The document provides instructions for getting started with the RFC 2544 test suite implemented in a Microsoft Excel worksheet for the Xena test platform. It describes installing the test suite, configuring test parameters and ports, defining traffic patterns and headers, and running throughput, loss, latency and back-to-back tests to validate network equipment performance. Configuration is done on worksheets for connecting to Xena chassis, test setup, custom test plans, test pairs and headers. Results are viewed on results and charts worksheets.
The document provides instructions for getting started with the RFC 2544 test suite implemented in a Microsoft Excel worksheet for the Xena test platform. It describes installing the test suite, configuring test parameters and ports, defining traffic patterns and headers, and running throughput, loss, latency and back-to-back tests to validate network equipment performance. Configuration is done on worksheets for connecting to Xena chassis, test setup, custom test plans, test pairs and headers. Results are viewed on results and charts worksheets.
The document provides instructions for getting started with the RFC 2544 test suite implemented in a Microsoft Excel worksheet for the Xena test platform. It describes installing the test suite, configuring test parameters and ports, defining traffic patterns and headers, and running throughput, loss, latency and back-to-back tests to validate network equipment performance. Configuration is done on worksheets for connecting to Xena chassis, test setup, custom test plans, test pairs and headers. Results are viewed on results and charts worksheets.
The document provides instructions for getting started with the RFC 2544 test suite implemented in a Microsoft Excel worksheet for the Xena test platform. It describes installing the test suite, configuring test parameters and ports, defining traffic patterns and headers, and running throughput, loss, latency and back-to-back tests to validate network equipment performance. Configuration is done on worksheets for connecting to Xena chassis, test setup, custom test plans, test pairs and headers. Results are viewed on results and charts worksheets.
Installation This note explains how to get started with the MS Excel based RFC 2544 test suite for the Xena test platform. The RFC 2544 test suite requires a PC with a Windows XP or Vista operating system with a MS Excel program. The RFC 2544 is implemented in a MS Excel worksheet using the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) programming language which is an integral part of MS Excel. 1. Open the xena_rfc2544_vxx.xls file 2. When Excel opens, click the “Options…” buttons to enable the VBA programming of the RFC 2544 test suite:
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3. Select “Enable this content”, and press “OK”:
By selecting the directory of the xena_rfc2544_vxx.xls file as a secure location, you can avoid this
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security warning the next time you open the Excel workbook, by following the following steps:
4. The RFC 2544 worksheet should now be open, and enabled for running the RFC 2544 test suite, and your Excel screen view should look like this:
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Running the RFC2544 test
Worksheet “Connect” setup Before you can begin running tests (see Figure 1): • Physically connect your PC to a Xena chassis using an Ethernet connection. • Set up Xena chassis and port connections in the Excel worksheet “Connect” • Establish a connection to a Xena chassis from the Excel worksheet “Connect” • Connect the Xena test ports to a DUT/SUT.
Figure 1 Connect
Specify the test port configurations (see Figure 2:
• Set the IP address of the test port, if testing is to be performed at L3 • For tri‐speed ports, set the speed mode to AUTO (default), or forced 10/100/1000Mbit/s
Figure 2 Test Port Configuration
Worksheet “TestCfg” setup
Use default settings, or manually specify the test parameters for the RFC 2544 tests (see Figure 3): • Set the packet size • Set global learning packet settings • Set the trial duration period, per test • Set the rates which are to be tested from min to max, specify the step value, and set “Custom Test Plan = No”). Or, select “Custom Test Plan = Yes”, and specify the range of rates to be tested for each individual packet size in the “TestPlan” worksheet.
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Figure 3 Test Configuration
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Worksheet “TestPlan” setup
An example test plan is shown in Figure 4, where IEEE standard packet sizes are setup to be tested.
Figure 4 Custom Test Plan
Worksheet “TestPairs” setup
The final test configuration step is to specify the port test pairs. A test pair defines unidirectional traffic flow from a source to a destination test port. An example of a bi‐directional test between test port 0 and test port 1 is shown in Figure 5. Test pairs can only be defined between EAST/WEST, where EAST/WEST are groups of test ports as defined by the user on sheet “Connect”
Figure 5 Test Pair Definitions
Specify for each test pair the content and definition of the packet headers. Six predefined header types can be selected: Ethernet, Ethernet with VLAN tag, Ethernet with stacked VLAN tag (Q‐in‐Q), Ethernet with IPv4, Ethernet with VLAN tag and IPv4, and Ethernet with stacked VLAN tag (Q‐in‐Q) and IPv4. The pre‐defined header definitions are specified in the header template section (see Figure 6), and are made up from a combination of absolute hex numbers and field mnemonics which are automatically converted into their corresponding absolute value which is shown next to the header template selection field.
Figure 6 Header Templates
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Run Worksheet “Run.Throughput/Loss/Latency/Backtoback”
Finally, to start the tests, push the START or START ALL button in either the Run.Throughput, Run.Loss, Run.Latency, or Run.Backtoback sheet (see Figure 7).
Figure 7 Start the testing
View Test Results Summary Reports and Charts
If testing completes successfully, review results in the “Results” and “Charts” sheets. The sheet are always automatically updated before/after that user start a test(s).
Figure 8 Sample Test Report
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Figure 9 Sample Test Result Chart
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Viewing the RFC2544 VBA source code
The Xena VBA implementation of the RFC2544 test suite is open source, and can be viewed by following the following steps (see Figure 10). • Right click up by Excel's menu (not the ribbon, but the menu with Home, Insert, Page Layout, etc.). • Select "Customize Quick Access Toolbar" • Go to Popular area in the form that shows up. • Check the box that says "Show Developer Tab in the Ribbon".
