Vendor Tools e2e Tools BOF

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Vendor Toolse2e Tools BOF

• John H. Moore
• Technical Director
• NC-ITEC

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Topics

• Discussion of two of the network test tools used
  in the NC-ITEC
• SmartBits
• AX/4000 Broadband Test System
• Both platforms from lab partner Spirent
  Communications
• Focus on e2e testing

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Common Characteristics

• GUI runs on Windows PC and connects to test
  hardware over IP
• Hardware comes in mainframe and portable versions
• Variety of interface types (WAN to OC-192,
  Ethernet to 10 GE)
• Support for time sync via GPS or CDMA
• Good support for protocols of interest for the
  REN community (IPv4/IPv6 unicast, IPv4 multicast,
  MPLS, VLANs, etc.)

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Major Distinguishing Characteristics

• SmartBits
• Higher port densities
• RFC 2544 style test (SmartFlow)
• AX/4000
• Lower port density
• More detailed analysis of traffic
• Continuous bit-stream
• Can do BERT and delay-line functions

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Example 1 Lightpath Demo QoS Test

• Objective Evaluate QoS configuration for Abilene
  that gives preferential treatment to MPLS traffic
• Location Test-bed at NC-ITEC lab
• Method
• Run several types of traffic in two classes
• Assured Forwarding (AF) Best Effort (BE)
• Increase bandwidth of BE traffic and evaluate
  where drops are seen
• Test platform AX/4000

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Example 2 IGP Resiliency Test

• Objective measure recovery time of e2e traffic
  stream after link outage
• Location Test-bed at NC-ITEC lab
• Method
• Build test-bed with multiple paths
• Yank cable on primary path
• Measure recovery time and packet loss
• Test platform AX/4000

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Example 3 MPLS Service Test

• Objective Examine performance of inter-AS MPLS
  path over Abilene
• Location Abilene, between NC-ITEC and IU NOC
• Method
• Setup testers at either end of MPLS tunnel
• Synchronize clocks with CDMA
• Evaluate performance (latency, packet loss)
• Test platform SmartBits

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Thanks!

• Contact
• jhm_at_nc-itec.org