Precision and Accuracy of Network Traffic Generators for Packet-by-Packet Traffic Analysis

Network traffic generators allow video and audio streams to be modelled. 'Bursty' traffic patterns imply packet-by-packet rather than time-averaged analysis to determine the impact on network routers. Due to computer operating system time event scheduling dependencies, the ability to generate accurate packet delivery is compromised. A real-time operating system on an x86 commodity machine is shown to result in greater accuracy and range, but with some loss in precision outside its operating range, compared to a general-purpose Linux kernel. The use of test traffic patterns is widespread in network performance testing and network simulation. Traffic patterns are employed to examine networks and applications in controlled environments.