Performance analysis of high rate packet capture on multiprocessor platform

Abstract

With the continuous improvement of transmission rate, high speed network links require good performance of packet capture. The multiprocessor platform has strong computational capabilities, and brings new chance for high rate packet capture. In this paper, we analyze the performance of common packet capture approaches that are based on general-purpose multiprocessor platform. The analysis contains two aspects: one is the maximum packet capture rate and throughput on multiprocessor platform, the other is central processing unit (CPU) load under the maximum capture rate. By comparing and analyzing the experimental result, we give the maximum packet capture rate and throughput of different capture approaches. Furthermore, we analyze the CPU load which is produced by two capture processes run on the multiprocessor platform simultaneously and make a comparison with the single capture process.