Protocols for Large Data Transfers over Local Networks

Protocols for transmitting large amounts of data over a local area network are analyzed. These protocols are different from most other forms of large-scale transfer protocols in three ways: the definition of the protocol requires the recipient to have sufficient buffers available to receive the data before the transfer takes place; it is assumed that the source and the destination machine are more or less matched in speed; and the protocol is implemented at the network interrupt level and therefore not slowed down by process scheduling delays. The results are based on measurements collected on SUN workstations connected to a 10-Mb Ethernet network using 3-Com interfaces. The derivation of the elapsed time in terms of the network packet error rate is based on the assumption of statistically independent errors