Network switch test equipment and test method

Abstract

This invention provides a network switch test device and test method that reduces the testing time and cost of high-speed network switches and improves production efficiency. [Solution] The network switch test device 1 according to the present invention comprises a central processing unit 10, an acceleration port 111, and at least one transmission port 112. The acceleration port enables internal loopback and access control lists, and the transmission port is connected to the test target transmission port of at least one network switch under test. The acceleration port and the transmission port are configured in the same virtual domain network. The central processing unit transmits packets to the acceleration port, where the packets are transmitted via loopback and access control lists, reach a predetermined line rate at the acceleration port, and are transmitted to the transmission port through flooding of the virtual domain network.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a test apparatus and a test method, and particularly to a test apparatus and a test method for a network switch.

Background Art

[0002] In the manufacturing process of a network switch, it is necessary to test the packet transfer function. As the requirement for network transmission data speed increases significantly, it is also required to support a high data transmission speed when testing the network switch. Currently, the test of the network switch used in the industry mainly uses an external network performance test apparatus to transmit and receive packets and measure the overall transmission speed. However, commercially available network performance test apparatuses (such as Spirent Test Center, IXIA, etc.) are very expensive and subsequent maintenance management costs are incurred, so it is inefficient in terms of production cost. In addition, the number of transmission ports in commercially available network performance test apparatuses is small, and multiple network switches to be tested cannot be tested simultaneously, so there is a problem that the test time is extended and the cost expenditure increases.

[0003] The applicant has developed a technology for testing a network switch under test using a standard-compliant network switch as a test device. This technology includes a central processing unit, a first acceleration port, a second acceleration port, and at least one transmission port. In particular, the central processing unit generates at least one packet. The first and second acceleration ports clear packet statistics, stop MAC address learning, and enable internal loopback. The transmission port clears packet statistics and forwarding list, stops MAC address learning, and is connected to at least one transmission port under test of at least one network switch under test. The first acceleration port, the second acceleration port, and the transmission port are configured in the same virtual domain network. The central processing unit transmits the packet to the first acceleration port, and the first and second acceleration ports transmit the packet to the transmission port after it reaches a predetermined line rate via internal loopback and virtual domain network flooding. The transmission port transmits packets that have reached a predetermined line rate to the test transmission port of the network switch under test. The quality of the network switch under test is verified by checking the number of packets transmitted and received by the test device. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] While the aforementioned technology can reduce the cost of using external test equipment and improve production efficiency, it requires the use of two acceleration ports to achieve a predetermined line rate. Therefore, when simultaneously testing packets from different virtual domain networks on multiple network switches under test, twice the number of acceleration ports as the number of virtual domain networks are consumed, resulting in a shortage of transmission ports available for testing. This limits the number of network switches under test that can be tested simultaneously. Thus, the main objective of the present invention is to further reduce the testing time and cost of high-speed network switches and improve production efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a test device for a network switch. The test device for a network switch comprises a central processing unit, an acceleration port, and at least one transmission port. The central processing unit generates at least one packet. The acceleration port clears packet statistics, stops media access control (MAC) address learning, and enables internal loopback and access control lists. At least one transmission port clears packet statistics and forwarding lists, stops media access control address learning, and is connected to at least one transmission port under test on at least one network switch under test. The acceleration port and transmission port are configured on the same virtual domain network. The central processing unit transmits packets to the acceleration port. The packets are looped back at the acceleration port via internal loopback and access control lists, reach a predetermined line rate, and are transmitted to the transmission port through flooding of the virtual domain network. The transmission port transmits packets that have reached the predetermined line rate to the test transmission port of the test network switch. The central processing unit stops packet transmission at the transmission port when the test time has elapsed.

[0006] In certain embodiments, different transmission ports can be configured with different predetermined line rates.

[0007] In certain embodiments, the access control list redirects packets to acceleration ports and transmission ports.

