Configuration method suitable for data forwarding test of multi-port switch

Abstract

The invention provides a configuration method suitable for a data forwarding test of a multi-port switch, which comprises the following steps of: 1, preparing a to-be-tested multi-port switch and a flow testing instrument, connecting a port 1 of the switch to a port A of the flow testing instrument, and connecting a port 2 of the switch to a port B of the flow testing instrument; in the testing process, a flow beating instrument is used for sending a large number of data packets from a designated port A to a port B and reversely sending data from the port B to the port A at the same time, two data streams are generated, and the data form a loop. All ports of the switch do not need to be connected with ports of the flow testing instrument in a one-to-one mode, the testing time is saved in the testing process, port occupation of the flow testing instrument can be reduced, use of tools such as optical modules, network cables and optical fibers can be reduced, even a complex switch with many ports can achieve full-port flow testing at a time, and the method is suitable for electric ports and optical ports.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a configuration method, in particular to a configuration method suitable for data forwarding testing of a multi-port switch, and belongs to the technical field of data forwarding testing. Background Art

[0002] Switch data forwarding testing refers to a series of testing activities that comprehensively evaluate the switch's ability to forward data packets in a network environment. These tests are designed to verify the performance, efficiency, accuracy, and reliability of the switch when receiving, processing, and forwarding data packets to ensure that it can meet the needs and standards of network communications. Specifically, the purpose of switch data forwarding testing includes the following aspects:

[0003] Verify the basic functions of the switch: Testing needs to verify whether the basic forwarding functions of the switch work as expected, which includes key functions such as MAC address learning, VLAN processing, port mirroring, link aggregation, etc. to ensure that the switch can correctly process network packets;

[0004] Evaluate the performance of the switch: Performance is one of the important indicators of the switch. Through testing, the processing ability of the switch under high-speed network traffic can be evaluated, including throughput, forwarding delay and packet loss rate. These performance indicators directly reflect the forwarding efficiency and load capacity of the switch, which are crucial to ensure smooth network operation.

[0005] Ensure the stability of the switch: In actual applications, the switch needs to run stably for a long time. Through stability testing, the performance of the switch under long-term operation and various load conditions can be simulated to evaluate its stability and reliability. This helps to discover and solve potential problems such as memory leaks, performance degradation and overheating, thereby ensuring the long-term stable operation of the switch.

[0006] When performing data forwarding tests, the existing test methods are:

[0007] Connect all ports of the switch to the ports of the traffic meter one-to-one, and use the traffic meter to directly control the direction of the traffic on the corresponding port. This method is to test each port by connecting traffic between every two ports.

[0008] The existing data forwarding test method has the following technical problems:

[0009] 1. The traffic path is between two ports, and the test between all ports needs to be covered, which takes a long time and has low test efficiency;

[0010] 2. Occupy too many flow meter ports, resulting in a waste of resources;

[0011] 3. It is not suitable for complex switches with many ports. When the flow meter has insufficient ports, it cannot meet the demand of full flow on all ports at the same time, and it cannot perform some tests that require full flow as a condition;

[0012] Therefore, a configuration method suitable for data forwarding test of multi-port switches is proposed. Summary of the invention

[0013] In view of this, the present invention provides a configuration method applicable to a multi-port switch data forwarding test to solve or alleviate the technical problems existing in the prior art and at least provide a beneficial option.

[0014] The technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention is implemented as follows: A configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test comprises the following steps:

[0015] Step 1: Prepare a multi-port switch to be tested and a traffic meter, connect port 1 of the switch to port A of the traffic meter, and connect port 2 of the switch to port B of the traffic meter;

[0016] Step 2: Use physical media to connect port 3 and port 4 of the switch. Similarly, connect port 5 to port 6, and port 7 to port 8.

[0017] Step 3: Configure VLANs on the switch and isolate them. Configure port 1 and port 3 as VLAN A, port 4 and port 5 as VLAN B, port 6 and port 7 as VLAN C, and finally port N and port 2 as VLAN N.

