Software Product Description PRODUCT NAME: Compaq SCTP Version 1.0 SPD 34.19.11 DESCRIPTION SCTP, Stream Control Transmission Protocol, is a new transport protocol that provides a reliable service to ensure data is transported across the network without error and in sequence. Using connection-oriented principles, SCTP creates an association between the endpoints of an SCTP session prior to data being transmitted. The association is maintained until all data transmission has been successfully completed. These functions have been defined to provide transport benefits for applications requiring additional performance and reliability. By virtue of its extensive scope, SCTP could be the next generation full-purpose transport protocol. Compaq SCTP is a communication software product that implements the SCTP protocol. Compaq SCTP is compliant with the IETF document referenced RFC 2960. Compaq SCTP allows Compaq Tru64 UNIX Alpha system-based applications to exchange information according to the SCTP protocol specified in RFC 2960. Compaq SCTP provides a reliable transport protocol that operates on top of the IP layer offering acknowledged, error-free, non-duplicated data transfers with: * Multi-homing for network-level fault tolerance * Multi-streaming for sequenced message delivery * Message bundling into a single packet * Data fragmentation * Resistance to flooding and masquerade attacks. Environment Compaq SCTP provides a "socket-like" API, as described in draft-stewart-sctpsocket-sigtran-02 (SCTP Socket Mapping) document (superceded by draft-ietf-tsvwg-sctpsocket-01 (Sockets API Extension for SCTP)). The socket API allows programming in a TCP-style or UDP-style. Components Compaq SCTP implements the following SCTP functions: Data and Message Fragmentation Compaq SCTP fragments large user messages to ensure that packets passed to the lower layer satisfy the path MTU. Upon receipt, fragments are reassembled into complete messages and passed to the application. Data fragmentation is performed according to the discovered Path MTU. Path MTU Discovery The Path MTU variable influences congestion control, where the Path MTU Discovery function estimates the MTU for each path that has IP destination addresses. Path MTU Discovery is handled the same way as in TCP. In addition, Compaq SCTP calculates MTU estimates that take into account destination addresses, retransmission of IP datagrams and IP message fragmentation. Flow Control and Retransmission Compaq SCTP uses an end-to-end flow and congestion control mechanism to define a Receiver Window that governs the rate at which a sender can send, and a Congestion Window to control the number of bytes that can be sent before being acknowledged. Heartbeat Compaq SCTP uses a Heartbeat manager to continuously monitor the active/inactive status of all transmission paths in an association. Bundling and Unbundling Bundling in Compaq SCTP is simply a form of data multiplexing. Where a sender bundles more than one user message into a packet, which is then disassembled by the receiver. Selective Acknowledgement (SACK) Data exchange with Compaq SCTP follows the Selective ACK (SACK) procedure as used in TCP. The receipt of DATA chunks is acknowledged by sending SACK chunks, which indicate not only the cumulative Transmission Sequence Number (TSN) range received, but also any non-cumulative TSNs, implying gaps in the received TSN sequence. The SACKs are sent using the "delayed ack" method, normally one SACK per every other received packet, but with an upper limit on the delay between SACKs. Multi-homing Compaq SCTP supports Multi-homing, which allows a single SCTP endpoint to support multiple IP addresses through the binding of multiple names to a socket. This feature significantly increases the chances of a session surviving in the event of network failure. Multi-streaming Compaq SCTP supports multi-streaming, which allows data to be partitioned into multiple streams that have the property of being delivered and sequenced independently. This means that message loss in any of the streams will only affect delivery within that stream, and not in other streams. IP Addressing Only IPv4 addresses are supported. Multi-threading The product is multi-threaded safe. Management Compaq SCTP provides a means to monitor the behavior of an application that is using the Compaq SCTP API. The user connects to the Compaq SCTP daemon through a Telnet session and issues commands to display the current stack characteristics and counters. Application Programming Interfaces (API) The Compaq SCTP product is available on Tru64 UNIX V5.1A operating system. The API can be called using C or C++ programming languages on Tru64 UNIX. Performance Compaq SCTP can handle, in a single SCTP association, a throughput of 1000 Kbytes/second on a dedicated 100 Base T Ethernet card. Compaq SCTP can handle 64 simultaneous SCTP associations. Full details on the performance of Compaq SCTP are available from the SCTP group of the Tele-communications Protocol Unit through your local Compaq office. Clustering Compaq SCTP can be configured for operations on member nodes that also form part of a cluster, as determined by the configuration of the operating system. Full details on clustering are available from the SCTP group of the Telecommunications Protocol Unit through your local Compaq office. STANDARDS Compaq SCTP is compliant with the Stream Control Transmission Protocol document, referenced as RFC 2960 by the IETF. For a full definition of compliance to standards consult the relevant statement of compliance document available from your local Compaq office. INSTALLATION Compaq SCTP uses standard Tru64 UNIX V5.1A installation commands. SUPPORTED HARDWARE Combinations of hardware options are subject to limitations, such as bandwidth, physical configuration constraints, and electrical load and power supply. Compaq reserves the right to change the number and type of devices supported by Compaq SCTP. The minimum hardware requirements for future versions and updates of Compaq SCTP may be different from current requirements. Compaq SCTP is supported on Alpha system products from Compaq Computer Corporation: Processors supported: Alpha system products from Compaq: * Compaq AlphaServer DS10-EV6 * Compaq AlphaServer DS20-EV6, DS20E-EV6 * Compaq AlphaServer ES40-EV6 * Compaq AlphaServer ES45-EV67. MEMORY REQUIREMENTS Compaq SCTP requires 256 Mbytes of memory. GROWTH CONSIDERATIONS The minimum requirements for any future version of this product may be different from the requirements for the current version. SOFTWARE WARRANTY This software is provided by Compaq with a 90-day conformance warranty in accordance with the warranty terms applicable to the license purchase. SOFTWARE LICENSING FLEXlm is used to handle licensing. Compaq SCTP V1.0 license QM-6SWAA-AA SCTP U/A 1 CPU LIC V1.0 Note: The part numbers shown are valid at time of release. Please contact your local Compaq office for the most up-to-date information. To use Compaq SCTP you must have the appropriate license. The license file is located in: * /usr/var/sctp/licenses/license.dat on UNIX Alpha systems Note: The part numbers shown are valid at time of release. Please contact your local Compaq office for the most up-to-date information. SOFTWARE PRODUCT SERVICES Consulting and training services relating to this product, and services for implementing particular customer-specific variants to the standard product are available. A variety of service options are available from Compaq. For more information, contact your local Compaq office or look up the IN7 web site at: www.compaq.com/products/software/in7/ The above information is valid at the time of release. Please contact your local Compaq office for the most up-to-date information. (r) COMPAQ, the Compaq logo, the Digital logo, AlphaServer, AlphaStation, ProLiant, DECnet, and DECss7 are Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (tm) Tru64 UNIX, OpenVMS, IN7, and TeMIP are trademarks of Compaq Computer Corporation. (r) UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Ltd. (r) X/Open is a registered trademark of X/OpenCompany, Ltd. Other product names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective companies. This product uses parts of the iMatix SFL, Copyright (c) 1991-2000 iMatix Corporation . (c)2001 Compaq Computer Corporation. 2 1 August 2001 AE-PHT53-TE June 2001 AE-PHT5I-TE 3