Technical Summary
Test engineers take pains to declare all factors that affect a given
measurement, including intended load, packet length, test duration,
and traffic orientation. However, current benchmarking practice
overlooks two factors that have a profound impact on test results.
First, existing methodologies do not require the reporting of
addresses or other test traffic contents, even though these fields
can affect test results. Second, "stuff" bits and bytes inserted in
test traffic by some link-layer technologies add significant and
variable overhead, which in turn affects test results. This document
describes the effects of these factors; recommends guidelines for
test traffic contents; and offers formulas for determining the
probability of bit- and byte-stuffing in test traffic.
Working Group Summary
From the initial work proposal through the final WG Last Call, there was
wide agreement that this work was important for BMWG in that it added
key testing considerations to our body of literature.
Protocol Quality
David Kessens reviewed this document for the IESG.