Performance analysis of the RS232-C switch on the map network

The issue of performance analysis plays a very important role in the computer communication arena today. In order to make a meaningful performance analysis on a network, specific conditions such as node and network loading, message length, and baud rate have to be established prior to making the measurements. This thesis was based on two nodes established on a well defined, experimental MAP Network of the Electrical and Computer Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The objective of this thesis is to define and implement a set of performance tests using test setups with different message lengths, baud rates, and loading conditions. Due to the large number of RS232-C devices in the manufacturing environment, RS232-C devices communicating through a standard communication protocol were the focus of this thesis. The RS232-C devices were connected to a MAP broadband backbone. Baud rates of 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, and 19200 bps were used. Network interface units such as the two-layer MAP multiplexers and the seven-layer MAP multiplexers were used for testing. The methodology of making the measurements under the conditions described above was presented. The results of the measurements were analyzed and documented with respect to network performance.