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diff --git a/doc/rfc/rfc6673.txt b/doc/rfc/rfc6673.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..159efee --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/rfc/rfc6673.txt @@ -0,0 +1,787 @@ + + + + + + +Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) A. Morton +Request for Comments: 6673 AT&T Labs +Category: Standards Track August 2012 +ISSN: 2070-1721 + + + Round-Trip Packet Loss Metrics + +Abstract + + Many user applications (and the transport protocols that make them + possible) require two-way communications. To assess this capability, + and to achieve test system simplicity, round-trip loss measurements + are frequently conducted in practice. The Two-Way Active Measurement + Protocol specified in RFC 5357 establishes a round-trip loss + measurement capability for the Internet. However, there is currently + no round-trip packet loss metric specified according to the RFC 2330 + framework. + + This memo adds round-trip loss to the set of IP Performance Metrics + (IPPM). + +Status of This Memo + + This is an Internet Standards Track document. + + 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). Further information on + Internet Standards is available in 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/rfc6673. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 1] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + +Copyright Notice + + Copyright (c) 2012 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. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 2] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + +Table of Contents + + 1. Introduction ....................................................3 + 1.1. Motivation .................................................4 + 1.2. Requirements Language ......................................5 + 2. Scope ...........................................................5 + 3. Common Specifications for Round-Trip Metrics ....................5 + 3.1. Name: Type-P-* .............................................5 + 3.2. Metric Parameters ..........................................5 + 3.3. Metric Definition ..........................................6 + 3.4. Metric Units ...............................................6 + 4. A Singleton Round-Trip Loss Metric ..............................7 + 4.1. Name: Type-P-Round-trip-Loss ...............................7 + 4.2. Metric Parameters ..........................................7 + 4.3. Definition and Metric Units ................................7 + 4.4. Discussion and Other Details ...............................8 + 5. A Sample Round-Trip Loss Metric .................................9 + 5.1. Name: Type-P-Round-trip-Loss-<Sample>-Stream ...............9 + 5.2. Metric Parameters ..........................................9 + 5.3. Definition and Metric Units ................................9 + 5.4. Discussion and Other Details ..............................10 + 6. Round-Trip Loss Statistic ......................................10 + 6.1. Type-P-Round-trip-Loss-<Sample>-Ratio .....................10 + 7. Round-Trip Testing and One-Way Reporting .......................11 + 8. Measurement Considerations and Calibration .....................11 + 9. Security Considerations ........................................12 + 9.1. Denial-of-Service Attacks .................................12 + 9.2. User Data Confidentiality .................................12 + 9.3. Interference with the Metrics .............................12 + 10. IANA Considerations ...........................................13 + 11. Acknowledgements ..............................................13 + 12. References ....................................................13 + 12.1. Normative References .....................................13 + 12.2. Informative References ...................................14 + +1. Introduction + + This memo defines a metric to quantify an IP network's ability to + transfer packets in both directions from one host to another host. + Two-way communication is almost always needed; thus, failure to + transfer a packet in either direction constitutes a round-trip packet + loss. + + This memo defines a metric for round-trip packet loss on Internet + paths. It builds on the notions and conventions introduced in the IP + Performance Metrics (IPPM) framework [RFC2330]. Also, the + specifications of the one-way packet loss metric for IPPM [RFC2680] + and the round-trip delay metric for IPPM [RFC2681] are frequently + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 3] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + + referenced and modified to match the round-trip circumstances + addressed here. However, this memo assumes that the reader is + familiar with the references; thus, it does not repeat material as + was done in [RFC2681]. + + This memo uses the terms "two-way" and "round-trip" synonymously. + +1.1. Motivation + + Many user applications and the transport protocols that make them + possible require two-way communications. For example, the TCP SYN->, + <-SYN-ACK, ACK-> three-way handshake attempted billions of times each + day cannot be completed without two-way connectivity in a near- + simultaneous time