[netperf-talk] Beginner questions about netperf

[George Valzcig]

Hello,
I am a novice at networking - trying to use netperf to understand the basics
of networking. I have a few questions about netperf.

1) The _RR tests are implemented.

In TCP_RR (if my understanding of TCP is right), when a message is sent on
the data socket, it will ultimately be received by the netserver on the
remote end. It may take either one or many recvs() to get the complete
message - which is why the recv() spins in a loop till the expected number
of bytes is got. Then the netserver send a response to the netperf client.
So there is a one-one relation between every sent message from the netperf
client and every completely received message at the netserver server.

In UDP_RR, lets say a message was sent - but it failed to reach the server
end. The netperf client will not know this. In theis case, wont the server
be waiting for-ever without sending the response(as it cannot send a
response without receiving the lost message) - which in turn will dead-lock
the netperf client (as the client cannot go to the next send without
receiving the response)?

2) What is the reason for dirtying the send and recv buffers (in
access_buffer()) - is it to simulate "using" the data that is being sent and
received - like a real application?

I humbly apologize if any of these questions have already been psted on the
list - that brings me to my third question

3) Reading past archives
Is there a way to read the past archives without searching through every
gzip'd file.

Thank you,
George
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