User guided generation of network link optimization profiles

1. A network optimization profile generation method comprising:

ranking different performance criterion for a target network;

end user assigning weights in respect to prioritized network performance criteria;

testing the target network for the different performance criterion;

weighting results of the testing according to the end user assigned weights;

generating a set of target network configuration parameters through optimization of the weighted results; and,

applying the set of target network configuration parameters to the target network as a profile.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

repeating the testing of the target network subsequent to applying the set of target network configuration parameters;

weighting the results of the testing according to the ranking of the different performance criterion;

generating a new set of target network configuration parameters through optimization of the weighted results; and,

applying the new set of target network configuration parameters to the target network as a profile.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising continuing to perform testing of the target network, to weight results of the testing, to generate new sets of target network configuration parameters, and to apply the new sets of target network configuration parameters in order to converge on an optimized profile for the target network considering the rankings of the different performance criterion.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising continuing for a threshold number of iterations to perform testing of the target network, to weight results of the testing, to generate new sets of target network configuration parameters, and to apply the new sets of target network configuration parameters in order to converge on an optimized profile for the target network considering the rankings of the different performance criterion.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein testing the target network for the different performance criterion, comprises:

attaching a test device to the target network;

executing a plurality of tests for the different performance criterion in a test suite for the test device on live network traffic in the target network; and,

transmitting results of the tests to a profile generation engine communicatively coupled over a computer communications network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a new set of target network configuration parameters through optimization of the weighted results, comprises generating a new set of target network configuration parameters through simulated annealing of the weighted results.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein generating a new set of target network configuration parameters through optimization of the weighted results, comprises generating a new set of target network configuration parameters through simulated annealing of the weighted results utilizing an energy function defined as E(s)=w(c1)*C1(s)+w(c2)*C2(s)+ . . . +w(cN)*CN(s) for N ones of the weighted results.

8. A network optimization profile generation data processing system comprising:

a test device configured for coupling to a target network, the test device comprising a test suite and a plurality of tests each directed to a different network performance criterion for the target network;

a profile generation engine configured for communicative coupling to the test device over the target network, the engine comprising program code enabled to iteratively apply a profile of network configuration parameters to the target network, to signal the test device to initiate testing of the target network, and to receive test results from the test device; and,

simulated annealing logic coupled to the profile generation engine, the logic comprising program code enabled to generating a profile of network configuration parameters through simulated annealing of weighted ones of the test results, the simulated annealing logic generating the profile by accepting user assigned weights and applying the user assigned weights to the network performance criterion for use during simulated annealing.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the simulated annealing of the weighted ones of the test results comprises a simulated annealing of the weighted ones of the test results utilizing an energy function defined as E(s)=w(c1)*C1(s)+w(c2)*C2(s)+ . . . +w(cN)*CN(s) for N ones of the weighted results.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium comprising a memory device storing computer usable program code for network optimization profile generation, the computer program product comprising:

computer usable program code for ranking different performance criterion for a target network;

computer usable program code for end user assigning weights in respect to prioritized network performance criteria;

computer usable program code for testing the target network for the different performance criterion;

computer usable program code for weighting results of the testing according to the end user assigned weights;

computer usable program code for generating a set of target network configuration parameters through optimization of the weighted results; and,

computer usable program code for applying the set of target network configuration parameters to the target network as a profile.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising:

computer usable program code for repeating the testing of the target network subsequent to applying the set of target network configuration parameters;

computer usable program code for weighting the results of the testing according to the ranking of the different performance criterion;

computer usable program code for generating a new set of target network configuration parameters through optimization of the weighted results; and,

computer usable program code for applying the new set of target network configuration parameters to the target network as a profile.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 , further comprising, computer usable program code for continuing to perform testing of the target network, to weight results of the testing, to generate new sets of target network configuration parameters, and to apply the new sets of target network configuration parameters in order to converge on an optimized profile for the target network considering the rankings of the different performance criterion.

13. The computer program product of claim 10 , further comprising, computer usable program code for continuing for a threshold number of iterations to perform testing of the target network, to weight results of the testing, to generate new sets of target network configuration parameters, and to apply the new sets of target network configuration parameters in order to converge on an optimized profile for the target network considering the rankings of the different performance criterion.

14. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the computer usable program code for testing the target network for the different performance criterion, comprises:

computer usable program code for attaching a test device to the target network;

computer usable program code for executing a plurality of tests for the different performance criterion in a test suite for the test device on live network traffic in the target network; and,

computer usable program code for transmitting results of the tests to a profile generation engine communicatively coupled over a computer communications network.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the computer usable program code for generating a new set of target network configuration parameters through simulated annealing of the weighted results, comprises computer usable program code for generating a new set of target network configuration parameters through simulated annealing of the weighted results utilizing an energy function defined as E(s)=w(c1)*C1(s)+w(c2)*C2(s)+ . . . +w(cN)*CN(s) for N ones of the weighted results.

16. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the computer usable program code for generating a new set of target network configuration parameters through optimization of the weighted results, comprises computer usable program code for generating a new set of target network configuration parameters through simulated annealing of the weighted results.