Transport protocol processing at GBPS rates

ABSTRACT

This paper proposes an architecture for accomplishing transport protocol processing at Gbps rates. The limitations of currently used transport protocols have been analyzed extensively in recent literature. Several benchmark studies have established the achievable throughput of ISO TP4 and TCP to be in the low Mbps range; several new protocols and implementation techniques have been proposed to achieve 100 Mbps and higher throughput rates. We briefly review some of these protocols and establish the need for a radically different approach to meet our objective. An estimate of the aggregate processing power required for Gbps throughput is developed. It is proposed that a cost effective and practical solution to the processing requirements could be based on a multi-processor system. The opportunities for parallel processing in a typical transport protocol are examined. Several alternate parallel processing approaches are examined and arguments are advanced for selecting a favored approach. A corresponding parallel processing architecture is described. Data structures used to preserve packet ordering and techniques for reducing contention in a multi-processing environment are discussed. An implementation methodology for conventional transport protocols (e.g. TP4) is outlined. Some suggestions are made for improving efficiency by making modifications to the protocol that do not compromise functionality. The performance achievable with this modified architecture is analyzed and some suggestions for further work are presented.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.2 Network Protocols
          Subjects: Protocol architecture (OSI model)

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.1 PROCESSOR ARCHITECTURES
      C.1.2 Multiple Data Stream Architectures (Multiprocessors)
          Subjects: Parallel processors**
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.1 Network Architecture and Design
          Subjects: Packet-switching networks

General Terms:
Design, Performance