Context-aware TCP/IP

Abstract-This paper discusses the design and evaluation of CATNIP, a ContextAware Transport/Network Internet Protocol for the Web. This integrated protocol uses application-layer knowledge (i.e., Web document size) to provide explicit context information to the TCP and IP protocols. While this approach violates the traditional layered Internet protocol architecture, it enables informed decision-making, both at network endpoints and at network routers, regarding flow control, congestion control, and packet discard decisions. We evaluate the performance of the context-aware TCP/IP approach first using ns-2 network simulation, and then using WAN emulation to test a prototype implementation of CATNIP in the Linux kernel of an Apache Web server. The advantages of the CATNIP approach are particularly evident in a congested Internet with 1-10% packet loss. Simulation results indicate a 10-20% reduction in TCP packet loss using simple endpoint control mechanisms, with no adverse impact on Web ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2002
• Where: SIGMETRICS
• Authors: Carey L. Williamson, Qian Wu
• Keywords: CATNIP, Hardware, Page Retrieval Times, SIGMETRICS 2002, Web Page Retrieval