[0018] Step 4: Verify the VLAN configuration and assign each port of the switch to the corresponding VLAN;

[0019] Step 5: two data streams are set on the flow meter, and the two data streams are connected to the port of the flow meter and the port of the switch;

[0020] Step 6: Start the data flow test on the flow meter, let the data flow be forwarded in the switch according to the path, and the data flow is forwarded inside the switch according to the VLAN configuration to form a closed loop between the ports;

[0021] Step 7: Monitor the sent and received data on the traffic meter, compare the sent and received data volumes, and check whether there is packet loss;

[0022] Step 8: Perform a performance test based on the data forwarding test, and evaluate the performance of the switch through the performance test.

[0023] Further preferably, in step three, port 1 and port 3 of the switch are in the same VLAN, port 3 is physically connected to port 4, and during the test, the data flow passes through port A of the flow meter to port 1, then to port 3 and then to port 4.

[0024] Further preferably, port 4 and port 5 are in the same VLAN, port 5 and port 6 are physically connected, and during the test, the data flows from port 4 to port 5 and then to port 6, and so on, the data flows to port N, port N and port 2 are in the same VLAN, the data flows back to port 2, and finally returns to the flow meter through port B, and the data flow forms a loop.

[0025] Further preferably, in step 5, the port 1 and the port 2 of the switch are connected to the port A and the port B of the flow meter respectively, and two data streams are set, and the directions of the two data streams are opposite;

[0026] The data sent from the flow meter port A to the flow meter port B is the first data flow;

[0027] The path of the first data flow is: traffic meter port A, switch port 1, switch port 3, switch port 4, switch port 5, switch port 6, switch port 7...switch port N, switch port 2, traffic meter port B.

[0028] Further preferably, the data stream sent by the flow meter port B to the flow meter port A is the second data stream;

[0029] The path of the second data flow is: traffic meter port B, switch port 2, switch port N...switch port 7, switch port 6, switch port 5, switch port 4, switch port 3, switch port 1, traffic meter port A.

[0030] Further preferably, in step 1, the ports of the switch are set and marked as port 1, port 2, port 3, ... port N, and the two ports of the flow meter are set and marked as port A and port B.

[0031] Further preferably, in step 2, the physical medium is an optical fiber, a network cable or an optical module.

[0032] Further preferably, in step seven, when data inconsistency or packet loss is found, the configuration of the switch, the physical connection and the setting of the flow meter are checked first.

[0033] Further preferably, in step eight, the performance test includes a throughput test and a delay test;

[0034] The throughput test is used to evaluate the maximum amount of data that the switch can process and forward in a unit time, and to test the processing performance of the switch.

[0035] Further preferably, the delay test is used to monitor the time required for data packets to be transmitted and processed in the switch, and to test the response time performance of the switch.

[0036] Since the embodiment of the present invention adopts the above technical scheme, it has the following advantages: the present invention constructs a test environment, connects the physical ports of the switch in pairs to form a loop, and then connects the traffic meter to the port of the switch. During the test, the traffic meter is used to send a large number of data packets from the designated port A to the port B, and at the same time, the data is sent back from the port B to the port A, generating two data streams, and the data forms a loop. Compared with the prior art, by adopting the technical scheme of the present invention, it is not necessary to connect all the ports of the switch to the ports of the traffic meter one-to-one, which saves time during testing and improves the test efficiency. It can also reduce the port occupation of the traffic meter and reduce the use of tools such as optical modules, network cables, and optical fibers. Even a complex switch with many ports can implement full-port traffic testing at one time, and it is suitable for electrical ports and optical ports.

[0037] The above summary is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments and features described above, further aspects, embodiments and features of the present invention will be readily apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0039] Figure 1 A flowchart of the steps of the configuration method for data forwarding test of a multi-port switch according to the present invention;

[0040] Figure 2 The figure is a schematic diagram of the connection between the flow meter port and the switch port of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In the following, only some exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the described embodiments may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the drawings and descriptions are considered to be exemplary and non-restrictive in nature.

[0042] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] like Figure 1-Figure 2 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test, comprising the following steps:

[0044] Step 1: Prepare a multi-port switch to be tested and a flow meter, connect port 1 of the switch to port A of the flow meter, connect port 2 of the switch to port B of the flow meter, mark the switch ports as port 1, port 2, port 3...port N, and mark the two ports of the flow meter as port A and port B;

[0045] This step ensures that all equipment required for the test (switches, traffic meters, physical media, etc.) are in place and functioning properly, avoiding test interruptions or failures caused by equipment problems during the test.

