Proposal and evaluation of ERICA switch algorithm as explicit rate mechanism in GFR backbones with ABR flow control

Abstract

The performance of a new guaranteed frame rate (GFR) service category implementation method is proposed and evaluated. This method implements GFR using an available bit rate (ABR) flow control mechanism, allocates virtual source/virtual destination (VS/VD) to edge switches, and uses explicit rate indication for congestion avoidance explicit rate (ERICA ER) marking mechanism at backbone switches. This proposal investigates the applicability of ERICA ER mechanism at backbone switches, when applied to the GFR service category implementing method using an ABR flow control mechanism. Allocating VS/VD to edges switches and ERICA mechanism to backbone switches allows one to apply ABR control up to the entrance of the GFR network environment, which results in effective bandwidth utilization at the network level. To evaluate the effectiveness of this implementation, the TCP throughput and the bandwidth sharing fairness with different TCP sources are also analyzed.