Fragmented IP traffic is a unique component of the overall mix of traffic on the Internet that has not been well studied. Many assertions about the nature and extent of fragmented traffic are based in folklore, rather than measurement and analysis. In this paper, we examine the behavior of measured fragment traffic and compare those results with commonly cited beliefs.

We analyze characteristics of fragmented traffic, and examine the causesof IP packet fragmentation. The effects of NFS, streaming media, networked video games, and tunneled traffic are quantified, as well as the prevalence of machines whose improper configurations were causing excessive amounts of fragmented traffic.

To understand the prevalence, causes, and effects of fragmented IP traffic, we have collected and analyzed seven multi-day traces taken from three sources. These sources include a university commodity access link, a highly aggregated commercial exchange point, and a local NAP.