Active Network Based Congestion Control Implemented in IXP 2400 Network Processor

Active networks provide the flexibility for the application programs to modify the services that a router can provide to suit its specific needs. Therefore, it has the potential to provide application-level Quality of Service (QoS) at the transport and network layers. Every application requires guarantee of its own QoS in the network. These guarantees are typically measured in the form of bandwidth, the maximum packet loss ratio, the maximum end to end packet delay and the maximum packet delay variation (jitter), etc. In this paper, the authors address the problem of congestion control and QoS support using network processors. QoS protocols should be dynamically or adaptively developed to tailor the specific requirements of applications.