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Re: [ippm] Testing TCP Throughput Capacity in Operator Networks



Hello Barry,
 
I'm not sure, whether IPPM is chartered to specify transport layer performance metrics. I've checked the PMOL charter and it clearly says PMOL works above transport layer. A fair conclusion would be, that IPPM is chartered to investigate transport layer performance.
 
Three questions to the chairs and to the IPPM WG come to my mind:
 
Chairs: Is IPPM chartered to execute the work proposed by Barry?
 
IPPM WG: If not, is there interest to charter IPPM for such an activity?
 
Chairs: If not, to which WG can Barry submit his proposal?
 
My personal interest in this activity is limited, saying no support, no objection. The feedback I received from within the company I work for is, that such an activity is relevant for application or service providers, but not for carriers. 
 
Regards,
 
Ruediger
 

Deutsche Telekom Netzproduktion GmbH
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From: ippm-bounces at ietf.org [mailto:ippm-bounces at ietf.org] On Behalf Of Barry Constantine
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:06 AM
To: ippm at ietf.org
Subject: [ippm] Testing TCP Throughput Capacity in Operator Networks

Hello,

 

I work in the communications test industry and we have seen a growing need to verify the capacity of a network in terms of end-end TCP throughput. 

 

Most network operators use RFC-2544 based Layer 3 tests to verify the SLA of the network, but this has significant shortcomings since it does not verify the ability of the network to carry a customer’s TCP traffic.  Ideally, a TCP layer throughput test would detect issues with prioritization, queuing, policing, etc.  This type of test could also detect issues such as TCP Tail drop phenomena in the network.

I have spoken to several network operators and equipment providers and there is a consistent desire to test throughput at the stateful TCP layer, at line rate speeds (1G-10G), and to conduct these tests in a standardized manner.

 

At a very high level, a standardized TCP layer throughput test would:

 

-        Run a latency test and automatically compute the ideal TCP window size for the test network

-        Conduct a series of single and multiple connection TCP tests and vary the window size to verify throughput per window size

-        Conduct QoS testing, tagging the TCP connections with appropriate prioritization (DSCP, etc.) and test in the midst of background traffic loads

 

This is a very simplified description of the test workflow.

 

I would like to solicit the interest of members within the IPPM workgroup and would like to move forward with a draft document to describe this test in detail.

 

Thank you,

Barry

 

Principal Member of Technical Staff

 

JDSU Communication Test (formerly Acterna)

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