Analysis and Evaluation of Layer 2 Assisted Fast Mobile IPv6 Handovers in a WLAN Environment

Abstract

While handover management has been traditionally using radio technology specific mechanisms, the need for integration of this diverse network environment has obviated the 'push' of the handover functionality to the access-agnostic IP layer. In this context, we study and analyze the implications of the link-layer agnostic operation of the IP handover control on the handoff performance, having as a reference the fast mobile IPv6 protocol. We show that the behavior of the protocol is highly dependent on the timely availability of link layer information - this determines whether a reactive or a proactive operation is executed. Last, we provide some quantitative results for performance metrics such as the disruption time and the packet loss perceived, by a single mobile host under varying conditions of link-layer trigger time availability, buffering capabilities and beacon intervals.