Using genetic algorithms to design mesh networks

Designs for mesh communication networks must meet conflicting, interdependent requirements. This sets the stage for a complex problem with a solution that targets optimal topological connections, routing, and link capacity assignments. These assignments must minimize cost while satisfying traffic requirements and keeping network delays within permissible values. Since such a problem is NP-complete, developers must use heuristic techniques to handle the complexity and solve practical problems with a modest number of nodes. One heuristic technique, genetic algorithms, appears to be ideal to handle the design of mesh networks with capability of handling discrete values, multiobjective functions, and multiconstraint problems. Existing applications of genetic algorithms to this problem, however, have only optimized the network topology. They ignore the difficult subproblems of routing and capacity assignment, a crucial determiner of network quality and cost. This article presents a total solution to mesh network design using a genetic algorithm approach. The application is a 10-city network that links Hong Kong and nine other cities in China. The development demonstrates that this method can be used for networks of reasonable size with realistic topology and traffic requirements.