An extensive range of Ethernet test solutions are available with the Packet Blazer Ethernet test modules. The FTB-8510B Packet Blazer Gigabit Ethernet test module offer comprehensive test suites for addressing the requirements for network turn-up, troubleshooting and performance validation. The FTB-8510G 10 Gigabit Ethernet test module offers similar test capabilities but at the 10 Gbit/s rate for both LAN and WAN interfaces. All Ethernet test applications discussed above are available through specific modules and platform geared either towards network service providers or manufacturing environments.
Dual-test-set configuration Two test sets are required for local/remote testing, also known as head-to-head testing (see Figure 4.1). The user operates one test set, which controls the other by designating one as the local test set and the other as the remote test set. This enables the user to test asymmetrically over a large network with two end ports and two test sets while being in direct control of only one test set.
Dual-port configuration In some cases, testing can be performed using one test set with two ports (see Figure 4.2). Both ports are controlled simultaneously which enables the user to perform asymmetric testing.
Single-port loopback configuration In the single-port loopback configuration, the RFC 2544 testing is performed using only one port, in that the test traffic is generated and received on the same port. This limits testing to a single direction (TX-to-RX) and requires the use of a physical loopback or of an Ethernet remote loopback device (such as the Packet Blazer configured as a Smart Loopback module) at the far end.
RFC 2544 tests The RFC 2544 test is composed of four subtests which can be executed with an RFC-defined frame size distribution (ranging from 64 bytes to 1518 bytes according to VLAN settings) or a user-defined distribution of up to seven frame sizes. The following subtests are used: Throughput: Indicates the maximum rate at which none of the offered frames are dropped by the device under test (DUT) or network under test (NUT). Burst (Back-to-Back): At maximum rate, indicates the maximum number of frames that can be sent in bursts to the DUT or the NUT without any frame loss starting from an idle state. Frame Loss: Indicates the percentage of frames lost by a DUT or NUT under a constant throughput transmission. Latency: Latency measurements are given with two types of measurements according to device or network tested: store-and-forward or cut-through. For store-and-forward devices, latency is the time interval between frames (input and output); it starts when the last bit of the input frame reaches the input port, and it ends when the first bit of the output frame is seen at the output port. Round-trip latency is the time it takes a frame to come back to its starting point.