Integrating Active Methods and Flow Meters - An Implementation Using NeTraMet

purpose of this paper is to present an implementation of a method that combines active and passive methods to measure and estimate the main performance parameters in IP networks. More specifically the method integrates performance and flow measurements. The main features of the method and an implementation using the flow meter NeTraMet are described. Test results for packet delays and delay variations, losses and throughput are presented. Applications to monitoring of traffic from server-based networks and an adaptive monitoring system are also considered. I. INTRODUCTION There are a number of good reasons for operators of IP networks to measure and verify the actual level of performance in their networks. In addition to traditional areas such as daily operations, usage information for billing purposes, customer reports, planning and dimensioning, the ambition to offer services with different quality assurances to customers makes measurement even more important. We present an implementation of a method that combines the traditional ingredients in passive and active methods into a synthesis with new characteristics and possibilities. This combined approach is realised as an enhancement of the network traffic flow meter NeTraMet. The paper is organised as follows. After a short background in section II, the monitoring method and the NeTraMet implementation are briefly presented in sections III and IV. Test results are evaluated in section V. Applications to virtual private networks and server networks, and NeTraMet as component in an adaptive monitoring system are considered in section VI. Tables and figures are assembled in two appendices.