Simulating Cdpd Networks Using Opnet

* This research was funded in part by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation Grant 910-99. Abstract In this paper we describe simulation of wireless data networks using OPNET. We give a detailed description of the network model that we used to investigate the impact of self-similar traffic on performance of a cellular digital packet data (CDPD) network. We use OPNET Modeler and its object-oriented modeling approach and graphical editors to model and simulate the CDPD network of a local commercial service provider (Telus Mobility). In our simulations, we use genuine traffic traces collected from the Telus Mobility CDPD network. Our simulation results indicate that genuine traffic traces produce longer queues and, thus, require larger buffers in the deployed network's switching elements.