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the present invention further provides a method for testing a network switch. The method for testing a network switch includes the following steps. The step of providing a test device including a central processing unit and multiple ports, and at least one network switch under test including at least one transmission port under test. The central processing unit removes the virtual domain network from multiple ports within the test device and configures acceleration ports and at least one transmission port for the multiple ports. The central processing unit clears the packet statistics for the acceleration port and transmission port, and clears the forwarding list for the transmission port. The central processing unit stops media access control address learning for the acceleration port and transmission port. The central processing unit enables the internal loopback and access control list of the acceleration port. The central processing unit sets the acceleration port and transmission port to the same virtual domain network. The central processing unit transmits at least one packet to the acceleration port. The packet is looped back via an internal loopback and access control list, and after reaching a predetermined line rate at the acceleration port, it is transmitted to the transmission port through flooding of the virtual domain network. The transmission port transmits packets that have reached a predetermined line rate to the transmission port under test of the network switch under test, and the transmission port or port receives packets that have been returned from the transmission port under test. The central processing unit (CPA) stops packet transmission on the transmission port when the test time has elapsed. A step to verify the quality of packet transmission by the network switch under test, based on the number of packets transmitted and received by the test device.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the access control list redirects packets to acceleration ports and transmission ports.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the central processing unit can generate different packets, and different packets can have different predetermined line rates set at different transmission ports.

[0011] The network switch test apparatus and test method of the present invention require configuring the ports of the test apparatus as traffic generator groups via software, with each traffic generator group having only one acceleration port and at least one transmission port. This increases the number of transmission ports within a traffic generator group and the number of network switches under test that can be tested simultaneously. Users can adjust packets according to their actual needs and configure packets of different predetermined line rates to different transmission ports, enabling simultaneous testing of multiple network switches under test. This not only meets industry testing requirements and improves test scope and accuracy, but also further saves test time and costs, thereby improving production efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing a test device for a network switch according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram illustrating how a network switch test device in an embodiment of the present invention tests multiple network switches under test by transmitting packets in a unidirectional manner. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram illustrating how a network switch test device in an embodiment of the present invention transmits packets bidirectionally to test multiple network switches under test. [Figure 4] This is a step flowchart illustrating a test method for the network switch of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the drawings and reference numerals, so that persons with ordinary skill in the art can carry out the present invention by referring to this specification.

[0014] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a test device for a network switch according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the network switch test device 1 includes a central processing unit 10 and a plurality of ports 11, and further stores the software for the Ethernet Traffic Generator (ETG) of the present invention. The network switch test device 1 can select an Ethernet switch that has passed inspection and has been verified to comply with a predetermined line rate (e.g., 100 Gb / s, 200 Gb / s, 400 Gb / s, 800 Gb / s or higher) and standards.

[0015] Before testing the network switch under test, the central processing unit 10 performs the following steps: Remove the virtual domain network from all ports 11 and configure acceleration ports 111 and at least one transmission port 112 on multiple ports 11. Clear the packet statistics for acceleration port 111, stop media access control address learning for acceleration port 111, and enable the internal loopback and access control list for acceleration port 111. Clear the packet statistics and forwarding list for transmission port 112 and stop media access control address learning for transmission port 112. Configure acceleration ports 111 and transmission ports 112 into an Ethernet Traffic Generator (ETG) group and configure acceleration ports 111 and transmission ports 112 belonging to the same ETG group into the same virtual domain network V1.

