Terminology for IP Multicast Benchmarking
RFC 2432
Document | Type |
RFC - Informational
(October 1998; No errata)
Was draft-ietf-bmwg-mcast (bmwg WG)
|
|
---|---|---|---|
Author | Kevin Dubray | ||
Last updated | 2013-03-02 | ||
Stream | IETF | ||
Formats | plain text html pdf htmlized bibtex | ||
Stream | WG state | (None) | |
Document shepherd | No shepherd assigned | ||
IESG | IESG state | RFC 2432 (Informational) | |
Consensus Boilerplate | Unknown | ||
Telechat date | |||
Responsible AD | (None) | ||
Send notices to | (None) |
Network Working Group K. Dubray Request for Comments: 2432 IronBridge Networks Category: Informational October 1998 Terminology for IP Multicast Benchmarking Status of this Memo This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. Copyright Notice Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998). All Rights Reserved. Abstract The purpose of this document is to define terminology specific to the benchmarking of multicast IP forwarding devices. It builds upon the tenets set forth in RFC 1242, RFC 2285, and other IETF Benchmarking Methodology Working Group (BMWG) efforts. This document seeks to extend these efforts to the multicast paradigm. The BMWG produces two major classes of documents: Benchmarking Terminology documents and Benchmarking Methodology documents. The Terminology documents present the benchmarks and other related terms. The Methodology documents define the procedures required to collect the benchmarks cited in the corresponding Terminology documents. 1. Introduction Network forwarding devices are being required to take a single frame and support delivery to a number of destinations having membership to a particular group. As such, multicast support may place a different burden on the resources of these network forwarding devices than with unicast or broadcast traffic types. Such burdens may not be readily apparent at first glance - the IP multicast packet's Class D address may be the only noticeable difference from an IP unicast packet. However, there are many factors that may impact the treatment of IP multicast packets. Consider how a device's architecture may impact the handling of a multicast frame. For example, is the multicast packet subject to the same processing as its unicast analog? Or is the multicast packet treated as an exeception and processed on a different data path? Dubray Informational [Page 1] RFC 2432 Terminology for IP Multicast Benchmarking October 1998 Consider, too, how a shared memory architecture may demonstrate a different performance profile than an architecture which explicitly passes each individual packet between the processing entities. In addition to forwarding device architecture, there are other factors that may impact a device's or system's multicast related performance. Protocol requirements may demand that routers and switches consider destination and source addressing in its multicast forwarding decisions. Capturing multicast source/destination addressing information may impact forwarding table size and lengthen lookups. Topological factors such as the degree of packet replication, the number of multicast groups being supported by the system, or the placement of multicast packets in unicast wrappers to span non-multicast network paths may all potentially affect a system's multicast related performance. For an overall understanding of IP multicasting, the reader is directed to [Se98], [Hu95], and [Mt98]. By clearly identifying IP multicast benchmarks and related terminology in this document, it is hoped that detailed methodologies can be generated in subsequent documents. Taken in tandem, these two efforts endeavor to assist the clinical, empirical, and consistent characterization of certain aspects of multicast technologies and their individual implementations. Understanding the operational profile of multicast forwarding devices may assist the network designer to better deploy multicast in his or her networking environment. Moreover, this document focuses on one source to many destinations profiling. Elements of this document may require extension when considering multiple source to multiple destination IP multicast communication. 2. Definition Format This section cites the template suggested by RFC 1242 in the specification of a term to be defined. Term to be defined. Definition: The specific definition for the term. Discussion: A brief discussion of the term, its application, or other information that would build understanding. Dubray Informational [Page 2] RFC 2432 Terminology for IP Multicast Benchmarking October 1998 Measurement units: Units used to record measurements of this term, if applicable. [Issues:] List of issues or conditions that affect this term. This field can present items the may impact the term's related methodology or otherwise restrict its measurement procedures. This field is optional in this document. [See Also:] List of other terms that are relevant to the discussion of thisShow full document text