On the log-normal distribution of network traffic

A detailed analysis of traffic measurements shows that the aggregation of these measurements forms a statistical distribution, which is approximated with high accuracy by the log-normal distribution. The inter-arrival times and packet sizes, contributing to the formation of network traffic, can be considered as independent. Applying the wavelet transform to traffic measurements, we demonstrate the multiplicative character of traffic series. This result confirms that the scheme, developed by Kolmogorov [Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 31 (1941) 99] for the homogeneous fragmentation of grains, applies also to network traffic. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.