Do you know what you are generating?

Software-based traffic generators are commonly used in experimental research on computer networks. However, there are no much studies focusing on how such instruments are accurate. Here we start a discussion reviewing the problem of using software-based traffic generators over common hardware/software, highlighting interesting issues that pose some threats to common beliefs. We started comparing the operator-requested traffic profile against the real behavior of commonly used software-based traffic generators. We aim at performing tests under different conditions and looking both at packet/bit rate and inter-packet time distribution. Preliminary results show notable differences in some cases, opening the way to interesting discussions and further investigations. Categories and Subject Descriptors C.4 [Performance of Systems]: Miscellaneous Keywords Measurement, Traffic Generation

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: CONEXT
• Authors: Alberto Dainotti, Alessio Botta, Antonio Pescapè
• Keywords: Computer Networks, CONEXT 2007, Operator-requested Traffic Profile, Software-based Traffic Generators, Traffic Generation