Introduction

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What Is SmartFlow?

SmartFlow is the first application to test QoS and analyze the performance and behavior of the new breed of policy-based network devices.

High priority - Telnet

Medium priority - FTP

Low priority - HTTP

Congested port

Input Ports

Output Port

Switching Fabric

Stream-based measurements include:Throughput, min/max/ave latency,latency distribution, and latency variation.

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SmartFlow Basic Features

Automated Throughput Test.

Enhanced Wizards for Network and Flow setup.

Multiple Traffic Patterns via the Group Wizard.

IP/UDP/TCP/ICMP frames can be chosen for flows.

The user can specify a payload fill pattern per port.

Iterate tests over different frame lengths.

High Density “Cyclic” flows.

BGP4 router testing including BGP flapping.

Tracking of Stray Flows.

Results can be output in HTML format.

Results from all tests can be exported at one time.

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Summary of SmartFlow test !

Throughput Measures the maximum rate at which frames from flows and groups sent through a device

can be sent without frame loss.Jumbo

Measures frame loss, latency, and latency distribution in flows and groups of flows sent through a device, and updates each of these results simultaneously. It also measures latency standard deviation based on latency distribution, and the number of frames received that were out of sequence. Frame Loss

Measures the number of frames lost from flows and groups sent through a device.Latency

Measures the minimum, maximum, and average latency of received frames in flows and groups of flows sent through a device.Latency Distribution

Measures the latency of received frames in flows and groups of flows sent through a device, and sorts them into 8 latency buckets. Compared to the Latency test, this test can provide a finer view of latency behavior at the DUT’s load tolerance limits.Latency Over TimeLatency Snap Shot

Measures the latency of each received frame, for a specified number of frames in flows and groups of flows sent through a device.

User Interface

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Main Window - Shortcut Bar

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Main Window - Setup & Run

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Main Window - Results View

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Results - Chart

StatusBar

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Results - Summary

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Results - Detail

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Results - Stray Frames

• Stray frames results show per port, frames that werereceived but were not destined (expected) for that port.• It also lists each flow (not SmartFlow) containing thestray frames received by that port.• When stray frames are received, the destination IPaddress of the flow does not match any of the IPaddresses associated with the port that received the frames.• Each row in the Stray Frames tab represents one flowof a SmartFlow. The following items uniquely identify a flow:

– Source IP address– Destination IP address– SmartFlow name

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Results - Port Errors

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Saving Results - 3 Ways

Results can be saved in a variety of ways:1. Saved in the configuration file by selecting File > Save.

2. Saved in individual files; the chart is saved as a JPEG and the summary, detailed, and stray frames reports are saved as CSV.

3. Saved in HTML format.

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- 3

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Saving Results - HTML

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SmartBits Connections

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Connected to a Chassis

ConnectionStatus

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Help > About SmartFlow

Displays the SmartBits controller’s and port’s firmware versions.

Base Configuration

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Test Setup Sequence

You must configure the Test Setup parameters in the correct order.The tabs appear in the correct configuration sequence.Depending on the test, some tabs may not be applicable (i.e., BGP tab)Configure the base configuration parameters from the “Networks”, “Cards”, and “WAN” tabs.

Steps 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Base Configuration

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Reserving Ports

Once connected, reserve the ports from the Cards Tab.

This applies to all except the SMB-200 which is not multi-user.

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Base Configuration - Cards tabThe Cards tab is used to configure the Port’s behavior.

It is also used (along with the Networks tab) to set the defaults for the flows.

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Cards tab - Read State

Useful for large systems where only a few ports are being used.

Three States: Active, Inactive, Listening. Active: Can be either a Transmitter and/or Receiver port. Inactive: Does not show up in SmartFlow anywhere. Listening: Does not show up in other screens but ports are

configured and listen for stray frames on the stray frame report.

Card Setup

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Base Configuration - Networks tab

The Networks tab defines the IP networks associated with each port.The “Port IP Address” can act as the next-hop router for each of the networks created. It can also be used to ping the port.The Networks tab also sets the defaults for the flows.

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Base Configuration - Network Wizard

Add IP networks quickly using the Network Wizard!The Network Wizard automatically creates multiple networks across multiple ports.

Creating Groupsof Flows

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Creating Groups of Flows - BeforeNo Groups or Flows (traffic) created yet.

Groups WindowPane and

Tool Buttons

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Creating Groups of Flows - After

Four Groups each associated with three Flows created.

Groups

Flows

ModifyingIndividual

Flows

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Modifying/Creating Flows

Flows can be added or modified from the SmartFlows tab.