interval. Thus, measurements of Internet round- + trip packet loss performance provide a basis to infer application + performance more easily. + + Measurement system designers have also recognized advantages of + system simplicity when one host simply echoes or reflects test + packets to the sender. Round-trip packet loss measurements are + frequently conducted and reported in practice. The ubiquitous "ping" + tools allow the measurement of round-trip packet loss and delay but + usually require ICMP Echo-Request/Reply support, and ICMP packets may + encounter exceptional treatment on the measurement path (see + Section 2.6 of [RFC2681]). The Two-Way Active Measurement Protocol + (TWAMP) specified in [RFC5357] establishes a round-trip packet loss + measurement capability for the Internet. However, there is currently + no round-trip packet loss metric specified according to the [RFC2330] + framework. + + [RFC2681] indicates that round-trip measurements may sometimes + encounter "asymmetric" paths. When loss is observed using a round- + trip measurement, there is often a desire to ascertain which of the + two directional paths "lost" the packet. Under some circumstances, + it is possible to make this inference. The round-trip measurement + method raises a few complications when interpreting the embedded one- + way results, and the user should be aware of them. + + [RFC2681] also points out that loss measurement conducted + sequentially in both directions of a path and reported as a round- + trip result may be exactly the desired metric. On the other hand, it + may be difficult to derive the state of round-trip packet loss from + one-way measurements conducted in each direction unless a method to + match the appropriate one-way measurements has been pre-arranged. + + Finally, many measurement systems report statistics on a conditional + delay distribution, where the condition is packet arrival at the + destination. This condition is encouraged in [RFC3393], [RFC5481], + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 4] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + + and [RFC6703]. As a result, lost packets need to be reported + separately, according to a standardized metric. This memo defines + such a metric. + + See Section 1.1 of [RFC2680] for additional motivation of the packet + loss metric. + +1.2. Requirements Language + + The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", + "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this + document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119]. + +2. Scope + + This memo defines a round-trip packet loss metric using the + conventions of the IPPM framework [RFC2330]. + + The memo defines a singleton metric, a sample metric, and a + statistic, as per [RFC2330]. The [RFC2330] framework is for active + measurement methods. Although this metric MAY be applicable in + passive measurement as well, discussion of additional considerations + for the passive scenario are beyond the normative scope of this memo. + + The memo also investigates the topic of one-way loss inference from a + two-way measurement and lists some key considerations. + +3. Common Specifications for Round-Trip Metrics + + To reduce the redundant information presented in the detailed metrics + sections that follow, this section presents the specifications that + are common to two or more metrics. The section is organized using + the same subsections as the individual metrics, to simplify + comparisons. + +3.1. Name: Type-P-* + + All metrics use the Type-P convention as described in [RFC2330]. The + rest of the name is unique to each metric. + +3.2. Metric Parameters + + o Src, the IP address of a host + + o Dst, the IP address of a host + + o T, a time (start of test interval) + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 5] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + + o Tf, a time (end of test interval) + + o lambda, a rate in reciprocal seconds (for Poisson Streams) + + o incT, the nominal duration of inter-packet interval, first bit to + first bit (for Periodic Streams) + + o T0, a time that MUST be selected at random from the interval + [T, T+dT] to start generating packets and taking measurements (for + Periodic Streams) + + o TstampSrc, the wire time of the packet as measured at MP(Src) as + it leaves for Dst. + + o TstampDst, the wire time of the packet as measured at MP(Dst), + assigned to packets that arrive within a "reasonable" time (less + than Tmax). + + o Tmax, a maximum waiting time for packets to arrive at Src, set + sufficiently long to disambiguate packets with long delays from + packets that are discarded (lost). + + o M, the total number of packets sent between T0 and Tf + + o N, the total number of packets received at Dst (sent between T0 + and Tf) + + o Type-P, as defined in [RFC2330], which includes any field that may + affect a packet's treatment as it traverses the network + +3.3. Metric Definition + + This section is specific to each metric. + +3.4. Metric Units + + The metric units are logical (1 or 0) when describing a single + packet's loss performance, where a 0 indicates successful packet + transmission and a 1 indicates packet loss. + + Units of time are as specified in [RFC2330]. + + Other