DualPI2 Active Queue Management in ns-3: Implementation And Validation

Abstract

The demand for ultra-low latency applications necessitates advanced network architectures like the Low Latency, Low Loss, and Scalable Throughput (L4S) standard. A core component of L4S is the DualPI2 Active Queue Management (AQM), which ensures the safe coexistence of scalable and classic traffic. Despite L4S's growing adoption, the ns-3 network simulator lacks a high-fidelity, up-to-date DualPI2 model. This paper presents a comprehensive implementation of the DualPI2 AQM in ns-3, while also mirroring the official Linux Kernel architecture. Our model incorporates representative mechanisms previously absent in simulation, such as credit-based Weighted Round Robin (WRR) scheduling, step-marking, and overload protection. To guarantee simulation accuracy, we validate our implementation against a physical Linux testbed across 25 diverse Bandwidth-Delay Product (BDP) scenarios. Results demonstrate that our ns-3 model replicates real-world behavior, ensuring strict throughput fairness and queue delay isolation. Ultimately, this validated model equips the research community with a robust tool to evaluate and advance L4S performance across diverse network topologies, ranging from data centers to wireless home and office environments.