Using Y.1564 for Service Activation Testing

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Y.1564 is used to perform end-to-end Ethernet service activation tests (SATs). This section describes how to set up Y.1564 in your Metro Ethernet network.

The implementation of Y.1564 supports the following test types:

  • Layer 2 two-way testing.

  • Layer 3 two-way testing.

  • Layer 2 one-way testing.

  • Layer 3 one-way testing.

To set up Y.1564:

  1. Set up a Y.1564 test. See Setting Up a Y.1564 Test.

  2. Set up one or more Y.1564 services. See Setting Up a Y.1564 Service.

Before you run a one-way test, set up the SAT protocol (in SAT ▶  Protocol ▶ Configuration) so the devices that perform the one-way Y.1564 test can communicate.

After you complete these steps, run the test and view the results as described in Running a Y.1564 Test and Viewing Test Results.

Setting Up a Y.1564 Test

Run a Y.1564 test to verify that a network section or device meets a service level agreement (SLA) or Ethernet standards.

SAT Reporting automatically uploads Y.1564 test reports from the unit to a remote server (FTP, FTPS, SFTP, TFTP, or SCP). Automatic uploads allow you to view results without polling the server to confirm test completion.

For information about automating report uploads, see Setting Up SAT Reporting.

Note: Reports are available in text or XML format.

When you set up the test, configure the remote peer (Peer settings) and the test frame contents. For the full list of configurable elements, see “Y.1564 Test Configuration (SAT ▶ Y.1564 ▶ Configuration).”

For parameter and test definitions, see the ITU-T Y.1564 standard.

Note: The Cisco® Provider Connectivity Assurance Sensor GT/GT-S (formerly Accedian Skylight GT and GT-S Performance Elements) includes preconfigured Y.1564 loopbacks for Layer 2 or Layer 2 Accedian frames. For Layer 2 generic traffic or Layer 3 testing with UDP segments, configure a manual loopback on the peer unit to match the test traffic, with a swapping action on MAC addresses, IP addresses, and port numbers. You can configure the loopback from the OAM menu.

To set up a Y.1564 test

  1. Choose SAT Y.1564 Configuration.

    A summary of configured tests is displayed.

  2. Click Add to create a test, or click the test Name to edit its settings.

  3. Configure the test options and required fields, then click Apply.

For details about specific parameters, refer to the following tables.

Y.1564 Test Configuration (SAT ▶ Y.1564 ▶ Configuration)

Parameter

Description

Test name

Name of the Y.1564 test.

Test description

Description used to identify the test.

Outgoing port

Port on which to send flows.

Test to run

Parameter

Description

Configuration step duration (seconds)

Duration of each step during the configuration test, in seconds.

Range: 1 to 60 seconds.

Note: This parameter is also used for the burst SLA test.

Enable configuration test

Enables the policing test and step test under each configured service (traffic flow).

Runs successive tests at rates of 25% CIR, 50% CIR, 75% CIR, 100% of CIR, CIR+EIR, and Policing.

For Policing:

  • If EIR < 20% × CIR, Policing Rate = (125% × CIR) + EIR.

  • If EIR ≥ 20% × CIR, Policing Rate = CIR + (125% × EIR).

Enable parallel configuration test

Enables or disables the Parallel Service Configuration test.

  • Enable: Runs all enabled services (traffic flows) simultaneously.

  • Disable: Runs all enabled services (traffic flows) sequentially.

Performance test duration (minutes)

Duration of the performance test, in minutes.

Range: 1 to 1440 minutes.

Enable performance test

Enables or disables the performance test.

Configure at least one service when you enable the performance test.

Note: The performance test runs at 100% CIR.

Enable burst SLA test

Enables or disables the burst SLA test. (Disabled by default)

Delay Measurement Type

Choose one way delay or two way delay.

For one-way delay measurement, you must enable the SAT protocol (SAT ▶  Protocol ▶ Configuration) on both devices performing the Y-1564 test.

Remote unit settings

Parameter

Description

Type

Type of test traffic:

  • 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: UDP segments for testing across a multilayer network.

Note: Layer 2 generic applies only to two-way measurements.

MAC destination

Peer MAC address. Applies to Layer 2 and Layer 3 generic traffic only.

Note: Layer 3 generic traffic is available for the RFC-2544 traffic generator and test suite. It is not available for Y.1564 SAT.

Y.1731 MEG level

Maintenance Entity Group level.

Range: 0–7.

Note: Applies to Layer-2 traffic only. For details, see ITU-TY.1731.

Destination IP address

Remote unit interface IP address. Applies to Layer 3 traffic only.

DSCP

DiffServ Code Point value set in generated packets. Applies to Layer 3 traffic only.

Source port

Near-end UDP port used to generate PDUs. Applies to Layer 3 traffic only.

Destination port

Far-end UDP port number associated with the IP address of the unit that will receive, process, and display traffic statistics and report. Applies to Layer 3 traffic only.

Note: For proper reporting, configure a destination port in the range 0 to 65535. Do not use 8793 (Accedian proprietary port number). For more information, see “Network Requirements — TCP/UDP Ports.”