units used are defined in the associated section where + needed (e.g., Section 6.1 in the case of + Type-P-Round-trip-Loss-<Sample>-Ratio). + + + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 6] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + +4. A Singleton Round-Trip Loss Metric + +4.1. Name: Type-P-Round-trip-Loss + +4.2. Metric Parameters + + See Section 3.2. + +4.3. Definition and Metric Units + + Type-P-Round-trip-Loss SHALL be represented by the binary logical + values (or their equivalents) when the following conditions are met: + + Type-P-Round-trip-Loss = 0: + + o Src sent the first bit of a Type-P packet to Dst at wire-time + TstampSrc, + + o that Dst received that packet, + + o the Dst sent a Type-P packet back to the Src as quickly as + possible (certainly less than Tmax, and fast enough for the + intended purpose), and + + o that Src received the last bit of the reflected packet prior to + wire-time TstampSrc + Tmax. + + Type-P-Round-trip-Loss = 1: + + o Src sent the first bit of a Type-P packet to Dst at wire-time + TstampSrc, + + o that Src did not receive the last bit of the reflected packet + before the waiting time lapsed at TstampSrc + Tmax. + + Possible causes for the Loss = 1 outcome are as follows: + + o the Dst did not receive that packet, + + o the Dst did not send a Type-P packet back to the Src, or + + o the Src did not receive a reflected Type-P packet sent from + the Dst. + + + + + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 7] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + + Following the precedent of Section 2.4 of [RFC2681], we make the + simplifying assertion that round-trip loss measured between two hosts + is equal regardless of the host that originates the test: + + Type-P-Round-trip-Loss(Src->Dst->Src) = + Type-P-Round-trip-Loss(Dst->Src->Dst) + + (and agree with the rationale presented there -- that the ambiguity + introduced is a small price to pay for measurement efficiency). + + Therefore, each singleton can be represented by pairs of elements as + follows: + + o TstampSrc, the wire time of the packet at the Src (beginning the + round-trip journey). + + o L, either zero or one (or some logical equivalent), where L=1 + indicates loss and L=0 indicates successful round-trip arrival + prior to TstampSrc + Tmax. + +4.4. Discussion and Other Details + + See [RFC2680] and [RFC2681] for extensive discussion, methods of + measurement, errors and uncertainties, and other fundamental + considerations that need not be repeated here. + + We add the following guidance regarding the responder process to + "send a Type-P packet back to the Src as quickly as possible". + + A response that was not generated within Tmax is inadequate for any + realistic test, and the Src will discard such responses. A responder + that serves typical round-trip packet loss testing (which is relevant + to higher-layer application performance) SHOULD produce a response in + 1 second or less. A responder that is unable to satisfy this + requirement SHOULD log the fact so that an operator can adjust the + load and priorities as necessary. Analysis of responder timestamps + [RFC5357] that finds responses are not generated in a timely fashion + SHOULD result in operator notification, and the operator SHOULD + suspend tests to the responder, since it may be overloaded. + Additional measurement considerations are described in Section 8 + below. + + + + + + + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 8] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + +5. A Sample Round-Trip Loss Metric + + Given the singleton metric Type-P-Round-trip-Loss, we now define one + particular sample of such singletons. The idea of the sample is to + select a particular binding of the parameters Src, Dst, and Type-P, + then define a sample of values of parameter TstampSrc. This can be + done in several ways, including the following: + + 1. Poisson: a pseudo-random Poisson process of rate lambda, whose + values fall between T and Tf. The time interval between + successive values of TstampSrc will then average 1/lambda, as per + Section 11.1.1 of [RFC2330]. + + 2. Periodic: a periodic stream process with pseudo-random start time + T0 between T and dT, and nominal inter-packet interval incT, as + per [RFC3432]. + + In the metric name, the variable <Sample> SHALL be replaced with the + process used to define the sample, using one of the above processes + (or another sample process meeting the criteria in Section 11.1 of + [RFC2330], the details of which MUST be reported with the results if + used). + +5.1. Name: Type-P-Round-trip-Loss-<Sample>-Stream + +5.2. Metric Parameters + + See Section 3.2. + +5.3. Definition and Metric Units + + Given one of the methods for defining the test interval -- the sample + of times (TstampSrc) and other metric parameters -- we obtain a + sequence of Type-P-Round-trip-Loss singletons as defined in + Section 4.3. + + Type-P-Round-trip-Loss-<Sample>-Stream SHALL be a sequence of pairs + with elements as follows: + + o TstampSrc, as above + + o L, either zero or one (or some logical equivalent), where L=1 + indicates loss and L=0 indicates successful round-trip arrival + prior to TstampSrc + Tmax + + and where <Sample> SHALL be