A Geometric Approach to Improve Active Packet Loss Management

Active probing is a widely used technique for measuring packet loss in IP networks. Traditional probing methods, such as those using Poisson-modulated probe streams, provide a limited view of the dynamics of packet loss episodes, often failing to accurately capture their frequency, duration, and correlation structure. In this paper, we introduce a new geometric approach to probing that addresses these limitations. We propose a methodology that uses geometrically distributed probe gaps to better sample the underlying loss process. We present a prototype tool, BADABING, which implements our methodology and demonstrate through empirical evaluation that it significantly improves measurement accuracy compared to existing tools. Our approach also reduces the number of probes needed to achieve accurate measurements, offering a more efficient and scalable solution for active packet loss monitoring.