Bandwidth overhead of probe technology guaranteeing QoS in packet networks

IP and MPLS traffic engineering in multiservice packet networks depend on the accuracy of the performance monitoring capabilities that network operators and service providers also use to monitor and maintain their service level agreements. It is found that the feasibility of using active packet probing is highly dependent on the variability of the packet traffic characteristics, and the desired level of accuracy. Bursty traffic may require an unrealistically high number of probes, resulting in unacceptable bandwidth overheads even to provide an accurate estimate of mean packet delay.