This work aims to find the best links that, when added to the network, improve the network availability.

Communication Network Reliability course, Python, Integer Linear Programming

A cut set is a set of components that, by failing, causes the system to fail. A cut set is minimal if it cannot be reduced without losing its status as a cut set.

In this work, we aim to improve network availability based on the mincutsets. 

Communication Network Reliability course, Python, and Integer Linear Programming will be useful.

A reliability block diagram is a tool used to measure the availability of a system (a network, in our case). However, the existing tools as software packages do not work with bidirectional links. 

This work aims to build a tool that can evaluate the availability of a network based on the RBD.

Python and data structures, Kommunikationsnetze or Communication Network Reliability course would be useful. 

An optical switch has multiple subcomponents. Usually, a switch manufacturer purchases raw materials from different subcomponent manufacturers. 
When a network operator purchases switches from different switch manufacturers, there is a possibility that switches from different manufacturers share a common subcomponent. This becomes a vulnerable single point of failure. For example, in the case of laptops, an HP laptop and a Dell laptop can have the same AMD processor.

Our work is related to the trustworthiness of the subcomponent manufacturers. The goal is to evaluate:

a) The trustworthiness of a switch based on the subcomponent manufacturers

b) Provide guidelines to network operators to choose the most sovereign set of switches possible to avoid a single point of failure.

Python

Availability is the probability that a device performs its required function at a particular instant of time.

In most networks, the components are brought from different manufacturers. They have different availabilities. Network operators prefer having reliable components handling more traffic. This ensures the robustness of the network. So, assigning appropriate manufacturers to the components in the topology guaranteeing 
a) maximum availability, and 
b) load balancing on the nodes
is essential.

For a fixed topology and known traffic, how can the components be assigned to manufacturers to maximise availability and balance load on nodes?

Mandatory:

• Communication Network Reliability course/ Optical Networks course at LKN
• Python

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Linear Programming and/or nonlinear programming