The Increase of Computer Networks Functioning Reliability by Means of Securing the Given Quality of Service

Securing the necessary quality of service in computer networks can be achieved by choosing an appropriate path between the nodes. But the path itself is not necessarily the shortest in terms of distance. It is more important to provide the necessary quality of service at the minimum cost of an information unit transmission.

The analysis of suggested methods to secure the quality of service at the given level has shown the perspective of the RSVP and MPLS protocols sharing.

Unlike RSVP, MPLS functions only on routers and is not operated by applications. MPLS is, to a large extent, a protocol that not only provides the quality of service but is also used for traffic engineering. MPLS routing serves for creation of virtual links in IP-networks, where the network routers are supposed to allocate special resources for these links. The method of reservation and quality of service support remains beyond the scope of MPLS. For example, the reservation can be carried out either by an administrator or RSVP. The main difference between MPLS and RSVP lies in providing a through route for a data flow. Separate flows can be united in classes, thus achieving high scalability and coordinated traffic control. By classifying traffic flows, MPLS creates an effective link for these flows. To provide these links with a better than the best-effort service, their traffic should not surpass network bandwidth.

Unlike RSVP, MPLS is not designed to define the necessary network bandwidth and resources for the flows. At present the «explicit route» object is suggested for use in RSVP to forward the label-switched flows on the predetermined routes. These flows can use virtual links of label switching routers. Besides that, MPLS can attach labels in accordance with the specification of RSVP flow.

The use of RSVP on the network border and MPLS in the routing segment can prove to be an effective solution to the problem of providing the guaranteed quality of service in computer networks.

The research that was carried out makes it possible to assert that providing the quality of service at the given level with the help of the protocols considered above can present an effective way of securing the computer networks functioning.