Exploring MultiPath TCP Through Discrete Event Simulation

Abstract

Global internet usage is rapidly becoming more mobile. Devices are, as a consequence, equipped with multiple network interfaces to meet the demand for mobility. With the emergence of 5G-technology, this trend will most likely continue. However, most internet traffic makes use of standard TCP. TCP does not allow a connection to span several interfaces, even though multiple network interfaces are available. MPTCP is a proposed protocol that enables the use of several interfaces. By distributing data through several paths, MPTCP aims at making internet usage more robust while providing higher throughput and multihoming features. In this thesis, we develop a discrete event simulator to simulate a network. Using this simulator, we analyze and evaluate the performance of MPTCP in various situations. Our findings show that MPTCP has several pitfalls and highlight possible mitigations