Setting Up an RFC-2544 Test Suite
  • 21 Jun 2024
  • 13 Minutes to read
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Setting Up an RFC-2544 Test Suite

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Article summary

You can run a test suite to determine whether a portion of the network or even a specific device conforms to either a Service Level Agreement (SLA) or a given Ethernet standard.

When configuring a test suite, you have the choice of enabling one or more of the following types of tests:

  • Throughput
  • Frame loss
  • Delay
  • Back-to-back

You must also define specific values related to the remote peer (Peer Settings), as well as the contents of the test frames. The parameters you must configure vary, depending on the type of test traffic the test suite will handle.

Layer 3 Tests

Skylight orchestrator can automatically create, enable and delete remote loopback for your Layer 3 RFC-2544 tests. When the test is started with this configuration, Skylight orchestrator will first create and enable the loopback on the far-end device. Upon completion of the test, Skylight orchestrator will delete the loopback on the far-end device.

To set up an RFC-2544 test

  1. Access the page Service Performance ▶ RFC-2544 ▶ Configuration.

  2. Click the Add RFC-2544 Test Profile PLUS BUTTON.png button to add a new test profile or double- click an existing test profile to modify the test parameters.
    The RFC-2544 Test configuration dialog is displayed.
    Setting Up an RFC-2544 Test Suite_1_step 2.PNG

  3. Click in the Near-end device field.
    A list of all managed elements is displayed.

  4. Select a device in the list and click OK.
    The name of the selected device is displayed in the** Near-end device** field.

  5. Configure the test parameters for the various sections of the dialog:

  • General
  • Near-end settings
  • Far-end settings
  • VLAN settings
  • Global test settings
  • Test settings

For more information on specific parameters, see table after this procedure.
6. Click Apply, then click Close.

RFC-2544 Test configuration (Service Performance ▶ RFC-254 ▶ Configuration)

ParameterDescription
Near-end deviceNear-end device on which to run the test.

When you click in this field, a dialog pops up. You can select a device from the Skylight orchestrator inventory.

General

ParameterDescription
Suite nameA name for the test suite.

A maximum of one test suite can be created per device.

Suite descriptionThe description configured to identify the test suite and its characteristics.
Jumbo frame sizeThe size, expressed in bytes, of the user-defined jumbo frame that will be used, if selected for the tests.
Binary durationThe duration, expressed in seconds, of each trial completed during the binary search for the maximum throughput.
Test traffic typeThe type of test traffic may be one of the following:
  • Layer-2: Y.1731 LBM frames.
  • Layer-2 Accedian: Y.1731 LBM frames marked with the Accedian Ethertype.
  • Layer-2 generic: Special Y.1731 OpCode frames to be used only with loopback devices based on the MAC- address swap.
  • Layer-3 generic: Layer-2 frames with a generic Layer-3 (UDP) payload. Only to be used with loopback devices based on the MAC-address swap.
  • Layer-3: UDP segments to perform a test across a multi-layered network.
Enable strict failureSelect this box to enable failure on Out of Order (OOO) or duplicate frames/packets. Out of Order frames/packets are frames/packets that are received in a different order than what they were sent in.

When strict failure is enabled, OOO or duplicate frames/packets will cause a test to fail, even if all frames/packets were received.

When strict failure is disabled, the unit tolerates OOO and duplicate frames/packets. If all frames/packets were received, the test is marked as passed.

Enable verbose reportCheck box to have all tests (including any tests that failed) and executed steps appear in the test report.
Exclude VLAN sizeCheck box to exclude VLAN tag size from the configured frame sizes.

Near-end settings

ParameterDescription
Near-end IPThe source IP address used for the IP header. Applies to Layer-3 generic and IP multicast traffic only.

Notes: Layer-3 generic traffic is available for the RFC-2544 traffic generator and test suite. It is unavailable for Y.1564 SAT.

IP multicast traffic is available for the RFC-2544 traffic generator. It is unavailable for the RFC-2544 test suite and Y.1564 SAT.

Near-end portThe port from which to send the flow(s).

To select a port:

  • Click in this field. An ellipsis button THREE DOT BUTTON.png is displayed.
  • Click on the ellipsis button. A list of available ports for the Near-end device is displayed.
  • Select a port and click OK.
Near-end UDP portThe near-end UDP port number used to generate the test's PDU.

Note: Applies to Layer-3 traffic only.

DSCPThe DiffServ Code Point to set in the generated packets. Applies to Layer-3 traffic only.
Y.1731 MEG levelThe Maintenance Entity Group level. Range: 0–7

Far-end settings

ParameterDescription
Far-end deviceThe far-end managed element used for two-way tests.