[0046] By correctly connecting the switch to the traffic meter, the foundation for subsequent data forwarding tests is laid;

[0047] Step 2: Use physical media to connect port 3 and port 4 of the switch. Similarly, connect port 5 to port 6, and connect port 7 to port 8. The physical media is optical fiber, network cable or optical module.

[0048] Connecting the ports of the switch in pairs through physical media to form a logical loop. This connection method helps to simulate the data transmission path in the actual network environment.

[0049] After the physical connection is completed, you can easily send data packets through the traffic meter to observe the forwarding of data packets in the switch, thereby verifying the forwarding performance of the switch;

[0050] Step 3: Configure VLANs on the switch and isolate them. Configure port 1 and port 3 as VLAN A, port 4 and port 5 as VLAN B, port 6 and port 7 as VLAN C, and finally port N and port 2 as VLAN N.

[0051] VLAN is a technology that divides a local area network into multiple independent virtual networks in a logical rather than physical way;

[0052] Step 4: Verify the VLAN configuration and assign each port of the switch to the corresponding VLAN;

[0053] Before performing a data forwarding test, check whether the VLAN configuration is correct to avoid test failure or data loss due to configuration errors;

[0054] Correct VLAN configuration can ensure that data packets are forwarded along the expected path in the switch, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of the test;

[0055] Step 5: Set up two data streams on the traffic meter, and the two data streams connect the port of the traffic meter and the port of the switch;

[0056] Step 6: Start the data flow test on the flow meter, let the data flow be forwarded in the switch according to the path, and the data flow is forwarded inside the switch according to the VLAN configuration, forming a closed loop between the ports;

[0057] Step 7: Monitor the sent and received data on the traffic meter, compare the sent and received data volumes, and check whether there is packet loss;

[0058] Step 8: Perform performance testing based on the data forwarding test to evaluate the performance of the switch.

[0059] In one embodiment, in step 3, port 1 and port 3 of the switch are in the same VLAN, port 3 is physically connected to port 4, during the test, the data flow passes through port A of the flow meter to port 1, then to port 3 and then to port 4; port 4 and port 5 are in the same VLAN, port 5 is physically connected to port 6, during the test, the data flow goes from port 4 to port 5 and then to port 6, and so on, the data flow goes to port N, port N and port 2 are in the same VLAN, the data flow returns to port 2, and finally returns to the flow meter through port B, and the data flow forms a loop;

[0060] Through VLAN configuration, communication isolation or intercommunication between different VLANs can be achieved to meet different network requirements.

[0061] In one embodiment, in step 5, port 1 and port 2 of the switch are connected to port A and port B of the flow meter respectively, and two data flows are set, and the directions of the two data flows are opposite;

[0062] The data sent from the flow meter port A to the flow meter port B is the first data flow;

[0063] The path of the first data flow is: traffic meter port A, switch port 1, switch port 3, switch port 4, switch port 5, switch port 6, switch port 7... switch port N, switch port 2, traffic meter port B;

[0064] The data sent from the flow meter port B to the flow meter port A is the second data flow;

[0065] The path of the second data flow is: traffic meter port B, switch port 2, switch port N... switch port 7, switch port 6, switch port 5, switch port 4, switch port 3, switch port 1, traffic meter port A;

[0066] The traffic meter can simulate the data flow in the actual network, including data packets of various protocols and data traffic of different rates and loads. By sending and receiving data streams to the switch, the traffic meter can test the forwarding performance of the switch under specific conditions, including indicators such as throughput, delay, and packet loss rate.

[0067] The traffic meter can provide accurate data flow simulation and testing to help network administrators accurately evaluate the performance of the switch. During the test, if performance bottlenecks or abnormalities are found, the traffic meter can help locate the problem and provide a basis for troubleshooting.

