Terminology for Benchmarking Network-layer Traffic Control Mechanisms
RFC 4689

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Network Working Group                                        S. Poretsky
Request for Comments: 4689                            Reef Point Systems
Category: Informational                                        J. Perser
                                                                Veriwave
                                                            S. Erramilli
                                                               Telcordia
                                                              S. Khurana
                                                                Motorola
                                                            October 2006

 Terminology for Benchmarking Network-layer Traffic Control Mechanisms

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 (2006).

Abstract

   This document describes terminology for the benchmarking of devices
   that implement traffic control using packet classification based on
   defined criteria.  The terminology is to be applied to measurements
   made on the data plane to evaluate IP traffic control mechanisms.
   Rules for packet classification can be based on any field in the IP
   header, such as the Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP), or any
   field in the packet payload, such as port number.

Poretsky, et al.             Informational                      [Page 1]
RFC 4689       Terminology for Traffic Control Mechanisms   October 2006

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................2
   2. Existing Definitions ............................................3
   3. Term Definitions ................................................4
      3.1. Configuration Terms ........................................4
           3.1.1. Classification ......................................4
           3.1.2. Codepoint Set .......................................4
           3.1.3. Forwarding Congestion ...............................5
           3.1.4. Congestion Management ...............................6
           3.1.5. Flow ................................................7
      3.2. Measurement Terms ..........................................7
           3.2.1. Forwarding Capacity .................................7
           3.2.2. Conforming Packet ...................................8
           3.2.3. Nonconforming Packet ................................9
           3.2.4. Forwarding Delay ....................................9
           3.2.5. Jitter .............................................11
           3.2.6. Undifferentiated Response ..........................11
      3.3. Sequence Tracking .........................................12
           3.3.1. Test Sequence Number ...............................12
           3.3.2. Stream .............................................12
           3.3.3. In-Sequence Packet .................................13
           3.3.4. Out-of-Order Packet ................................14
           3.3.5. Duplicate Packet ...................................14
      3.4. Vectors ...................................................15
           3.4.1. Intended Vector ....................................15
           3.4.2. Offered Vector .....................................16
           3.4.3. Expected Vectors ...................................16
           3.4.4. Output Vectors .....................................23
   4. Security Considerations ........................................30
   5. Acknowledgements ...............................................30
   6. References .....................................................31
      6.1. Normative References ......................................31
      6.2. Informative References ....................................31

1.  Introduction

   New terminology is needed because most existing measurements assume
   the absence of congestion and only a single per-hop behavior.  This
   document introduces several new terms that will allow measurements to
   be taken during periods of congestion.

   Another key difference from existing terminology is the definition of
   measurements as observed on egress and ingress of a device/system
   under test.  Again, the existence of congestion requires the addition
   of egress measurements, as well as of those taken on ingress; without
   observing traffic leaving a device/system, it is not possible to say
   whether traffic-control mechanisms effectively dealt with congestion.

Poretsky, et al.             Informational                      [Page 2]
RFC 4689       Terminology for Traffic Control Mechanisms   October 2006

   The principal measurements introduced in this document are vectors
   for rate, delay, and jitter, all of which can be observed with or