Flexible simulations of complex networks in OpenStack clouds. (2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Costanzo, Francesco; Messina, Fabrizio; Pappalardo, Giuseppe; Santoro, Corrado
• Is Part Of: International journal of grid and utility computing. Volume 8:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 133
• Page End: 141
• Publication Date: 2017
• Subjects: complex networks -- cloud computing -- simulations -- virtual machine -- OpenStack; Electronic data processing -- Distributed processing -- Periodicals; Electronic commerce -- Management -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; 004.605
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-847X

Abstract

This paper describes a flexible software architecture aimed at performing simulations of complex networks on cloud computing environment based on OpenStack. The kernel of the architecture consists of ComplexSim, a C-based software simulator of complex networks composed of two different layers: the Parallel Simulation Kernel is devoted to manage event-driven simulations on SMP systems through a set of API calls useful to schedule tasks and events; on the other hand, API of the Complex Network Data & Runtime is used to define the complex network in terms of the graph of entities and related user-defined attributes, as well as the runtime behaviour. Two additional components provide the necessary automation to configure, deploy and execute a set of simulations in OpenStack clouds: the Cs-Generator allows to generate any set of user-defined directives, as well as directives for the engine; Cs-CloudRuntime is the component devoted to run the user-defined set of simulations in an OpenStack cloud, i.e. VMs preparation, deployment and execution, as well as collection of results.