How to run RFC2544 thruput/latency testing with Ixia

Step 1 - Connect device in a snake way like below



Step 2 - Configure IxNetworks for RFC 2544

1. Click "Add QuickTest". After configuration, it should show up in the right side



2. Finish all options. Pretty straightforward, just need to configure like

• Ports to be used (Definitely need 2-way)
• Packet type (Eth/IPv4/IPv6)
• Packet size (make sure interface MTU matched)
• Traffic option, like how long each case last
• Stats parameters, like calculate latency (Cut through)
• 100% line rate (if for thruput)

Step 3 - Run the test and generate the report, like

Connect Ixia Novas Qsfp28 100G via 100GBASE-CR4 cable

The arista device is Arista DCS-7280CR2-60-F loading 4.21.2F. The other side is IxNetworks's NOVUS-M100GE8Q28 card, and using Arista 100G AOC cable. 

Et60/1              connected    1        full   100G   100GBASE-CR4

Have to disable the autoneg on Ixia side to bring up the link. As shown as below

1. First stop all traffic (if the option is gray, that's the reason) then Edit L1 Properties
2. Unclick "Use IEEE Media for 100BASE CR4"
3. Uncheck "Auto Negotiate"

MAC 11:11:xx:.... is not valid MAC address

On IXIA if you configured MAC/Eth address to be 11:11:00:02:01:01, the switch doesn't take them.

Thanks Paul Lavelle for the why :-) 

The least significant bit of the first byte is known as the IG bit. An IG bit of 0 indicates that this is a unicast MAC address, an IG bit of 1 indicates a multicast or broadcast address. It is illegal to use a multicast source MAC address in ARP replies.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizationally_unique_identifier#Format

https://blog.ipspace.net/2012/05/arp-reply-with-multicast-source-mac-is.html

I use a simple trick: If you are manually setting a MAC address on Ixia, make sure the first byte of the address is an even number :) 

Ixia: Custom view of traffic

Custom view:
Filters: 
select Traffic -》flow detective
Traffic Item Equals "Traffic Name"
Show 50 "Worst Performers"

Then select Stat