Castelldefels project: modeling and simulation of the computer system that gives support to the virtual campus of the Open University Of Catalonia

ABSTRACT

In this paper we present a case study regarding the modeling and simulation of a real computer system called Castelldefels. This system gives support to the Virtual Campus of the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), an online university that offers e-learning services to thousands of users. After analyzing several alternatives, the OPNET software was selected as the convenient tool for developing this network-simulation research. The main target of the project was to provide the computer system's managers with a realistic simulation model of their system. This model would allow the managers: (i) to analyze the behavior of the current system in order to discover possible performance problems such as bottlenecks, weak points in the structure, among others, and (ii) to perform what-if analysis regarding future changes in the system, including the addition of new Internet-based services, variations in the number and types of users, changes in hardware or software components, etc.