RFC 2544 Tests

This test characterizes the ability of the DUT to process back-to-back frames. This test simulates popular network activity, such as requests for large amounts of data over an Ethernet network, that may use a relatively small MTU size and that can result in many fragments being transmitted.

A binary search mechanism is used to determine the back-to-back result. For each iteration, frames are transmitted with a minimum interframe gap, for a specific duration (number of seconds or frame count). If frame loss occurs, then the duration is reduced by the defined back-off value, otherwise the duration is increased. The test completes when the difference in duration is less than or equal to the defined resolution. The back-to-back value is the number of frames in the longest burst that the DUT can handle without the loss of any frames.

This test determines the percentage of frames that should have been forwarded by a network device under steady state (constant) load that were not forwarded due to lack of resources.

The test sends a specific number of frames at a specific rate through the DUT to be tested and count the frames that are transmitted by the DUT. The first trial should be run for the frame rate that corresponds to 100% load of the transmit speed. Repeat the procedure for the rate that corresponds to 90% of the maximum rate used and then for 80% of this rate. Repeat this sequence (reducing the load for each trial by 10%) until there are two successive trials in which no frames are lost.

This test determines the minimum, average, maximum transmission delay through the DUT.

One or more flows are transmitted at specified loads and durations. Timestamps in each stream are used to measure the equivalent of the minimum, average, and maximum latency of each stream.

This test determines the maximum rate at which none of the offered frames are dropped by the DUT.

A binary search mechanism is used to determine the throughput. Frames are transmitted at a specific rate (or load) each iteration. If frame loss occurs, then the rate is reduced by the defined back-off rate, otherwise the rate is increased. The test completes when the difference in rate is less than or equal to the defined resolution.