Data Center Benchmarking Methodology
RFC 8239

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Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                        L. Avramov
Request for Comments: 8239                                        Google
Category: Informational                                          J. Rapp
ISSN: 2070-1721                                                   VMware
                                                             August 2017

                  Data Center Benchmarking Methodology

Abstract

   The purpose of this informational document is to establish test and
   evaluation methodology and measurement techniques for physical
   network equipment in the data center.  RFC 8238 is a prerequisite for
   this document, as it contains terminology that is considered
   normative.  Many of these terms and methods may be applicable 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/rfc8239.

Avramov & Rapp                Informational                     [Page 1]
RFC 8239          Data Center Benchmarking Methodology       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.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................3
      1.1. Requirements Language ......................................4
      1.2. Methodology Format and Repeatability Recommendation ........4
   2. Line-Rate Testing ...............................................4
      2.1. Objective ..................................................4
      2.2. Methodology ................................................4
      2.3. Reporting Format ...........................................5
   3. Buffering Testing ...............................................6
      3.1. Objective ..................................................6
      3.2. Methodology ................................................7
      3.3. Reporting Format ...........................................9
   4. Microburst Testing .............................................10
      4.1. Objective .................................................10
      4.2. Methodology ...............................................10
      4.3. Reporting Format ..........................................11
   5. Head-of-Line Blocking ..........................................12
      5.1. Objective .................................................12
      5.2. Methodology ...............................................12
      5.3. Reporting Format ..........................................14
   6. Incast Stateful and Stateless Traffic ..........................15
      6.1. Objective .................................................15
      6.2. Methodology ...............................................15
      6.3. Reporting Format ..........................................17
   7. Security Considerations ........................................17
   8. IANA Considerations ............................................17
   9. References .....................................................18
      9.1. Normative References ......................................18
      9.2. Informative References ....................................18
   Acknowledgments ...................................................19
   Authors' Addresses ................................................19

Avramov & Rapp                Informational                     [Page 2]
RFC 8239          Data Center Benchmarking Methodology       August 2017

1.  Introduction

   Traffic patterns in the data center are not uniform and are
   constantly changing.  They are dictated by the nature and variety of
   applications utilized in the data center.  They can be largely