PerfVis+: From Timestamps to Insight through Integration of Visual and Statistical Analysis

Abstract:

Complex networked systems provide a cornucopia of network statistics, many of which relate to the temporal behaviour of subsystems, devices, or even individual protocol layers. Different and flexible visualizations can play a crucial role in discovering and making patterns, relations, and trends tangible. We developed PerfVis, a tool that visualizes timestamp data to aid in detecting patterns and changes in the data. Although its measurement capabilities are designed for network transmission measurements, we believe that its analysis part can also be used for other research fields. This paper extends PerfVis from a visualization tool focused on a single type of plot to a comprehensive analyser for timestamp data. It is suitable for evaluating complex systems and analysing protocols. In particular, we integrate statistical output, customizable sending patterns, and inclusion of external data sources, broadening PerfVis’s applicability in research and operations. Case studies highlight the benefits these extensions bring and how the tool can help analyse the system behaviour of a real 5G network and the protocol behaviour of the Two-Way Active Measurement Protocol, another established network measurement tool.