topic RE: How do I test traffic between switches? in ExtremeSwitching (EXOS/Switch Engine)

How do I test traffic between switches?

Rodrigo_Azevedo — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:21:00 GMT

I need to do a test traffic on a ring network.
The idea is to test by generating traffic if links are at least close to the expected nominal speed.
Whats I need to do this test? How?

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Drew_C — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:35:00 GMT

Hi Rodrigo,
You can do this with the EXOS Service Verification Tool.

Here's some documentation that should help you get this working:
What are the requirements to use EXOS Service Verification Tool (ESVT)
Configuring the Service Verification Test Tool

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Rodrigo_Azevedo — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:35:00 GMT

Thanks Drew,

I will read now o/

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

EtherMAN — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:35:00 GMT

This will verify your service for sure but if you are wanting to get jitter and latency measurements it would be better to purchase ether dedicated test gear and do ether a RFC 2544 test or a 1564 test. Test gear very in prices and used gear is available in the market. Other option we use is a pair nids from Accedian or any of the other NID vendors and do the same testing ... Either of these options will give you a baseline with reports where you can show and prove your network is performing as expected ...

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Rodrigo_Azevedo — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:35:00 GMT

Hummm... I understand EtherMAN,

Can I use iperf program to do this test?

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

EtherMAN — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:35:00 GMT

we do that too and yes if you know how to use iperf this is a great way to test trough networks desktop to desktop... It really all depends on what you are trying to prove. I can tell you from working at layer 2 ethernet for 19 years using Extreme they will always be able to get 100 % utilization out of any port or interface you use. There is a huge difference in profiling a service or just checking continuity.

We are a metro carrier using Extreme 1600 switches about 80 or 90 EAPS rings ... 6000 or so active interfaces.... For a simple vlan built across the network traversing several rings/switches we just drop an ip/30 common subnet on the vlan on each side and do a ping test... if it works we have a complete service if not then there is an error in the configuration somewhere.

If we have to profile a service then we use either NIDS or test sets.

If we are trouble shooting customer throughput issues then IPERF is a good tool if they know how to use it or you still have to go back and use a test set and profile the service showing them you are not the problem....

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Rodrigo_Azevedo — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:35:00 GMT

Thanks EtherMAN,

One more question, in a ring network, do I have to do this traffic generator test switch by switch!?

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Rodrigo_Azevedo — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:35:00 GMT

This link is not avaiable. Is there a new link!?

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Drew_C — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:35:00 GMT

I've updated my post to include new links, though the old one shouldn't have broken 😞

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Rodrigo_Azevedo — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 02:58:00 GMT

Hi Drew C.,

How I could use a traffic generator for testing between switches? What I need to do this test?

Is there some setting that allows me to do this through the switch?

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Drew_C — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 02:58:00 GMT

The recommendations above for iperf or ESVT will work. You could also use something like http://ostinato.org/, though I'm not familiar with it.

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Ronald_Dvorak — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 03:04:00 GMT

http://documentation.extremenetworks.com/exos/EXOS_All/Troubleshooting/c_service-verification-test-t...

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Drew_C — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 03:04:00 GMT

Its not clear where to find the examples for how to configure it... which is on the next page. Here's the link:
http://documentation.extremenetworks.com/exos/EXOS_All/Troubleshooting/t_configuring-service-verific...

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

EtherMAN — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 03:04:00 GMT

Rodrigo, chiming in here again since I brought up the test sets. All you need is a common layer 2 vlan between your two test points in your network.. We us JDSU and Accedian. In many cases some of the links we test may go through 8 or 10 switches with most being Extreme. It could be a vman between all of these or it could be a simple vlan between point A and Point B. It all depends on what kind of services you are trying to test... If you have a pair of test sets then you do not do anything different on the network side as one of the test sets will be generating the traffic and the other one is reflecting the traffic back so you can get Jitter, Latency, and packet lost... Look up RFC 2544 testing setups...

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Rodrigo_Azevedo — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 03:19:00 GMT

Thank you again,
I will read and do a test in the room.

One more question, with this test it is possible to pass by various switches until the end?

RE: How do I test traffic between switches?

Drew_C — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 03:19:00 GMT

Depending on what you configure, sure.