication networks is a subject of increasing interest. Although a variety of surveys have appeared which describe network alternatives and explain far-reaching technological possibilities achievable with networking, effective network utilization requires an understanding of network functional components and their interactions. Describing these issues is the objective of this paper. To do this, the three basic network sharing alternatives are first identified. For those two which involve host/host communication, the basic traffic types are discussed. The communications alternatives are then detailed and a hypothesis is advanced that the "packet-switched" networks provide the most appropriate technology for supporting multimodal traffic between hosts. Consequently, a careful examination of the functional components of the packet switch is provided. This provides a basis for describing factors which must be considered in implementing a packet-switched subnetwork. Additional issues which should be considered when several hosts and, perhaps, the communications subnetwork are under the control of a single administrative organization are then discussed. The paper concludes with a description of three networking examples and an identification of areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The VANS (Value Added Network Simulator) system re presents a new approach to the simulation of distrib uted resource-sharing computer networks. It allows the network designer either to manipulate the struc ture of the protocols (sets of rules) that govern the handling of communications in different types of networks or to investigate the effects of changing the parameters of networks operating under a fixed set of protocols. This paper describes the VANS sys tem and its use in conducting a wide range of experi ments in network design. While a number of simula tion programs permit experimenting with network parameters, VANS is the first to permit both that type of experimentation and experimentation with the protocols that control the operation of a computer network. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]