This work analyses the optical packet switching paradigm. The analysis included the technology necessary for optical packet switching node implementation, as well as optical packet switching network architectures. Node and network models susceptible to analytical and simulation performance analysis have been proposed. The work includes all steps of network analysis from the design and planning phase, over optimization to performance analysis. A network planning procedure using topology and traffic demands as input parameters has been proposed. The traffic model and analyzed topologies have been taken from COST 266 project. A hierarchy of transport entities used to describe a network communication has been structured. The hierarchy serves as the basis for further network optimization aiming to cost reduction by the channel utilization increase, and as a starting point for performance analysis. Optical packet and optical circuit switching network planning procedures have been compared. The performance has been analyzed on the node and network level including packet loss probability, delay times and throughput. The flexibility of an object-oriented model developed using the Cosmos tool enabled capturing of influence of node functional parts like the input aggregation and hold, wavelength conversion and the efficiency of optical buffers with fiber delay lines. The efficiency of optical buffers was increased by planning of the base value of the fiber delay line. The network analysis was focused on synchronous cell communication as well as asynchronous communication with variable length packets. The synchronous cell communication was also described using analytical procedure The performance has been evaluated by analyzing efficiency of different mechanisms by network load variation, as well as with reference topologies with real traffic. Along with the communication performances the network availability has been analyzed by using an ON/OFF network component model. Simulation and analytical procedures for transport entity availability calculation have been developed. Availabilities of networks with packet and circuit switching have been compared. A quality of service mechanisms based on contention resolution and service differentiation have been emphasized. The contention resolution mechanisms included wavelength conversion, deflection routing and optical buffering. Service differentiation has been supported by the node architecture and contention resolution mechanism between different packet priorities. A several solutions differing in implementation complexity and efficiency have been compared. Traffic generators and models have been analyzed from the mathematical and simulation model aspects, and their influence on packet loss probability and delay has been evaluated. The traditional Poisson model, simple bursty and self-similar model have been included in the analysis.