replaced with "Poisson", "Periodic", or + an appropriate term to designate another sample method as described + in Section 5 above. + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 9] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + +5.4. Discussion and Other Details + + See [RFC2680] and [RFC2681] for extensive discussion, methods of + measurement, errors and uncertainties, and other fundamental + considerations that need not be repeated here. However, when these + references were approved, the packet reordering metrics in [RFC4737] + had not yet been defined, nor had reordering been addressed in IPPM + methodologies. + + [RFC4737] defines packets that arrive "late" with respect to their + sending order as reordered -- for example, when packets arrive with + sequence numbers 4, 7, 5, 6, then packets 5 and 6 are reordered, and + they are obviously not lost because they have arrived within some + reasonable waiting time threshold. The presence of reordering on a + round-trip path has several likely effects on the measurement. + + 1. Methods of measurement should continue to wait the specified time + for packets and avoid prematurely declaring round-trip packet + loss when a sequence gap or error is observed. + + 2. The time distribution of the singletons in the sample has been + significantly changed. + + 3. Either the original packet stream or the reflected packet stream + experienced path instability, and the original conditions may no + longer be present. + + Measurement implementations MUST address the possibility of packet + reordering and avoid related errors in their processes. + +6. Round-Trip Loss Statistic + + This section gives the primary and overall statistic for loss + performance. Additional statistics and metrics originally prepared + for one-way loss MAY also be applicable. + +6.1. Type-P-Round-trip-Loss-<Sample>-Ratio + + Given a Type-P-Round-trip-Loss-<Sample>-Stream, the average of + all the logical values, L, in the stream is the + Type-P-Round-trip-Loss-<Sample>-Ratio. This ratio is in units of + lost packets per round-trip transmissions actually attempted. + + In addition, the Type-P-Round-trip-Loss-<Sample>-Ratio is undefined + if the sample is empty. + + + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 10] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + +7. Round-Trip Testing and One-Way Reporting + + This section raises considerations for results collected using a + round-trip measurement architecture, such as in TWAMP [RFC5357]. + + The sampling process for the reverse path (Dst->Src) is a conditional + process that depends on successful packet arrival at the Dst and + correct operation at the Dst to generate the reflected packet. + Therefore, the sampling process for the reverse path will be + significantly affected when appreciable loss occurs on the Src->Dst + path, making an attempt to assess the reverse path performance + invalid (for loss or possibly any metric). + + Further, the sampling times for the reverse path (Dst->Src) are a + random process that depends on the original sample times (TstampSrc), + the one-way delay for successful packet arrival at the Dst, and time + taken at the Dst to generate the reflected packet. Therefore, the + sampling process for the reverse path will be significantly affected + when appreciable delay variation occurs on the Src->Dst path, making + an attempt to assess the reverse path performance invalid (for loss + or possibly any metric). + + As discussed above in Section 5.4, packet reordering is always a + possibility. In addition to the severe delay variation that usually + accompanies it, reordering on the Src->Dst path will cause a + misalignment of sequence numbers applied at the Dst when compared to + the sender numbers. Measurement implementations MUST address this + possible outcome. + +8. Measurement Considerations and Calibration + + Prior to conducting this measurement, the participating hosts MUST be + configured to send and receive test packets of the chosen Type-P. + Standard measurement protocols are capable of this task [RFC5357], + but any reliable method is sufficient (e.g., if the issues with ICMP + discussed in Section 2.6 of [RFC2681] can be alleviated, and the + requirements of Sections 4.3 and 4.4 above are met, then ICMP could + be used). + + Two key features of the host that receives test packets and returns + them to the originating host are described in Section 4.2 of + [RFC5357]. Every received test packet MUST result in a responding + packet, and the response MUST be generated as quickly as possible. + This implies that interface buffers will be serviced promptly and + that buffer discards will be extremely rare. These features of the + + + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 11] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + + measurement equipment MUST be calibrated according to Section 3.7.3 + of [RFC2679] when operating under a representative measurement load + (as defined by the user). Both unexpected test packet discards, and + the systematic and random errors and uncertainties, MUST be recorded. + + We note that Section 4.2.1 of [RFC5357] specifies a method to collect + all four significant timestamps needed to describe a