To select a device:

  • Click in this field. An ellipsis button THREE DOT BUTTON.png is displayed.
  • Click on the ellipsis button. A list of available devices is displayed.
  • Select a device and click OK
Far-end IPThe IP address of the far-end device interface. Applies to Layer-3 traffic.
Far-end device portThe port of the far-end device. Used for Layer-3 two- way tests.
MAC destinationThe peer MAC address. Applies to Layer-2 traffic only.
L3 two-way loopbackCheck this box to enable Layer-3 two-way loopback tests.
Far-end UDP portThe far-end UDP port number associated with the IP address of the far-end device that will receive, process and display the traffic statistics and report.

Notes: Applies to Layer-3 traffic only. For reporting to work properly, you must set the port to a value in the range of 0 to 65,535. However, you must not set the destination port value to 8,793 because this is Accedian's proprietary port number. For information on destination ports default values, see Network Requirements — TCP/UDP Ports in the documentation for the selected device.

A port cannot be defined as the UDP port here if it is already being used for any of the following features on the selected far-end device:

  • A Layer-3 PAA instance
  • TWAMP
  • Layer-3 RFC-2544 Generator
  • Layer-3 RFC-2544 Test Suite
  • Layer-3 Y.1564
  • SAT Protocol.

VLAN settings

ParameterDescription
VLAN 1 headerCheck box to enable or disable VLAN 1 header.

This encapsulates all frames with one VLAN header.

If the VLAN 1 header is enabled, the packet size increases by 4 bytes. For example:

  • If the packet size is set to 64 and the VLAN 1 header is not enabled, the traffic generator will send packets of 64 bytes.
  • If the packet size is set to 64 and the VLAN 1 header is enabled, the traffic generator will send packets of 68 bytes.
ID (for VLAN 1)The first VLAN ID.

When enabled, all test frames are encapsulated with the specified VLAN ID.

Ethertype (for VLAN 1)Make a selection from the drop-down list to indicate the first VLAN Ethernet type.

Possible values are:

  • C-VLAN: 0x8100
  • S-VLAN: 0x88a8
  • S-VLAN: 0x9100
  • T-VLAN: 0x9100
Note: Applies only when the VLAN 1 header is enabled.
Priority (for VLAN 1)The first VLAN priority bits.

Note: Applies only when the VLAN 1 header is enabled.

CFI (for VLAN 1)The first VLAN Canonical Format Indicator (CFI).

Note: Applies only when the VLAN 1 header is enabled.

VLAN 2 headerCheck box to enable or disable the VLAN 2 header. Encapsulates all frames with two VLAN headers (as in Q in Q).

In order to use two VLAN headers, both VLAN 1 and VLAN 2 headers must be enabled.

If VLAN 1 and VLAN 2 headers are both enabled, the packet size increases by 8 bytes. For example:

  • If the packet size is set to 64 and both VLAN 1 and VLAN 2 headers are enabled, the traffic generator will send packets of 72 bytes.
ID (for VLAN 2)The second VLAN ID. When enabled, all test frames are encapsulated with the second specified VLAN ID (inner VLAN).

Note: Applies only when the VLAN 2 header is enabled.

Ethertype (for VLAN 2)Make a selection from the drop-down list to indicate the second VLAN Ethernet type.

Possible values are:

  • C-VLAN: 0x8100
  • S-VLAN: 0x88a8
  • S-VLAN: 0x9100
  • T-VLAN: 0x9100
Priority (for VLAN 2)The second VLAN priority bits.

Note: Applies only when the VLAN 2 header is enabled.

CFI (for VLAN 2)The second VLAN Canonical Format Indicator (CFI).

Note: Applies only when the VLAN 2 header is enabled.

Global test settings

ParameterDescription
Use fine steppingCheck box to enable fine stepping in the case of low bandwidth testing (below 12 Mbps). When fine stepping is enabled, the configured Step Size is ignored. The step size used for the range is 125 kbps.

This parameter also applies to the delay and delay variation test, as well as to the frame loss test.

Step size (Mbps)The granularity of the range, expressed in Mbps. Range: A value greater than zero to the maximum rate.
Minimum rate (Mbps)The lower bound of rates for which to search, expressed in Mbps.

Range: 1 to 1,000 Mbps. In steps of 0.125 Mbps for rates from 0 to 12.5 Mbps, and in steps of 1 Mbps for rates greater than or equal to 13 Mbps.

You must select a Minimum Rate that does not exceed the capacity of the outgoing port being used for the test suite. Failure to do so may produce inaccurate results.

This parameter also applies to the delay and delay variation test, as well as to the frame loss test.

Maximum rate (Mbps)The upper bound of the rates for which to search, expressed in Mbps.

Range: 1 to 1000 Mbps. In steps of 0.125 Mbps for rates from 0 to 12.5 Mbps, and in steps of 1 Mbps for rates greater than or equal to 13 Mbps.

You must select a Maximum Rate that does not exceed the capacity of the outgoing port being used for the test suite. Failure to do so may produce inaccurate results.

Note: The actual transmission rate (TX rate) used during the throughput test will not necessarily match the value of the Maximum Rate parameter, since the transmission rate depends on the results obtained from the binary search algorithm.

This parameter also applies to the delay and delay variation test, as well as to the frame loss test.

