Advanced Stream and Sampling Framework for IP Performance Metrics (IPPM)
RFC 7312

• Status
• IESG evaluation record
• IESG writeups
• Email expansions
• History

• Versions
• 00
• 01
• 02
• 03
• 04
• 05

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                         J. Fabini
Request for Comments: 7312               Vienna University of Technology
Updates: 2330                                                  A. Morton
Category: Informational                                        AT&T Labs
ISSN: 2070-1721                                              August 2014

                 Advanced Stream and Sampling Framework
                   for IP Performance Metrics (IPPM)

Abstract

   To obtain repeatable results in modern networks, test descriptions
   need an expanded stream parameter framework that also augments
   aspects specified as Type-P for test packets.  This memo updates the
   IP Performance Metrics (IPPM) Framework, RFC 2330, with advanced
   considerations for measurement methodology and testing.  The existing
   framework mostly assumes deterministic connectivity, and that a
   single test stream will represent the characteristics of the path
   when it is aggregated with other flows.  Networks have evolved and
   test stream descriptions must evolve with them; otherwise, unexpected
   network features may dominate the measured performance.  This memo
   describes new stream parameters for both network characterization and
   support of application design using IPPM metrics.

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 5741.

   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/rfc7312.

Fabini & Morton               Informational                     [Page 1]
RFC 7312                    Advanced Sampling                August 2014

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2014 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.  Definition: Reactive Path Behavior  . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     1.2.  Requirements Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   2.  Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   3.  New or Revised Stream Parameters  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     3.1.  Test Packet Type-P  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
       3.1.1.  Multiple Test Packet Lengths  . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
       3.1.2.  Test Packet Payload Content Optimization  . . . . . .   7
     3.2.  Packet History  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     3.3.  Access Technology Change  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     3.4.  Time-Slotted Randomness Cancellation  . . . . . . . . . .   9
   4.  Quality of Metrics and Methodologies  . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     4.1.  Revised Definition of Repeatability . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     4.2.  Continuity No Longer an Alternative Repeatability
           Criterion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     4.3.  Metrics Should Be Actionable  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
     4.4.  It May Not Be Possible To Be Conservative . . . . . . . .  13
     4.5.  Spatial and Temporal Composition Support Unbiased
           Sampling  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
     4.6.  When to Truncate the Poisson Sampling Distribution  . . .  13
   5.  Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   6.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   7.  Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   8.  References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
     8.1.  Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
     8.2.  Informative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16

Fabini & Morton               Informational                     [Page 2]
RFC 7312                    Advanced Sampling                August 2014

1.  Introduction

   The IETF IPPM working group first created a framework for metric
   development in [RFC2330].  This framework has stood the test of time