A destination port cannot be configured as the UDP port here if it is already used for any of these features:

  • A Layer 3 PAA instance.

  • TWAMP.

  • Layer 3 RFC 2544 Generator.

  • Layer 3 RFC 2544 Test Suite.

  • Layer 3 Y.1564.

  • SAT Protocol.

Setting Up a Y.1564 Service

After you set up a Y.1564 test, you must define one to eight services (traffic flows) for testing.

The system reserves required resources at the start of a Y.1564 test, whether services run in parallel or sequentially. The total bandwidth allocated across services cannot exceed the port bandwidth. If you enable policing, reserve an additional 20% of the port bandwidth. For example, if you configure eight services on a 1 Gbps link with policing enabled, allocate no more than 800 Mbps across the services. The test might fail if the combined allocation exceeds this limit.

For parameter and test definitions, see the ITU-T Y.1564 standard.

To set up a Y.1564 service

  1. Choose SAT Y.1564 Configuration.

    A summary of defined tests is displayed.

  2. Click the test Name to display the test details and the service list.

  3. In the service list, click the service Name.

    The Y.1564 [Service_Number] service configuration page appears.

  4. Enter values in the required fields, then click Apply.

For details about specific parameters, refer to the following table.

Y.1564 service configuration (SAT ▶Y.1564 ▶Configuration)

Parameter

Description

Enable service

Enable or disable the service for this Y.1564 test.

Service name

Name of the Y.1564 service.

Test configuration

Parameter

Description

Policing test enabled

Enable or disable testing above the CIR:

  • If EIR < 20% × CIR, Policing Rate = (125% × CIR) + EIR.

  • If EIR ≥ 20% × CIR, Policing Rate = CIR + (125% × EIR).

Step test enabled

Enable or disable running successive tests at rates of 25% CIR, 50% CIR, 75% CIR, 100% CIR, and CIR+EIR.

Availability enabled

Enable or disable availability measurements based on the configured frame loss ratio.

Bandwidth profile

Parameter

Description

CIR (in Mbps)

The committed information rate (CIR) is the maximum sustained information rate that the network commits to transfer while meeting the SLA.

The CIR and EIR values specified in the bandwidth profile are used by the Y.1564 tool to define the Configuration, Performance, and Policing Tests to be executed.

Range: 0 to 1250 Mbps, in steps of 0.125 Mbps.

Committed Burst Size (in KiB)

Maximum burst size, in kibibytes, for a burst of frames transmitted at port speed while remaining CIR-conformant.

Range: 0 to 10,000 KiB.

EIR (in Mbps)

The excess information rate (EIR) is the maximum sustained information rate, above the CIR, at which traffic is carried through the network if resources are available.

The CIR and EIR values specified in the bandwidth profile are used by the Y.1564 tool to define the Configuration, Performance, and Policing Tests to be executed.

Range: 0 to 1250 Mbps, in steps of 0.125 Mbps.

Excess Burst Size (in KiB)

This parameter is not currently used and is grayed out.

Frame size type

Frame size type used for the test:

  • fixed

  • EMIX

Frame size (bytes)

Frame size for the test traffic.

Note: This field is available only when Frame Size Type is set to Fixed. Valid values range from 64 to 10240 bytes.

User-defined (octets)

User-defined packet size for the test traffic. Set Frame size type to EMIX to use this parameter.

Range: 64 to 10240 bytes

Sequence of sizes

EMIX packet sizes and the send order. Available values:

  • a = 64 bytes

  • b = 128 bytes

  • c = 256 bytes

  • d = 512 bytes

  • e = 1024 bytes

  • f = 1280 bytes

  • g = 1518 bytes

  • h = MTU of outgoing port

  • u = user-defined size

Default value: abceg

Service Acceptance Criteria

Parameter

Description

Frame Transfer Delay (in μs)

For two-way delay measurements, the delay threshold below which the test passes. Expressed in microseconds.

Frame Delay Variation (in μs)

For two-way delay variation measurements, the delay variation threshold below which the test passes. Expressed in microseconds.

Frame Loss Ratio

Ratio threshold below which the test passes.

M Factor

Margin factor added to the acceptance criteria in the policing test to account for the CBS and EBS effect on the total rate.

The policing test passes if IR-T ≤ CIR + EIR + M.

Where:

  • IR-T: Total information rate

  • CIR: Committed information rate

  • EIR: Excess information rate

  • M: M factor

Default value: 1 Mbps

Frame Transfer Delay Type

Select whether acceptance criteria are based on maximum (max) or average (avg) frame transfer delay.

Frame Delay Variation Type

Select whether acceptance criteria are based on maximum (max) or average (avg) frame delay variation.

MAC Settings (Layer 2 Traffic Only)

Parameter

Description

MAC destination

For each service, sets the destination MAC address and overwrites the global destination MAC address of the Y.1564 test.

Overwrite per Test Destination MAC address

Enables overwriting the global destination MAC address of the Y.1564 test.

