TopGen - internet router-level topology generation based on technology constraints

In order to realistically simulate algorithms or evaluate P2P overlay topologies, a detailed model of the underlying router topology is required. Since actively measuring this topology is extremely laborious and furthermore a waste of network resources, traditionally topology generators are used in order to create synthetic router-level graphs. For this, usually graph models are selected that are known to generate graphs which are similar to the actual Internet in respect to a certain metric like e.g. vertex degree distribution. These models are often superseded or adjusted when new metrics are being introduced which better differentiate between graphs. Furthermore it has been shown, that graphs that are similar in respect to e.g. vertex degree distribution can be very different from a structural point of view. In this paper Top-Gen, a generic, extensible and easy-to-use topology generation platform is presented. It contains a topology generation module which bases the generation of router-level graphs on the Internet's underlying principles and the technological constraints of routers rather than trying to effectuate similarity in respect to a certain metric. Apart from describing TopGen's general topology generation approach, graphs created with its Internet topology module are evaluated and found to be encouragingly similar to real-world datasets in various respects.