[0016] When testing the network switch under test, the central processing unit 10 connects the transmission port 112 to the target transmission port of the network switch under test (not shown) via a line, i.e., a wired connection. The central processing unit 10 then generates at least one type of packet and transmits the packet to the acceleration port 111. The packet returns to the acceleration port 111 via an internal loopback, and the packet looped back to the acceleration port 111 is redirected via an access control list to all ports of the same virtual domain network V1 (i.e., acceleration port 111 and transmission port 112). After looping back for a certain period via the internal loopback and access control list, the packet reaches a predetermined line rate at the acceleration port 111 and is transmitted to the transmission port 112 via flooding of the virtual domain network V1. The predetermined line rate can be set based on the maximum line speed of the network switch under test. The transmission port 112 transmits the packet that has reached the predetermined line rate to the target transmission port of the network switch under test. The target transmission port of the network switch under test can return the packet to the transmission port 112 or an unconfigured port 11. The central processing unit 10 stops packet transmission on the transmission port 112 when the test period expires, i.e., when the test period has elapsed. The packet transmission quality of the network switch under test can be verified using the number of packets sent and received by the network switch test device 1. This includes checking whether the number of packets is accurate, whether there are any error packets, and whether the packet size matches the expected value.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a test apparatus for a network switch in an embodiment of the present invention that transmits packets unidirectionally to test a plurality of network switches to be tested. As shown in FIG. 2, the test apparatus 1 for a network switch includes a central processing unit (not shown) and a plurality of ports 11 (for example, 32 or 48 ports 11), and further stores the ETG software of the present invention. The plurality of ports 11 include one acceleration port 111 and three transmission ports 112, and the acceleration port 111 and the transmission ports 112 are set in the same virtual area network V2. Two test target transmission ports 211 and 212 of the network switch 21 to be tested are respectively connected to one transmission port 112 and one unconfigured port 11 in the test apparatus 1 for the network switch via lines. Two test target transmission ports 221 and 222 of the network switch 22 to be tested are respectively connected to one transmission port 112 and one unconfigured port 11 in the test apparatus 1 for the network switch, and two test target transmission ports 231 and 232 of the network switch 23 to be tested are respectively connected to one transmission port 112 and one unconfigured port 11 in the test apparatus 1 for the network switch. The setting methods of the acceleration port 111, the transmission ports 112, the ETG group, and the virtual area network V2 will be described in detail below.

[0018] Before testing the network switches 21, 22, and 23 under test, the central processing unit performs the following steps based on the ETG software: It removes the virtual domain network settings from all ports 11 on the test device 1 of the network switches (making them not belong to any virtual domain network), and selects one acceleration port 111 and three transmission ports 112 from among the ports 11. It clears the packet statistics for acceleration port 111, stops media access control address learning for acceleration port 111, and enables the internal loopback and access control list for acceleration port 111. It clears the packet statistics and forwarding list for transmission ports 112, and stops media access control address learning for transmission ports 112. It sets acceleration port 111 and the three transmission ports 112 as an ETG group. It sets acceleration port 111 and the three transmission ports 112 of the ETG group as the same virtual domain network V2, and maintains the state in which the other ports 11 do not belong to any virtual domain network. This sets the contents of the packet, including the destination address DA, source address SA, Ethernet type, packet data, packet size, and whether it is tagged or untagged.

[0019] The points to be explained here are that users can adjust the packet content via the central processing unit according to their actual needs and generate identical or different packets, and the central processing unit can set a predetermined line rate for each transmission port 112. The predetermined line rates at which each transmission port 112 transmits packets may be the same or different. In this embodiment, the test is performed using two types of untagged packets.

[0020] When testing the test target network switches 21, 22, and 23, the central processing unit generates a certain number (e.g., single digits, tens digits, hundreds digits) of packets without two types of tags and transmits the packets to the acceleration port 111. Since the acceleration port 111 enables internal loopback, the packets are looped back to the acceleration port 111. Also, since the acceleration port 111 enables an access control list, the packets looped back to the acceleration port 111 are redirected to the acceleration port 111 of the same virtual area network V2 and three transmission ports 112 via the access control list. After the packets are looped back for a certain period via the internal loopback and the access control list, a predetermined line rate is reached at the acceleration port 111. The predetermined line rate is set based on the maximum speed of the lines of each test target network switch 21, 22, 23 (e.g., the transmission ports 112 connected to the test target network switches 21, 22 are set to 400G, and the transmission port 112 connected to the test target network switch 23 is set to 100G). Thereby, the test target network switches 21, 22 with a line rate of 400G and the test target network switch 23 with a line rate of 100G can be tested simultaneously. Since the transmission ports 112 and the acceleration port 111 are set in the same virtual area network V2, the packets that reach the predetermined line rate at the acceleration port 111 are flooded to the three transmission ports 112. The three transmission ports 112 each transmit the packets that have reached the predetermined line rate to the test target transmission ports 211, 221, 231 of the test target network switches 21, 22, 23. After receiving the packets, the three test target network switches 21, 22, 23 each return the packets to an unset port 11 in the test device 1 of the network switch via a different test target transmission port 212, 222, 232.

