RFC 3222 (rfc3222) - Page 2 of 15


Terminology for Forwarding Information Base (FIB) based Router Performance



Alternative Format: Original Text Document



RFC 3222              FIB based Router Performance         December 2001


Table of Contents

   1. Introduction.................................................... 2
   2. Overview........................................................ 3
   3. Existing Definitions............................................ 3
   4. Definition Format............................................... 3
   5. Definitions - parameters........................................ 4
   5.1 Network Prefix................................................. 4
   5.2 Network Prefix Length.......................................... 4
   5.3 Forwarding Information Base (FIB).............................. 5
   5.4 Forwarding Information Base Entry.............................. 6
   5.5 Forwarding Information Base Size............................... 6
   5.6 Longest Length Prefix Match Algorithm.......................... 7
   5.7 Forwarding Information Base Prefix Distribution................ 7
   5.8 Per-Interface or Per-Card Forwarding Information Base.......... 8
   5.9 Per-Interface Forwarding Information Base Cache................ 9
   5.10 Route Aggregation............................................ 10
   6. Definitions - metrics.......................................... 10
   6.1 Maximum Forwarding Information Base Size...................... 11
   6.2 Forwarding Information Base Learning Time..................... 11
   6.3 Forwarding Information Base-dependent Throughput.............. 12
   6.4 Forwarding Information Base-dependent Latency................. 12
   6.5 Forwarding Information Base-dependent Frame Loss Rate......... 13
   7. Security Considerations........................................ 13
   8. References..................................................... 13
   9. Author's Address............................................... 14
   10. Full Copyright Statement...................................... 15

1. Introduction

   This document defines terms that are to be used in a methodology that
   determines the IP packet forwarding performance of IP routers as a
   function of the forwarding information base installed within the
   router.

   The objective of this methodology is to evaluate the performance
   levels of IP routers as forwarding information bases continue to grow
   in size and complexity of structure.

   This methodology utilizes the packet forwarding performance
   measurements described in [2]; reference will also be made to the
   associated terminology document [3] for these terms.









Trotter                      Informational