  We analyze the stability of the Rate Control Protocol (RCP) using two
different models that have been proposed in literature. Our objective is to
better understand the impact of the protocol parameters and the effect
different forms of feedback have on the stability of the network. We also
highlight that different time scales, depending on the propagation delay
relative to the queuing delay, have an impact on the nonlinear and the
stochastic properties of the protocol fluid models. To better understand some
of the nonlinear properties, we resort to local bifurcation analysis where we
exhibit the existence of a Hopf type bifurcation that then leads to stable
limit cycles. Our work serves as a step towards a more comprehensive
understanding of the nonlinear fluid models that have been used as
representative models for RCP.
