How Bad is TCP and What Are the Alternatives - Analysis of Network Protocol Performance

Explore a technical conference presentation from the Storage Developer Conference 2023 that delves into the challenges and limitations of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) while examining potential alternatives for modern networking needs. Learn about the significant drawbacks of TCP, including unpredictable tail latencies and computational overhead, through comprehensive benchmark results from network simulations and Linux kernel implementations. Discover Homa, a promising alternative developed at Stanford University, which offers a message-based, connectionless approach better suited for contemporary distributed, microserviced architectures. Gain insights into quantitative analysis of network performance metrics, understanding of Quad-RP (Rapid, Reliable Request-Response Protocol), and explore potential implementations in ASIC and FPGA for energy-efficient, deterministic networking. Master the concepts of tail latencies in TCP, computational burdens of protocol processing, and learn how modern alternatives like Homa can provide significant advantages in real-life networks, particularly for networked storage applications.