Achieving High Throughput in Low Multiplexed , High Bandwidth , High Delay Environments

In this paper we explore combining ECN bits and loss feedback to achieve a high throughput connection in a high bandwidth, low multiplexed environment. In our scheme, a TCP source reacts differently on receiving an ECN than it does on infering a packet loss in terms of congestion window update. Coupled with an AQM scheme such as RED [FJ93], TCP sources achieve high utilization at a bottleneck router, but at the cost of fairness. We introduce a lightweight AQM mechanism that ensures fairness while still providing high utilization to the sources. Our proposal is complementary to the HSTCP [FRS02] modification suggested by Floyd et al. Simulations results indicate that we can achieve near 100% utilization even with a single source over gigabit links.