> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Michael Schwarz)
> Subject: Re: VC vs. DG modes
> Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 13:15:13 -0600 (CST)
> [...]
> Now, as for Linux specifically, one element of ICMP that very few
> protocol stacks I have directly studied (and Iplease note I have yet
> to delve into Linux kernel code -- I'm sure many here have) pay
> any attention to is ICMP source quench messages. Perhaps by making
> use of this feature we can distinguish between congestion and
> packet loss? ICMP Source Quench could be used to go immediately
> to a slow start, while packet loss could perhaps follow the more
> traditional linear back off?
> [...]
ICMP source quench is generally believed to not work very well, although
I don't have a good reference handy.
One of the best sources of information about Internet congestion
control is Sally Floyd's home page:
http://www-nrg.ee.lbl.gov/floyd/
Of particular interest may be her work on explicit congestion notification
(ECN):
http://www-nrg.ee.lbl.gov/floyd/ecn.html
ECN tries to provide TCP better feedback about congestion than merely
dropping packets, (or source quench). (You should probably look at the
random early detection (RED) stuff as well.)
All of this assumes a certain level of understanding of the Internet
protocols. It doesn't sound like you need it, but my standard
recommendation is Volume 1 of Doug Comer's book.
-tjs
