Using network node description language for modeling networking scenarios

Abstract

This paper presents an approach for designing a language for network description, leading to a Network Node Description Language (NNDL). NNDL is generic and platform independent XML based language designed to describe a complete configuration of each network node. The node description in NNDL has all necessary information for the nodes configurations, from the common IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, firewall settings, static and dynamic routing to the complete description of the network services configuration. It provides the basis for description of a wide range of virtual network laboratory scenarios. The language has been tested in a virtual network laboratory VNLab used in a university networking course. With the introduction of NNDL language, VNLab environment becomes more flexible in terms of number of available scenarios and the time needed to create and modify them. Some extensions of NNDL for documenting computer networks are also explored in this paper. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.