Y.1731 MEG level

For each service, sets the Y.1731 MEG level and overwrites the global Y.1731 MEG level of the Y.1564 test.

Overwrite per test MEG level

Enables overwriting the global Y.1731 MEG level of the Y.1564 test.

IP Settings (Layer 3 Traffic Only)

Parameter

Description

Destination IP address

For each service, sets the destination IP address and overwrites the global IP address of the Y.1564 test.

Overwrite per test Destination IP address

Enables overwriting the global destination IP address of the Y.1564 test.

DSCP

For each service, sets the DSCP and overwrites the global DSCP of the Y.1564 test.

Overwrite per test DSCP

Enables overwriting the global DSCP of the Y.1564 test.

VLAN Settings

Parameter

Description

Enable VLAN 1 header

Encapsulates frames with one VLAN header.

Note: After you enable VLAN 1 header, packet size increases by 4 bytes. After you enable VLAN 2 header, packet size increases by 8 bytes.

Examples:

  • If packet size is set to 64 and VLAN 1 header is not enabled, the traffic generator sends 64-byte packets.

  • If packet size is set to 64 and VLAN 1 header is enabled, the traffic generator sends 68-byte packets.

  • If packet size is set to 64 and VLAN 2 header is enabled, the traffic generator sends 72-byte packets.

VLAN 1 ID

First VLAN ID used to encapsulate all test frames.

VLAN 1 priority

First VLAN priority bits. Applies only when VLAN 1 header is enabled.

VLAN 1 Ethernet type

First VLAN protocol ID. Options include:

  • VLAN (0×8100) (for 802.1Q network, C-VLAN)

  • VLAN (0×88a8) (for 802.1AD network, S-VLAN)

  • VLAN (0×9100) (for 802.1Q tunneling network, T-VLAN)

VLAN 1 CFI

First VLAN Canonical Format Indicator (CFI). Applies only when VLAN 1 header is enabled.

Enable VLAN 2 header

Encapsulates frames with two VLAN headers (Q-in-Q). VLAN 1 must be enabled to use two VLAN headers.

Note: After you enable VLAN 1 header, packet size increases by 4 bytes. After you enable VLAN 2 header, packet size increases by 8 bytes.

Examples:

  • If packet size is set to 64 and VLAN 1 header is not enabled, the traffic generator sends 64-byte packets.

  • If packet size is set to 64 and VLAN 1 header is enabled, the traffic generator sends 68-byte packets.

  • If packet size is set to 64 and VLAN 2 header is enabled, the traffic generator sends 72-byte packets.

VLAN 2 ID

Second VLAN ID (inner VLAN) that encapsulates all test frames. Applies only when VLAN 2 header is enabled.

VLAN 2 priority

Second VLAN priority bits. Applies only when VLAN 2 header is enabled.

VLAN 2 Ethernet type

Second VLAN protocol ID. Options include:

  • VLAN (0×8100) (for 802.1Q network, C-VLAN)

  • VLAN (0×88a8) (for 802.1AD network, S-VLAN)

  • VLAN (0×9100) (for 802.1Q tunneling network, T-VLAN)

VLAN 2 CFI

Second VLAN Canonical Format Indicator (CFI). Applies only when VLAN 2 header is enabled.

Running a Y.1564 Test and Viewing Test Results

After you set up a Y.1564 test, run it and view the report. Each run generates a separate report. Create a new report each time you run the test.

To run a Y.1564 test

  1. Choose SAT Y.1564 Results.

    A summary of test reports is displayed.

  2. Click Start to create a new report.

  3. Complete the required fields, then click Apply.

For details about specific parameters, see the following tables.

Y.1564 Service Activation (SAT ▶ Y.1564 ▶ Results)

Parameter

Description

Name

Name assigned to the test report.

Status

Current status of the test.

Possible values:

  • Passed: Test completed successfully.

  • Failed: An error occurred during test execution.

  • Running: Test is in progress.

  • Cancelled: A user stopped the test during execution.

Description

Description used to identify the test.

Y.1564 Report Configuration (SAT ▶ Y.1564 ▶ Results)

Parameter

Description

File name

Name assigned to the test report file.

Description

Test description.

Technician name

Name of the individual who executed the test.

Test

Test configuration used for this report.

Special note

Additional information about the test.

To view, edit, or export a Y.1564 test report

  1. Choose SAT Y.1564 Results.

    A summary of test reports is displayed.

  2. To view results, click the report Name.

  3. To stop a running test, click Stop.

  4. To edit a report, click Edit.

  5. To export a report, click Export.

For details about specific parameters, see the following tables.

Y.1564 Test Configuration Results (SAT ▶ Y.1564 ▶ Results)

Parameter

Description

Name

Name of the Y.1564 service being tested.

25% CIR

50% CIR

75% CIR

100% CIR

CIR+EIR

Policing

Performance

Current status of the test.

Possible values:

  • PASS: Test passed the criteria.

  • FAIL: Test failed the criteria.

  • N/A: Test was not performed per the configuration.

State

Enabled or disabled state of a service within this Y.1564 test.

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