Flow WindowPane andTool Bar

SecondarySetup tabs

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Flow Attributes Tabs

The SmartFlows tab has a number of sub-tabs for modifying the Layer 2-4 attributes of the flows.

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Flow Attributes - Traffic Tab

The flow attributes such as the source/destination physical port, IP protocol, frame length, and variable fields within the flow.

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Flow Attributes - Ethernet II Tab

The flow’s source and destination Layer 2 MAC addresses (from the Cards tab).

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Flow Attributes - VLAN Tab

Only valid if VLAN ID is enabled from the Networks tab.

Set on theNetworks

tab

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Flow Attributes - IP Tab

The flow’s source and destination IP addresses (from the Networks tab), TOS or Diffserv bits, and Time to Live field.

Set to 1with

Cyclic Flows

PriorityOptions

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Flow Attributes - TCP Tab

The flow’s source and destination TCP port (IP protocol = 6).

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Flow Attributes - UDP Tab

The flow’s source and destination UDP port (IP protocol=17).

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Flow Attributes - ICMP Tab

The flow’s ICMP Type and Code fields (IP protocol=1)

Test Setup

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Test Setup Tab - Test Iterations Tab

Frame Sizes (Global or per Flow), Test Loads, and Iteration constants.

Continuous looping mode and Offered vs. Intended load.

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Frame Sizes - SmartFlows Tab

Each flow can manually be set to its own frame length.

Or it can be assigned to a previously configured sequence.

Manual Method

OR

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Frame Sizes - How Sequences are Created

From the Test Setup tab, select the Custom Frame Size Table.The number if Iterations should be equal to the number of test loads.

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Frame Sizes - Frame Size Automation

When Frame Size Automation is enabled (Global), all Flows are set to one frame size.

This

or

That

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Test Loads - Cards TabEvery port can run at the same rate.Or they can be assigned to a previously configured sequence.

StepMethod

SequenceMethod

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Test Loads - How Sequences are Created

This

or

That

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Test Setup Tab - Learning Tab

How the application will send learning frames.

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Learning - Send to Ports

Benefits Phase TX Port RX Port

DUT Set Up Ports/Learn Full Full/Partial

SmartBits Set Up Flows Full/Partial** ARP Enabled only

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Test Setup Tab - Individual Tests Tab

Test specific parameters for the Latency Distribution, Latency SnapShot, Latency Over Time, and Throughput tests.

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User Info Tab (for HTML Export)

This information is used for the top of the summary and chart HTML files and contains information about the configuration.

Running a Testand

Viewing Results

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The Shortcut Bar

TestStart

Buttonsin

Setup & RunMode

ViewTest

ResultsButtons

inResultsMode

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Detailed TestSetup and

Results

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Order to Accomplish Tests

SmartFlow tests should be accomplished in the following order:Frame LossThroughputLatencyLatency DistributionJumboLatency Over TimeLatency Snap Shot

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Results - Frame Loss

Measures the number of frames lost from flows and groups sent through a device.

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Results - Throughput

Measures the maximum rate at which frames from flows and groups sent through a device can be sent without frame loss.

Determines this rate “automatically.”

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Results - Latency

Measures the minimum, maximum, and average latency of received frames in flows and groups of flows sent through a device.

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Results - Latency Distribution

Measures the latency of received frames in flows and groups of flows sent through a device, and sorts them into 8 latency buckets.

Compared to the Latency test, this test can provide a finer view of latency behavior at the DUT's load tolerance limits.

The standard deviation for the Latency Distribution test depends in part on the size of the latency buckets you specify in the test setup.

Discussed on the next slide

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Standard Deviation (Jitter)

Jitter is variation in latency between packets in a flow.

Jitter is reported as latency “Standard Deviation” in SmartFlow.

The Standard Deviation is based on the Latency Distribution buckets and is displayed in microseconds:If the latency distribution all falls into one bucket,

the standard deviation is zero (0). If the latency distribution spans multiple buckets

the standard deviation will be larger.Standard Deviation results also starts increasing

when frame loss begins to occur.

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Results - Jumbo

Simultaneously measures the frame loss, latency, and latency distribution in flows and groups of flows sent through a device.

Updates each of these test results simultaneously.

The latency “Standard Deviation” is based on latency distribution.

Displays the number of frames sent, received, and lost.

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Results - Latency Over TimeThe Latency Over Time test shows the overall pattern of latency across time as the test is run.Shows for each receiving port, the minimum, average, and maximum latency of frames received during the specified time interval throughout the test.

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Results - Latency Snap Shot

Measures the latency of each received frame, for a specified number of frames in flows and groups of flows sent through a device.

Latency is calculated for all received frames.