[0021] The user can pre-set the test time or determine it in real time. For example, to transmit packets for 5 minutes, the test time can be pre-set as 5 minutes, or the user can stop packet transmission using a command when 5 minutes have elapsed. When the test time expires, the central processing unit clears the forwarding list of acceleration port 111, stopping packet flooding, and transmission port 112 immediately stops packet transmission. The user can prepare for the next test by restoring the forwarding list of acceleration port 111 after a predetermined time (e.g., 0.2 seconds). The user can connect to the central processing unit of test device 1 using an external computer device and verify the line rate and quality (e.g., packet transmission / reception loss rate, error rate, etc.) of the network switches under test 21, 22, and 23 based on the number of packets transmitted on transmission port 112, the number of two types of packets received on the unconfigured port 11, and the test time.

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating how a network switch test device in one embodiment of the present invention transmits packets bidirectionally to test multiple network switches under test. As shown in Figure 3, the network switch test device 1 includes a central processing unit (not shown) and multiple ports 11 (for example, 32 ports 11), and further stores the ETG software of the present invention. The multiple ports 11 include two acceleration ports 111a and 111b, two transmission ports 112a and two transmission ports 112b. The acceleration port 111a and the two transmission ports 112a are configured in the same virtual domain network V3, and the acceleration port 111b and the two transmission ports 112b are configured in the same virtual domain network V4. Two transmission ports 241 and 242 of the network switch under test 24 are connected to the transmission ports 112a and 112b of the network switch test device 1 via lines, respectively. The two test transmission ports 251 and 252 of the network switch 25 under test are connected to transmission port 112a and transmission port 112b of the network switch test device 1, respectively. The configuration methods for acceleration ports 111a and 111b, transmission ports 112a and 112b, ETG group, and virtual domain networks V3 and V4 are described in detail below.

[0023] Before testing network switches 24 and 25, delete the virtual area network settings for all ports 11 on the test device 1 of the network switches. Select two acceleration ports 111a and 111b and two transmission ports 112a and 112b from port 11, clear the packet statistics for acceleration ports 111a and 111b, stop media access control address learning for acceleration ports 111a and 111b, and enable the internal loopback and access control lists for acceleration ports 111a and 111b. Clear the packet statistics and forwarding lists for transmission ports 112a and 112b, and stop media access control address learning for transmission ports 112a and 112b. Set acceleration port 111a and the two transmission ports 112a to the first ETG group, and acceleration port 111b and the two transmission ports 112b to the second ETG group. The acceleration port 111a and the two transmission ports 112a of the first ETG group are configured to the same virtual domain network V3, and the acceleration port 111b and the two transmission ports 112b of the second ETG group are configured to the same virtual domain network V4. The other ports 11 are kept independent of either virtual domain network. The contents of the first and second packets are configured.

