Data Center Benchmarking Terminology
RFC 8238

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Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                        L. Avramov
Request for Comments: 8238                                        Google
Category: Informational                                          J. Rapp
ISSN: 2070-1721                                                   VMware
                                                             August 2017

                  Data Center Benchmarking Terminology

Abstract

   The purposes of this informational document are to establish
   definitions and describe measurement techniques for data center
   benchmarking, as well as to introduce new terminology applicable to
   performance evaluations of data center network equipment.  This
   document establishes the important concepts for benchmarking network
   switches and routers in the data center and is a prerequisite for the
   test methodology document (RFC 8239).  Many of these terms and
   methods may be applicable to network equipment beyond the scope of
   this document as the technologies originally applied in the data
   center are deployed elsewhere.

Status of This Memo

   This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is
   published for informational purposes.

   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).  Not all documents
   approved by the IESG are a candidate for any level of Internet
   Standard; see Section 2 of RFC 7841.

   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/rfc8238.

Avramov & Rapp                Informational                     [Page 1]
RFC 8238          Data Center Benchmarking Terminology       August 2017

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2017 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.

Avramov & Rapp                Informational                     [Page 2]
RFC 8238          Data Center Benchmarking Terminology       August 2017

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................4
      1.1. Requirements Language ......................................5
      1.2. Definition Format ..........................................5
   2. Latency .........................................................5
      2.1. Definition .................................................5
      2.2. Discussion .................................................7
      2.3. Measurement Units ..........................................7
   3. Jitter ..........................................................8
      3.1. Definition .................................................8
      3.2. Discussion .................................................8
      3.3. Measurement Units ..........................................8
   4. Calibration of the Physical Layer ...............................9
      4.1. Definition .................................................9
      4.2. Discussion .................................................9
      4.3. Measurement Units ..........................................9
   5. Line Rate ......................................................10
      5.1. Definition ................................................10
      5.2. Discussion ................................................10
      5.3. Measurement Units .........................................11
   6. Buffering ......................................................12
      6.1. Buffer ....................................................12
           6.1.1. Definition .........................................12
           6.1.2. Discussion .........................................14
           6.1.3. Measurement Units ..................................14
      6.2. Incast ....................................................15
           6.2.1. Definition .........................................15
           6.2.2. Discussion .........................................15
           6.2.3. Measurement Units ..................................16
   7. Application Throughput: Data Center Goodput ....................16
      7.1. Definition ................................................16