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+---
+bookToc: false
+title: "MLRsearch"
+weight: 2
+---
+
+# MLRsearch
+
+## Overview
+
+Multiple Loss Ratio search (MLRsearch) tests use an optimized search algorithm
+implemented in FD.io CSIT project. MLRsearch discovers any number of
+loss ratio loads in a single search.
+
+Two loss ratio goals are of interest in FD.io CSIT, leading to Non-Drop Rate
+(NDR, loss ratio goal is exact zero) and Partial Drop Rate
+(PDR, non-zero loss ratio goal, currently 0.5%).
+
+MLRsearch discovers all the loads in a single pass, reducing required time
+duration compared to separate `binary search`es[^1] for each rate. Overall
+search time is reduced even further by relying on shorter trial
+durations of intermediate steps, with only the final measurements
+conducted at the specified final trial duration. This results in the
+shorter overall execution time when compared to standard NDR/PDR binary
+search, while guaranteeing similar results.
+
+.. Note:: All throughput rates are *always* bi-directional
+   aggregates of two equal (symmetric) uni-directional packet rates
+   received and reported by an external traffic generator,
+   unless the test specifically requires unidirectional traffic.
+
+## Search Implementation
+
+Detailed description of the MLRsearch algorithm is included in the IETF
+draft
+[draft-ietf-bmwg-mlrsearch-02](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-bmwg-mlrsearch-02)
+that is in the process of being standardized in the IETF Benchmarking
+Methodology Working Group (BMWG).
+(Newer version is published in IETF, describing improvements not yet used
+in CSIT production.)
+
+MLRsearch is also available as a
+[PyPI (Python Package Index) library](https://pypi.org/project/MLRsearch/).
+
+## Algorithm highlights
+
+MRR and receive rate at MRR load are used as initial guesses for the search.
+
+All previously measured trials (except the very first one which can act
+as a warm-up) are taken into consideration, unless superseded
+by a trial at the same load but higher duration.
+
+For every loss ratio goal, tightest upper and lower bound
+(from results of large enough trial duration) form an interval.
+Exit condition is given by that interval reaching low enough relative width.
+Small enough width is achieved by bisecting the current interval.
+The bisection can be uneven, to save measurements based on information theory.
+
+Switching to higher trial duration generally requires a re-measure
+at a load from previous trial duration.
+When the re-measurement does not confirm previous bound classification
+(e.g. tightest lower bound at shorter trial duration becomes
+a newest tightest upper bound upon re-measurement),
+external search is used to find close enough bound of the lost type.
+External search is a generalization of the first stage of
+`exponential search`[^2].
+
+Shorter trial durations use double width goal,
+because one bisection is always safe before risking external search.
+
+Within an iteration for a specific trial duration, smaller loss ratios (NDR)
+are narrowed down first before search continues with higher loss ratios (PDR).
+
+Other heuristics are there, aimed to prevent unneccessarily narrow intervals,
+and to handle corner cases around min and max load.
+
+## Deviations from RFC 2544
+
+CSIT does not have any explicit wait times before and after trial traffic.
+
+Small differences between intended and offered load are tolerated,
+mainly due to various time overheads preventing precise measurement
+of the traffic duration (and TRex can sometimes suffer from duration
+stretching).
+
+The final trial duration is only 30s (10s for reconf tests).
+
+[^1]: [binary search](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_search)
+[^2]: [exponential search](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_search)