packet's round- + trip delay [RFC2681] and remove the processing time incurred at the + responding host. This information supports the measurement of the + corresponding one-way delays encountered on the round-trip path, + which can identify path asymmetry or unexpected processing time at + the responding host. + +9. Security Considerations + +9.1. Denial-of-Service Attacks + + This metric requires a stream of packets sent from one host (source) + to another host (destination) through intervening networks, and back. + This method could be abused for denial-of-service attacks directed at + the destination and/or the intervening network(s). + + Administrators of source, destination, and intervening network(s) + should establish bilateral or multilateral agreements regarding the + timing, size, and frequency of collection of sample metrics. Use of + this method in excess of the terms agreed upon by the participants + may be cause for immediate rejection or discard of packets, or other + escalation procedures as defined between the affected parties. + +9.2. User Data Confidentiality + + Active use of this method generates packets for a sample, rather than + taking samples based on user data, and does not threaten user data + confidentiality. Passive measurement must restrict attention to the + headers of interest. Since user payloads may be temporarily stored + for length analysis, suitable precautions MUST be taken to keep this + information safe and confidential. In most cases, a hashing function + will produce a value suitable for payload comparisons. + +9.3. Interference with the Metrics + + It may be possible to identify that a certain packet or stream of + packets is part of a sample. With that knowledge at the destination + and/or the intervening networks, it is possible to change the + processing of the packets (e.g., increasing or decreasing delay) in a + way that may distort the measured performance. It may also be + + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 12] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + + possible to generate additional packets that appear to be part of the + sample metric. These additional packets are likely to perturb the + results of the sample measurement. + + Authentication or encryption techniques, such as digital signatures, + MAY be used where appropriate to guard against injected traffic + attacks. [RFC5357] includes both authentication and encryption + features. + +10. IANA Considerations + + Metrics previously defined in the IETF were registered in the IANA + IPPM Metrics Registry; however, this process was discontinued when + the registry structure was found to be inadequate, and the registry + was declared obsolete [RFC6248]. + + Although the metrics in this document may be considered for some form + of registration in the future, no IANA action is requested at this + time. + +11. Acknowledgements + + The author thanks Tiziano Ionta for his careful review of this memo, + primarily resulting in the development of measurement considerations + using TWAMP [RFC5357] as an example method. The reviews of Adrian + Farrel and Benoit Claise also contributed to the clarity of the memo. + +12. References + +12.1. Normative References + + [RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate + Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997. + + [RFC2330] Paxson, V., Almes, G., Mahdavi, J., and M. Mathis, + "Framework for IP Performance Metrics", RFC 2330, + May 1998. + + [RFC2679] Almes, G., Kalidindi, S., and M. Zekauskas, "A One-way + Delay Metric for IPPM", RFC 2679, September 1999. + + [RFC2680] Almes, G., Kalidindi, S., and M. Zekauskas, "A One-way + Packet Loss Metric for IPPM", RFC 2680, September 1999. + + [RFC2681] Almes, G., Kalidindi, S., and M. Zekauskas, "A Round-trip + Delay Metric for IPPM", RFC 2681, September 1999. + + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 13] + +RFC 6673 Round-Trip Loss August 2012 + + + [RFC3393] Demichelis, C. and P. Chimento, "IP Packet Delay Variation + Metric for IP Performance Metrics (IPPM)", RFC 3393, + November 2002. + + [RFC3432] Raisanen, V., Grotefeld, G., and A. Morton, "Network + performance measurement with periodic streams", RFC 3432, + November 2002. + + [RFC4737] Morton, A., Ciavattone, L., Ramachandran, G., Shalunov, + S., and J. Perser, "Packet Reordering Metrics", RFC 4737, + November 2006. + + [RFC5357] Hedayat, K., Krzanowski, R., Morton, A., Yum, K., and J. + Babiarz, "A Two-Way Active Measurement Protocol (TWAMP)", + RFC 5357, October 2008. + +12.2. Informative References + + [RFC5481] Morton, A. and B. Claise, "Packet Delay Variation + Applicability Statement", RFC 5481, March 2009. + + [RFC6248] Morton, A., "RFC 4148 and the IP Performance Metrics + (IPPM) Registry of Metrics Are Obsolete", RFC 6248, + April 2011. + + [RFC6703] Morton, A., Ramachandran, G., and G. Maguluri, "Reporting + IP Network Performance Metrics: Different Points of View", + RFC 6703, August 2012. + +Author's Address + + Al Morton + AT&T Labs + 200 Laurel Avenue South + Middletown, NJ 07748 + USA + + Phone: +1 732 420 1571 + Fax: +1 732 368 1192 + EMail: acmorton@att.com + URI: http://home.comcast.net/~acmacm/ + + + + + + + + + + +Morton Standards Track [Page 14] + |