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Tmix on ProtoGENI
This page briefly describes the Tmix traffic generation system and how to use it on ProtoGENI nodes.
What is Tmix?
Tmix is an application for generating realistic network traffic for experiments. Using a trace of the TCP/IP headers from a production network link, Tmix is able to simulate statistically similar traffic in an experimental network.
Why is Traffic Generation Important?
The performance of the Internet depends largely on the Internet protocols. Changes to existing protocols and new Internet protocols are constantly being proposed and implemented as the Internet continues to evolve. These new protocols must be tested and proven before they can be deployed on the Internet. Experimentation, via software simulation or hardware emulation, has been the primary means for evaluating protocols. Generating realistic synthetic Internet traffic is a major component of creating effective experiments, and effective experiments will enable the continued improvement of Internet protocols.
How does Tmix work?
The Tmix system takes as input a TCP/IP packet header trace captured from a network link of interest. This trace is then compiled into a set of connection vectors, each of which represent a TCP connection of the trace, including the relative start time of the connection. Each connection vector is further divided into epochs, which represent the individual request/response interactions and wait times within the connections. At run-time Tmix uses this information to initiate TCP connections for each connection vector at the appropriate times. Both sides of these TCP connections are then controlled to read and write the correct amount of data to/from their sockets, and then sleep before continuing to simulate the next epoch. The image to the right shows the entire process from the input of a header trace to the output of a header trace collected from the traffic simulated by Tmix. Comparing the input header trace with the synthetic header trace reveals that the generated traffic is statistically similar to that observed on the real link.
Where can I find more details about Tmix?
Click here to read more about the details of Tmix.
How do I use Tmix??
Click here? to see step by step tutorial for running Tmix on two ProtoGENI nodes.
Are there any sample experiments?
Yes! Click here to see some sample Tmix Experiments.