Performace comparison

8 Performace comparison

8.1 Comparison of encoder/decoders

The Megaco/H.248 standard defines both a plain text encoding and a binary encoding (ASN.1 BER) and we have implemented encoders and decoders for both. We do supply a bunch of different encoding/decoding modules and the user may in fact implement their own (like our erl_dist module). Using a non-standard encoding format has its obvious drawbacks, but may be useful in some configurations.

We have made four different measurements of our Erlang/OTP implementation of the Megaco/H.248 protocol stack, in order to compare our different encoders/decoders. The result of each one is summarized in a line chart:

8.1.1 Encoded message size in bytes

Encoded message size in bytes

8.1.2 Encode time in micro seconds

Encode time in micro seconds

8.1.3 Decode time in micro seconds

Decode time in micro seconds

8.1.4 Sum of encode and decode time in micro seconds

Sum of encode and decode time in micro seconds

8.2 Description of encoders/decoders

In Appendix A of the Megaco/H.248 specification (RFC 3525), there are about 30 messages that shows a representative call flow. We have also added a few extra version 1, version2 and version3 messages. We have used these messages as basis for our measurements. The numbers within parentheses are the plain average values. Our figures have not been weighted in regard to how frequent the different kinds of messages that are sent between the media gateway and its controller.

The test compares the following encoder/decoders:

pretty - pretty printed text. In the text encoding, the protocol stack implementors have the choice of using a mix of short and long keywords. It is also possible to add white spaces to improve readability. The pretty text encoding utilizes long keywords and an indentation style like the text examples in the Megaco/H.248 specification.
compact - the compact text encoding uses the shortest possible keywords and no optional white spaces.
ber - ASN.1 BER.
per - ASN.1 PER. Not standardized as a valid Megaco/H.248 encoding, but included for the matter of completeness as its encoding is extremely compact.
erl_dist - Erlang's native distribution format. Not standardized as a valid Megaco/H.248 encoding, but included as a reference due to its well known performance characteristics. Erlang is a dynamically typed language and any Erlang data structure may be serialized to the erl_dist format by using predefined built-in functions.

The actual encoded messages have been collected in one directory per encoding type, containing one file per encoded message.

Here follows an example of a text message to give a feeling of the difference between the pretty and compact versions of text messages. First the pretty printed, well indented version with long keywords:

MEGACO/1 [124.124.124.222] 
  Transaction = 9998 { 
    Context = - { 
      ServiceChange = ROOT { 
        Services { 
          Method = Restart, 
          ServiceChangeAddress = 55555, 
          Profile = ResGW/1, 
          Reason = "901 MG Cold Boot"
        }
      }  
    }
  }

Then the compact text version without indentation and with short keywords:

!/1 [124.124.124.222] T=9998{
  C=-{SC=ROOT{SV{MT=RS,AD=55555,PF=ResGW/1,RE="901 MG Cold Boot"}}}}

8.3 Setup

The measurements has been performed on a HP workstation xw6000 with an Intel Xeon 2.8 GHz, 1 GB memory running Fedora Core 4 (FC4), kernel 2.6.14. Software versions was the open source OTP R10B-10 updated with megaco-3.4.

8.4 Complete measurement result

This chapter details the effects of the possible encoding configurations for every codec. The result above are the fastest of these configurations for each codec. The figures presented are the average of all used messages.

*Codec performance*
Codec and config	Size	Encode	Decode	Total
pretty	355	47	197	244
pretty [flex]	355	47	101	148
compact	192	42	163	205
compact [flex]	192	42	95	137
per bin	96	146	151	297
per bin [driver]	96	91	143	233
per bin [native]	96	110	116	226
per bin [driver,native]	96	55	108	163
ber bin	174	85	121	206
ber bin [driver]	174	85	78	163
ber bin [native]	174	49	87	136
ber bin [driver,native]	174	49	44	93
erl_dist	919	11	14	24
erl_dist [megaco_compressed]	364	13	12	26
erl_dist [compressed]	357	193	46	238
erl_dist [megaco_compressed,compressed]	194	162	29	191

8.5 Summary

In our measurements we have seen that there are no significant differences in message sizes between ASN.1 BER and the compact text format. Some care should be taken when using the pretty text style (which is used in all the examples included in the protocol specification and preferred during debugging sessions) since the messages can then be quite large. If the message size really is a serious issue, our per encoder should be used, as the ASN.1 PER format is much more compact than all the other alternatives. Its major drawback is that it is has not been approved as a valid Megaco/H.248 message encoding.

When it comes to pure encode/decode performance, it turns out that our fastest text encoder (compact) is about 14% faster than our fastest binary encoder (ber). For decode the fastest binary decoder (ber) is 52% better then our fastest text (compact). Please, observe that these performance figures are related to our implementation in Erlang/OTP. Measurements of other implementations using other tools and techniques may of course result in other figures. If the pure encode/decode performance really is a serious issue, our erl_dist encoder should be used, as the encoding/decoding of the erlang distribution format is much faster than all the other alternatives. Its major drawback is that it is has not been approved as a valid Megaco/H.248 message encoding.