[0024] When testing network switches 24 and 25 under test, the central processing unit generates multiple first and second packets based on the configuration, transmits the first packets to acceleration port 111a of the first ETG group, and transmits the second packets to acceleration port 111b of the second ETG group. Since acceleration ports 111a and 111b have internal loopback enabled, the first packets are looped back to acceleration port 111a, and the second packets are looped back to acceleration port 111b. Also, since acceleration ports 111a and 111b have access control lists enabled, the first packets looped back to acceleration port 111a are redirected via the access control list to acceleration port 111a and two transmission ports 112a of the same virtual domain network V3, and the second packets looped back to acceleration port 111b are redirected via the access control list to acceleration port 111b and two transmission ports 112b of the same virtual domain network V4. The first and second packets are looped back for a certain period of time via internal loopback and access control lists, and then reach a predetermined line rate at acceleration ports 111a and 111b, respectively. The predetermined line rate is set based on the maximum line speed of each test target network switch 24 and 25. Since transmission port 112a is configured in the same virtual domain network V3 as acceleration port 111a, and transmission port 112b is configured in the same virtual domain network V4 as acceleration port 111b, the first packet that reaches the predetermined line rate in acceleration port 111a is flooded to the two transmission ports 112a, and the second packet that reaches the predetermined line rate in acceleration port 111b is flooded to the two transmission ports 112b. Transmission port 112a transmits the first packet, once it reaches a predetermined line rate, to the test target transmission ports 241 and 251 of the test target network switches 24 and 25, and transmission port 112b transmits the second packet, once it reaches a predetermined line rate, to the test target transmission ports 242 and 252 of the test target network switches 24 and 25.The test-target transmission ports 241 and 251 transmit the first packet to the test-target transmission ports 242 and 252, and the test-target transmission ports 242 and 252 transmit the second packet to the test-target transmission ports 241 and 251. The test-target transmission ports 241 and 251 transmit the second packet to transmission port 112a, and the test-target transmission ports 242 and 252 transmit the first packet to transmission port 112b (the transmission path of the first packet is shown by the solid arrow in Figure 3, and the transmission path of the second packet is shown by the dotted arrow in Figure 3). When the test period expires, the central processing unit clears the forwarding lists of acceleration ports 111a and 111b, stopping packet flooding, and transmission ports 112a and 112b immediately stop transmitting packets. The user can prepare for the next test by restoring the forwarding lists of acceleration ports 111a and 111b after a predetermined time (e.g., 0.2 seconds). The user can connect to the central processing unit of test device 1 using an external computer device and verify the line rate and quality (e.g., packet transmission / reception loss rate, error rate, etc.) of the network switches 24 and 25 under test based on the number of first and second packets transmitted and received at transmission ports 112a and 112b, as well as the test time.

[0025] This invention allows multiple ports in a network switch test device to be configured as a traffic generator group through software settings, and each traffic generator group only requires the configuration of a single acceleration port. This increases the number of transmission ports within a traffic generator group and the number of network switches under test that can be tested simultaneously. This further reduces test time and costs and improves production efficiency.

[0026] Figure 4 is a step flowchart showing a test method for a network switch according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, the test method for a network switch according to the present invention includes the following steps. Step S40: Provide a test device and at least one network switch to be tested. Here, the test device includes a central processing unit and a plurality of ports, and the network switch to be tested includes a plurality of transmission ports to be tested. Step S41: The central processing unit deletes the virtual area network settings for all ports and sets one acceleration port and at least one transmission port from among the plurality of ports. Step S42: The central processing unit clears the packet statistics for the acceleration port and transmission port and clears the forwarding list for the transmission port. Step S43: The central processing unit stops media access control address learning for the acceleration port and transmission port. Step S44: The central processing unit enables the internal loopback and access control list for the acceleration port. Step S45: The central processing unit sets the acceleration port and transmission port to the same virtual area network. Step S46: The central processing unit transmits packets to the acceleration port. Step S47: Packets are looped back at the acceleration port via internal loopback and access control list, and after reaching a predetermined line rate, are transmitted to the transmission port through flooding of the virtual domain network. Step S48: The transmission port transmits packets that have reached the predetermined line rate to the test transmission port of the network switch under test, and the transmission port or other ports receive packets returned from the test transmission port. Step S481: Determine whether the test time has expired. If "no", return to step S48. If "yes", proceed to step S49. Step S49: The central processing unit stops packet transmission at the transmission port and verifies the packet transmission quality of the network switch under test based on the number of packets sent and received by the test device.

[0027] In one embodiment, the network switch under test is, for example, an Ethernet switch, and the test device can select an Ethernet switch that has been verified to conform to a predetermined line rate (e.g., 100 Gb / s, 200 Gb / s, 400 Gb / s, 800 Gb / s or higher) and standards. The packets may be single or multiple packets, and the contents of the packets can be adjusted according to actual needs. For example, this may include a specified source address, destination address, Ethernet format, packet data, packet size, and tagged or untagged packets. The predetermined line rate is set based on the actual needs of each network switch under test, and packets of different predetermined line rates can be transmitted from each transmission port to test multiple network switches simultaneously.

[0028] It is particularly important to note that steps S42 to S45 are not restricted by order, and the user can pre-set the test time using the central processing unit's timer before executing step S46. This allows the user to freely determine the timing and length of the test start and stop, thereby improving the flexibility of the test. In step S49, the central processing unit can stop packet transmission on the transmission port by clearing the forwarding list of the acceleration port. After the completion of step S49, once a predetermined time (e.g., 0.2 seconds) has elapsed, the central processing unit can restore the forwarding list of the acceleration port and prepare for the next test.

