Model-Based Metrics for Bulk Transport Capacity
RFC 8337

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Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                         M. Mathis
Request for Comments: 8337                                   Google, Inc
Category: Experimental                                         A. Morton
ISSN: 2070-1721                                                AT&T Labs
                                                              March 2018

            Model-Based Metrics for Bulk Transport Capacity

Abstract

   This document introduces a new class of Model-Based Metrics designed
   to assess if a complete Internet path can be expected to meet a
   predefined Target Transport Performance by applying a suite of IP
   diagnostic tests to successive subpaths.  The subpath-at-a-time tests
   can be robustly applied to critical infrastructure, such as network
   interconnections or even individual devices, to accurately detect if
   any part of the infrastructure will prevent paths traversing it from
   meeting the Target Transport Performance.

   Model-Based Metrics rely on mathematical models to specify a Targeted
   IP Diagnostic Suite, a set of IP diagnostic tests designed to assess
   whether common transport protocols can be expected to meet a
   predetermined Target Transport Performance over an Internet path.

   For Bulk Transport Capacity, the IP diagnostics are built using test
   streams and statistical criteria for evaluating the packet transfer
   that mimic TCP over the complete path.  The temporal structure of the
   test stream (e.g., bursts) mimics TCP or other transport protocols
   carrying bulk data over a long path.  However, they are constructed
   to be independent of the details of the subpath under test, end
   systems, or applications.  Likewise, the success criteria evaluates
   the packet transfer statistics of the subpath against criteria
   determined by protocol performance models applied to the Target
   Transport Performance of the complete path.  The success criteria
   also does not depend on the details of the subpath, end systems, or
   applications.

Mathis & Morton               Experimental                      [Page 1]
RFC 8337                   Model-Based Metrics                March 2018

Status of This Memo

   This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is
   published for examination, experimental implementation, and
   evaluation.

   This document defines an Experimental Protocol for the Internet
   community.  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 candidates 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
   https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8337.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2018 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
   (https://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.

Mathis & Morton               Experimental                      [Page 2]
RFC 8337                   Model-Based Metrics                March 2018

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................4
   2. Overview ........................................................5
   3. Terminology .....................................................8
      3.1. General Terminology ........................................8
      3.2. Terminology about Paths ...................................10
      3.3. Properties ................................................11
      3.4. Basic Parameters ..........................................12
      3.5. Ancillary Parameters ......................................13
      3.6. Temporal Patterns for Test Streams ........................14
      3.7. Tests .....................................................15
   4. Background .....................................................16
      4.1. TCP Properties ............................................18
      4.2. Diagnostic Approach .......................................20
      4.3. New Requirements Relative to RFC 2330 .....................21
   5. Common Models and Parameters ...................................22
      5.1. Target End-to-End Parameters ..............................22