A DualPI2 Module for Mahimahi: Behavioral Characterization and Cross-Platform Analysis
Abstract
Low Latency, Low Loss, and Scalable Throughput (L4S) is an emerging paradigm for latency control based on DualPI2 active queue management and scalable congestion control. While a Linux kernel implementation of DualPI2 is available, controlled and reproducible experimentation on L4S mechanisms can be facilitated by a modular, user-space alternative. In this paper, we present a DualPI2 module for the Mahimahi network emulator, designed to support extensible, component-level experimentation without kernel modification. We conduct a statistical behavioral characterization of the Mahimahi implementation by examining key metrics across diverse traffic patterns and network conditions, using the Linux kernel implementation as a reference baseline. Our analysis shows that behavioral alignment across execution environments is not automatic: identical DualPI2 parameterization does not guarantee identical dynamics. Instead, key control parameters exhibit environment-dependent sensitivity, leading to regime-dependent discrepancies across bandwidth-delay product (BDP) conditions. Through targeted parameter exploration, we identify configurations that improve cross-platform alignment in low BDP regimes, while revealing structural differences that persist under higher load. This work provides both a practical tool for experimental L4S research and empirical insight into cross-platform behavioral differences, highlighting the importance of systematic characterization and environment-aware parameter selection in emulation-based AQM studies.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2603.04381,
title = {A DualPI2 Module for Mahimahi: Behavioral Characterization and Cross-Platform Analysis},
author = {Nawel Alioua and Linghe Zhang and Aneesh Garg and Francis Y. Yan and Elizabeth Belding},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.04381},
year = {2026}
}