[0068] In one embodiment, in step seven, when data inconsistency or packet loss is found, the configuration of the switch, the physical connection, and the settings of the flow meter are first checked;

[0069] By monitoring the send and receive data on the traffic meter, you can verify whether the switch is forwarding the data flow correctly as expected;

[0070] Monitoring and verification ensure the accuracy and reliability of test results, avoiding misjudgments due to test errors. In addition, the monitoring and verification results can provide a strong basis for subsequent network optimization and upgrades, and promote the continuous improvement of network performance.

[0071] In one embodiment, in step eight, the performance test includes a throughput test and a latency test;

[0072] The throughput test is used to evaluate the maximum amount of data that a switch can process and forward in a unit of time, and to test the processing performance of the switch. By measuring the maximum amount of data that a switch can stably transmit, you can understand its performance under different network loads.

[0073] The delay test is used to monitor the time required for data packets to be transmitted and processed in the switch, and to test the response time performance of the switch. This time includes the time required for each link of the data packet such as queuing, processing, and forwarding inside the switch, which will directly affect the user experience and the response speed of the application.

[0074] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of various changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, which should be included in the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A configuration method suitable for data forwarding testing of a multi-port switch, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step 1: Prepare a multi-port switch to be tested and a traffic meter, connect port 1 of the switch to port A of the traffic meter, and connect port 2 of the switch to port B of the traffic meter; Step 2: Use physical media to connect port 3 and port 4 of the switch. Similarly, connect port 5 to port 6, and port 7 to port 8. Step 3: Configure VLANs on the switch and isolate them. Configure port 1 and port 3 as VLAN A, port 4 and port 5 as VLAN B, port 6 and port 7 as VLAN C, and finally port N and port 2 as VLAN N. Step 4: Verify the VLAN configuration and assign each port of the switch to the corresponding VLAN; Step 5: two data streams are set on the flow meter, and the two data streams are connected to the port of the flow meter and the port of the switch; Step 6: Start the data flow test on the flow meter, let the data flow be forwarded in the switch according to the path, and the data flow is forwarded inside the switch according to the VLAN configuration, forming a closed loop between the ports; Step 7: Monitor the sent and received data on the traffic meter, compare the sent and received data volumes, and check whether there is packet loss; Step 8: Perform a performance test based on the data forwarding test, and evaluate the performance of the switch through the performance test.

2. A configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step three, port 1 and port 3 of the switch are in the same VLAN, and port 3 is physically connected to port 4. During the test, the data flow passes through port A of the flow meter to port 1, then to port 3 and then to port 4.

3. A configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test according to claim 2, characterized in that: Port 4 and port 5 are in the same VLAN, and port 5 and port 6 are physically connected. During the test, the data flows from port 4 to port 5 and then to port 6, and so on. The data flows to port N, which is in the same VLAN as port 2. The data flows back to port 2 and finally returns to the flow meter through port B, forming a data flow loop.

4. A configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 5, the port 1 and the port 2 of the switch are connected to the port A and the port B of the flow meter respectively, and two data flows are set, and the directions of the two data flows are opposite; The data sent from the flow meter port A to the flow meter port B is the first data flow; The path of the first data flow is: traffic meter port A, switch port 1, switch port 3, switch port 4, switch port 5, switch port 6, switch port 7...switch port N, switch port 2, traffic meter port B.

5. A configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test according to claim 4, characterized in that: The data sent from the flow meter port B to the flow meter port A is the second data flow; The path of the second data flow is: traffic meter port B, switch port 2, switch port N...switch port 7, switch port 6, switch port 5, switch port 4, switch port 3, switch port 1, traffic meter port A.

6. A configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 1, the ports of the switch are set and marked as port 1, port 2, port 3, ... port N, and the two ports of the flow meter are set and marked as port A and port B.

7. A configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 2, the physical medium is an optical fiber, a network cable or an optical module.

8. A configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 7, if data inconsistency or packet loss is found, first check the switch configuration, physical connection, and flow meter settings.

9. A configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step eight, the performance test includes a throughput test and a delay test; The throughput test is used to evaluate the maximum amount of data that the switch can process and forward in a unit time, and to test the processing performance of the switch.

10. A configuration method suitable for a multi-port switch data forwarding test according to claim 9, characterized in that: The delay test is used to monitor the time required for data packets to be transmitted and processed in the switch, and to test the response time performance of the switch.

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