Test settings

ParameterDescription
ThroughputCheck box to enable the throughput test.

The throughput test begins by determining the maximum rate at which the test settings yield no lost frames.

For example, to measure the quality of a wire-speed GigE circuit, enter a Minimum Rate of 800 Mbps, a Maximum Rate of 1000 Mbps, a Step Size of 10 Mbps and a Binary Duration of 2 seconds. The unit then performs a binary search between 800 Mbps and 1000 Mbps for 2 seconds using 10 Mbps increments in order to determine the highest rate at which the test can be performed without failing.

Once the maximum rate is determined, the throughput test starts executing the actual test, which involves sending frames according to selected Frame Size settings for the duration specified by the Trial Duration.

Duration (s)

(for throughput test)

The period of time over which the throughput test will run.

Range: 1–1,800 seconds

Default: 60 seconds

Frame loss (0.1%)

(for throughput test)

The acceptable difference between measured frame losses (n x 0.1%). For example, a setting of 1 would mean a 0.1% frame loss would be acceptable and not considered as a frame loss by the test.

Default: 0, which means a target of no frame loss is tolerated when defining full throughput, i.e. losing a single frame will cause the test to fail.

Frame size

(for throughput test)

Check boxes to select the frame sizes to include in the test. By default, the Jumbo frame size is not selected because it is not a frame size defined by the RFC-2544 standard.

Note: The frame size you select must be smaller than the port's MTU. Selecting a higher frame size will prevent you from running the test.

Frame lossCheck box to enable the frame loss test.

The frame loss test verifies that no frames are lost when the current test settings are used. The unit starts at the maximum rate defined in the throughput settings section, then steps down by the value entered in the Step Size parameter of the Frame Loss settings.

Two consecutive rates must have no frame loss in order to successfully pass this test. For example, if the Unit Under Test (UUT) is able to perform full wire-speed at GigE, the test runs at 1000 Mbps and 980 Mbps (for a Step Size of 20 Mbps). Both tests must yield no frame loss in order to be successful, otherwise a lower rate will be tested.

Ensure that you have entered all required parameters in the throughput settings section, since some of these parameters also apply to the frame loss test.

Duration (s)

(for frame loss test)

The period of time over which the test will run.

Range: 1–1800 seconds

Default: 60 seconds

The frame loss test also uses the Maximum Rate, Minimum Rate and Fine Stepping values set in the Throughput Settings section.

Step size (Mbps)

(for frame loss test)

The granularity of the range, expressed in Mbps.
Frame size

(for frame loss test)

Check boxes to select the frame sizes to include in the test. By default, the Jumbo frame size is not selected because it is not a frame size defined by the RFC-2544 standard.

Note: The frame size you select must be smaller than the port's MTU. Selecting a higher frame size will prevent you from running the test.

Delay variationCheck box to enable the delay and delay variation test.

Once a wire-speed rate with no frame loss has been defined by the throughput test, the delay and delay variation test measures the latency and jitter at that specific rate.

Ensure that you have entered all required parameters in the throughput settings, since some of these parameters are required by the delay and delay variation test.

Duration (s)

(for delay variation test)

The period of time over which the test is run.

Range: 1-1800 seconds

Default: 120 seconds

The delay and delay variation test also uses the Maximum Rate, Minimum Rate and Fine Stepping values set in the Throughput Settings.

Frame loss (0.1%)

(for delay variation test)

The acceptable difference between measured frame losses (n x 0.1%). For example, a value of 1 would mean a 0.1% frame loss would be acceptable and considered as no frame loss by the test.

Default: 0, which means a target of no frame loss is tolerated when defining full throughput, i.e., losing a single frame will cause the test to fail.

Frame size

(for delay variation test)

Check boxes to select the frame sizes to include in the test. By default, the Jumbo frame size is not selected because it is not a frame size defined by the RFC-2544 standard.

Note: The frame size you select must be smaller than the port's MTU. Selecting a higher frame size will prevent you from running the test.

Back to backCheck box to enable the back-to-back test.

The back-to-back test sends a minimum of 50 repetitive bursts of frames with minimum inter-frame gap (line rate) according to the test settings. For this test to be successful, the network being tested must not lose any frames after a burst. A two-second pause is inserted after each burst.

Ensure that you have entered all required parameters in the throughput settings, since some of these parameters are required by the back-to-back test.

Duration (ms)

(for back to back test)

The period of time over which the test is run.

Range: 1–10,000 milliseconds

Default: 2,000 milliseconds

Repeat

(for back to back test)

The number of bursts to perform for each frame/packet size. A two-second pause is inserted after each burst.

Default: 50 bursts

Range: up to 100 bursts

Frame Size

(for back to back test)

Check boxes to select the frame sizes to include in the test. By default, the Jumbo frame size is not selected because it is not a frame size defined by the RFC-2544 standard.

Note: The frame size you select must be smaller than the port's MTU. Selecting a higher frame size will prevent you from running the test.

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