[0029] In summary, the network switch test device and test method of the present invention require configuring the ports of the test device as traffic generator groups via software, with each traffic generator group having only one acceleration port and at least one transmission port. This increases the number of transmission ports within a traffic generator group and the number of network switches under test that can be tested simultaneously. Users can adjust packets according to their actual needs, configure packets at different predetermined line rates for different transmission ports, and test multiple network switches under test simultaneously. This meets industry test requirements, improves test scope and accuracy, further reduces test time and cost, and improves production efficiency.

[0030] The embodiments described above are illustrative in nature and illustrate the principles and effects of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention. Accordingly, persons skilled in the art can modify, combine, and change the embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications, combinations, or changes that can be implemented by persons with ordinary skill in the art within the scope of the disclosed spirit and technical principles of the present invention are included in the claims of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1: Network switch test equipment 10: Central Processing Unit 11: Port 111, 111a, 111b: Acceleration ports 112, 112a, 112b: Transmission ports 21, 22, 23, 24, 25: Network switches under test 211, 212, 221, 222, 231, 232, 241, 242, 251, 252: Transmission ports under test V1, V2, V3, V4: Virtual Domain Network S40, S41, S42, S43, S44, S45, S46, S47, S48, S481, S49: Step

Claims

1. A central processing unit that generates at least one packet, Clear packet statistics, stop Media Access Control (MAC) address learning, enable internal loopback and access control lists, and the acceleration port, Clear the packet statistics and forwarding list, stop media access control address learning, and connect at least one transmission port to at least one transmission port of at least one network switch under test, Equipped with, The acceleration port and the transmission port are configured in the same virtual domain network, the central processing unit transmits the packets to the acceleration port, the packets are looped back via an internal loopback and access control list, and after reaching a predetermined line rate at the acceleration port, they are transmitted to the transmission port by flooding of the virtual domain network, the transmission port transmits the packets that have reached the predetermined line rate to the test target transmission port of the test target network switch, and the central processing unit stops the transmission of the packets by the transmission port when the test time has elapsed. A test device for network switches characterized by the following features.

2. A test apparatus for a network switch according to claim 1, wherein different transmission ports are capable of setting different predetermined line rates.

3. The network switch test device according to claim 1, wherein the access control list redirects the packets to the acceleration port and the transmission port.

4. The steps include providing a test device including a central processing unit and multiple ports, and at least one network switch under test including at least one transmission port under test, The central processing unit deletes the virtual domain network configured on the multiple ports of the test device, and sets one acceleration port and at least one transmission port from among the multiple ports. The central processing unit performs the steps of clearing the packet statistics for the acceleration port and the transmission port, and clearing the forwarding list for the transmission port, The central processing unit performs the steps of stopping media access control (MAC) address learning for the acceleration port and the transmission port, The central processing unit includes the steps of enabling the internal loopback and access control list of the acceleration port, The central processing unit takes the step of setting the acceleration port and the transmission port to the same virtual domain network, The central processing unit performs the steps of transmitting at least one packet to the acceleration port, The packet is looped back via an internal loopback and an access control list, and after reaching a predetermined line rate at the acceleration port, it is transmitted to the transmission port through flooding of the virtual domain network. The transmission port transmits the packets that have reached the predetermined line rate to the test-target transmission port of the test-target network switch, and the transmission port or the port receives the packets that have been returned from the test-target transmission port. The central processing unit performs the step of stopping packet transmission on the transmission port when the test time has elapsed, The test device verifies the quality of packet transmission by the network switch under test based on the number of packets transmitted and received by the test device. A method for testing a network switch, characterized by including the following:

5. The method for testing a network switch according to claim 4, wherein the access control list redirects the packets to the acceleration port and the transmission port.

6. The method for testing a network switch according to claim 4, wherein the central processing unit is capable of generating different packets, and different packets are capable of setting different predetermined line rates at different transmission ports.

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