Use a smarter algorithm for choosing MTU discovery probe sizes.

Currently, tinc uses a naive algorithm for choosing MTU discovery probe
sizes, picking a size at random between minmtu and maxmtu.

This is of course suboptimal - since the behavior of probes is
deterministic (assuming no packet loss), it seems likely that using a
non-deterministic discovery algorithm will not yield the best results.
Furthermore, the randomness introduces a lot of variation in convergence
times.

The random solution also suffers from pathological cases - since it's
using a uniform distribution, it doesn't take into account the fact that
it's often more interesting to send small probes rather than large ones,
because getting replies is the only way we can make progress (assuming
the worst case scenario in which the OS doesn't know anything, therefore
keeping maxmtu constant). This can lead to absurd situations where the
discovery algorithm is close to the real MTU, but can't get to it
because the random number generator keeps generating numbers that are
past it.

The algorithm implemented in this patch aims to improve on the naive
random algorithm. It is organized around "cycles" of 8 probes; the sizes
of the probes decrease as we go through the cycle, thus making sure the
algorithm can cover lots of ground quickly (in case we're far from
actual MTU), but also examining the local area (in case we're close to
actual MTU). Using cycles ensures that the algorithm will "go back" to
large probes to better cover the new interval and to protect against
packet loss.

For the probe size itself, various mathematical models were simulated in
an attempt to find the one that converges the fastest; it has been
determined that using an exponential based on the size of the remaining
interval was the most effective option. The exponential is adjusted with
a magic multiplier fine-tuned to make tinc jump to the "most
interesting" (i.e. 1400+) section as soon as discovery starts.

Simulations indicate that assuming no packet loss and no help from the
OS (i.e. maxmtu stays constant), this algorithm will typically converge
to the *exact* MTU value in less than 10 probes, and will get within 8
bytes in less than 5 probes, for actual MTUs between 1417 and ~1450
(which is the range the algorithm is fine-tuned for). In contrast, the
previous algorithm gives results all over the place, sometimes taking
30+ probes to get in the ballpark. Because of the issues with the
distribution, the previous algorithm sometimes never gets to the precise
MTU value within any reasonable amount of time - in contrast, the new
algorithm will always get to the precise value in less than 30 probes,
even if the actual MTU is completely outside the optimized range.

diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 52f38e4..ea53ea2 100644 (file)
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ endif
 tinc_LDADD = $(READLINE_LIBS) $(CURSES_LIBS)
 sptps_speed_LDADD = -lrt
 
-LIBS = @LIBS@
+LIBS = @LIBS@ -lm
 
 if TUNEMU
 LIBS += -lpcap

diff --git a/src/have.h b/src/have.h
index 85479f7..80f405e 100644 (file)
--- a/src/have.h
+++ b/src/have.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <limits.h>
+#include <math.h>
 
 #ifdef HAVE_MINGW
 #include <w32api.h>

diff --git a/src/net_packet.c b/src/net_packet.c
index 828e193..2f15bb4 100644 (file)
--- a/src/net_packet.c
+++ b/src/net_packet.c
@@ -922,13 +922,30 @@ static void try_mtu(node_t *n) {
                if(n->maxmtu + 8 < MTU)
                        send_udp_probe_packet(n, n->maxmtu + 8);
        } else {
-               /* Probes are sent with random sizes between the
-                  lower and upper boundaries for the MTU thus far discovered. */
-               int len = n->maxmtu;
-               if(n->minmtu < n->maxmtu)
-                       len = n->minmtu + 1 + rand() % (n->maxmtu - n->minmtu);
-               send_udp_probe_packet(n, MAX(len, 64));
-
+               /* Decreasing the number of probes per cycle might make the algorithm react faster to lost packets,
+                  but it will typically increase convergence time in the no-loss case. */
+               const length_t probes_per_cycle = 8;
+
+               /* This magic value was determined using math simulations.
+                  It will result in a 1339-byte first probe, followed (if there was a reply) by a 1417-byte probe.
+                  Since 1417 is just below the range of tinc MTUs over typical networks,
+                  this fine-tuning allows tinc to cover a lot of ground very quickly. */
+               const float multiplier = 0.982;
+
+               const float cycle_position = probes_per_cycle - (n->mtuprobes % probes_per_cycle) - 1;
+               const length_t minmtu = MAX(n->minmtu, 64);
+               const float interval = n->maxmtu - minmtu;
+
+               /* The core of the discovery algorithm is this exponential.
+                  It produces very large probes early in the cycle, and then it very quickly decreases the probe size.
+                  This reflects the fact that in the most difficult cases, we don't get any feedback for probes that
+                  are too large, and therefore we need to concentrate on small offsets so that we can quickly converge
+                  on the precise MTU as we are approaching it.
+                  The last probe of the cycle is always 1 byte in size - this is to make sure we'll get at least one
+                  reply per cycle so that we can make progress. */
+               const length_t offset = powf(interval, multiplier * cycle_position / (probes_per_cycle - 1));
+
+               send_udp_probe_packet(n, minmtu + offset);
                if(n->mtuprobes >= 0)
                        n->mtuprobes++;
        }