Packet Loss and Delay Measurement for MPLS Networks
RFC 6374

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                          D. Frost
Request for Comments: 6374                                     S. Bryant
Category: Standards Track                                  Cisco Systems
ISSN: 2070-1721                                           September 2011

          Packet Loss and Delay Measurement for MPLS Networks

Abstract

   Many service provider service level agreements (SLAs) depend on the
   ability to measure and monitor performance metrics for packet loss
   and one-way and two-way delay, as well as related metrics such as
   delay variation and channel throughput.  This measurement capability
   also provides operators with greater visibility into the performance
   characteristics of their networks, thereby facilitating planning,
   troubleshooting, and network performance evaluation.  This document
   specifies protocol mechanisms to enable the efficient and accurate
   measurement of these performance metrics in MPLS networks.

Status of This Memo

   This is an Internet Standards Track document.

   This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
   (IETF).  It represents the consensus of the IETF community.  It has
   received public review and has been approved for publication by the
   Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG).  Further information on
   Internet Standards is available in Section 2 of RFC 5741.

   Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
   and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
   http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6374.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2011 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

   This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
   (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of
   publication of this document.  Please review these documents
   carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect
   to this document.  Code Components extracted from this document must
   include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
   described in the Simplified BSD License.

Frost & Bryant               Standards Track                    [Page 1]
RFC 6374             MPLS Loss and Delay Measurement      September 2011

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................3
      1.1. Applicability and Scope ....................................5
      1.2. Terminology ................................................6
      1.3. Requirements Language ......................................6
   2. Overview ........................................................6
      2.1. Basic Bidirectional Measurement ............................6
      2.2. Packet Loss Measurement ....................................7
      2.3. Throughput Measurement ....................................10
      2.4. Delay Measurement .........................................10
      2.5. Delay Variation Measurement ...............................12
      2.6. Unidirectional Measurement ................................12
      2.7. Dyadic Measurement ........................................13
      2.8. Loopback Measurement ......................................13
      2.9. Measurement Considerations ................................14
           2.9.1. Types of Channels ..................................14
           2.9.2. Quality of Service .................................14
           2.9.3. Measurement Point Location .........................14
           2.9.4. Equal Cost Multipath ...............................15
           2.9.5. Intermediate Nodes .................................15
           2.9.6. Different Transmit and Receive Interfaces ..........16
           2.9.7. External Post-Processing ...........................16
           2.9.8. Loss Measurement Modes .............................16
           2.9.9. Loss Measurement Scope .............................18
           2.9.10. Delay Measurement Accuracy ........................18
           2.9.11. Delay Measurement Timestamp Format ................18
   3. Message Formats ................................................19
      3.1. Loss Measurement Message Format ...........................19
      3.2. Delay Measurement Message Format ..........................25
      3.3. Combined Loss/Delay Measurement Message Format ............27
      3.4. Timestamp Field Formats ...................................28
      3.5. TLV Objects ...............................................29
           3.5.1. Padding ............................................30
           3.5.2. Addressing .........................................31