Analyzing router performance using network calculus with external measurements

In this paper we present results from an extensive measurement study of various hardware and (virtualized) software routers using several queueing strategies, i.e. First-Come-First-Served and Fair Queueing. In addition to well-known metrics such as packet forwarding performance, per packet processing time, and jitter, we apply network calculus models for performance analysis. This includes the Guaranteed Rate model for Integrated Services as well as the Packet Scale Rate Guarantee model for Differentiated Services. Using a measurement approach that provides a means to estimate rate and error term of a real node, we propose an interpretation of router performance based on these parameters taking packet queueing and scheduling into account. Such estimated parameters should be used to make the analysis of real networks more accurate. We underpin the applicability of this approach by comparing analytical results of concatenated routers to real world measurements.