Comparison Study of Transmission Control Protocol and User Datagram Protocol Behavior over Multi-Protocol Label Switching Networks in Case of Failures

Zuriati Ahmad Zukarnain,Taha Ahmed Al-Radaei

doi:10.3844/jcssp.2009.1042.1047

Abstract

Problem statement: In only a few years, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) has evolved from an exotic technology to a mainstream tool used by service providers to create revenue-generating services. MPLS provides a high reliable Label Switched Path (LSP). MPLS failures may degrade the reliability of the MPLS networks. Approach: For that reason, many studies have been conducted to keep the high reliability and survivability of the MPLS networks. Unlike User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Transmission Control Protocol does not perform well in case of like-failure of MPLS networks because of its inability to distinguish packet loss due to link-failure. After the recovery time, TCP takes longer time than UDP to continue as it was before the failure. Results: In terms of packet loss, TCP performs better than UDP. However, the receiving rate of the TCP traffic is much worse than UDP traffic. A need for a mechanism to improve the behavior of TCP after a link failure is needed. This study focused on comparing the behavior of different types TCP as well as UDP traffic over MPLS networks in case of link, node or congestion failures. Conclusion: Although extensions of RSVP-TE protocol support fast recovery mechanism of MPLS networks, the behavior of TCP will be affected during recovery time much more than with UDP.

Highlights

As needs for the speed and quality of service grow to carry more traffic, it is essential to maintain a high level of performance and efficiency
In this study we focused on comparing the behavior of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) traffic over Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) in case of any failure and what are the parameters that effect the recovery time
Simulation results show that the high reliability of MPLS networks can survivability may degrade because of only one link or node failure in the network

Summary

Introduction

As needs for the speed and quality of service grow to carry more traffic, it is essential to maintain a high level of performance and efficiency. Traffic engineering is the process of optimization of the network to maximize performance and efficiency. An MPLS network consists of two domains known as a Label Edge Routers (LERs) domain and Label Switching Routers (LSRs). A mish unidirectional tunnels, known as Label Switched Paths (LSPs) is built between the LERs and LSRs in order that a packet entering the network at the ingress LER can be transported to appropriate egress LER. Forwarding mechanism of the packets in the MPLS is carried based on fixed size labels, the path that packets traverse is pre-established according to required constraints. The path the packet traverses is called Label Switch Path (LSP). Regarding to the label distribution there are two protocols used for this propose called Label Distribution Path (LDP) and Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP)

Methods

Results

Conclusion