NSFNET performance statistics have been collected, processed, stored,
and reported by the Merit Network since 1988, in the early stages of the
NSFNET project. During December 1994, the numbers contained in Merit's
statistical reports began to decrease, as NSFNET traffic began to
migrate to the new NSF network architecture. In the new architecture,
traffic is exchanged at interconnection points called NAPs (Network
Access Points.)
NSFNET Packet Traffic History (in millions of packets)
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
Jan 85 468 2466 5868 12153 24016 45283
Feb 83 573 2551 6030 13457 26040 48359
Mar 106 746 2841 7135 14906 30371 56189
Apr 114 874 3075 7727 15596 31895 58015
May 116 965 3153 8098 15669 29704 60205
Jun 93 1068 3273 7248 15741 31443 60587
Jul 152 1153 3426 8739 17063 32889 60742
Aug 194 1449 3739 8599 16527 33222 64937
Sep 304 1592 4145 9718 18740 36567 72851
Oct 357 1952 5246 11257 22498 42882 83413
Nov 376 2099 4857 11200 23826 44471 86372
Dec 396 2087 4813 10863 22009 45651 75292
This is reflected more strongly by December's daily breakdown
by ENSS, available in:
ftp://nic.merit.edu/nsfnet/statistics/1994/nsf-9412.pnss
ftp://nic.merit.edu/nsfnet/statistics/1994/nsf-9412.bnss
Once the new architecture is in place, Merit will be unable to
collect the data needed to continue these traffic-based reports.
The reports will be discontinued by spring 1995.
-Susan Horvath
Merit NIC Services