Performance characteristics of the stable carrier sense multiple access protocols

Known results on stabilization of the infinite population, slotted, nonpersistent CSMA (carrier sense multiple access) and CSMA/CD (carrier sense multiple access with collision detection) protocols for packet broadcast channels are reviewed and summarized. Using these results, performance characteristics of the stabilized protocols are determined, the focus being on stability tradeoffs, throughput maximization, and delay vs. throughput as a function of channel and retransmission control parameters. It is found that both protocols are robust, i.e., remain stable, in the presence of large variations in these parameters. The effect is particularly dramatic for CSMA/CD.