Parallel Coherent Packet Generator for High-Speed Network Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing packet switched networks and devices often require generating high-speed test flows that exceed the capacity of a single packet generator, necessitating the combination of multiple packet generators to simulate real-world network traffic effectively.
Innovation Solution
A traffic generator system comprising multiple transmit engines, a schedule and overlay engine, and a multiplexer that coherently combines interleaved streams to form high-speed data flows, capable of simulating multiple packet types and rates, including data, audio, and video streams, to thoroughly test network equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple packet generators are combined to generate high-speed test flows, then the data rate capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the high-speed test flow generation into multiple parallel transmit engines, each handling a portion of the total data rate. Each transmit engine operates independently to generate packets at a fraction of the total line rate, and a multiplexer combines these parallel streams to achieve the aggregate high-speed output capability without requiring a single complex generator
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple transmit engines and their output streams into a unified high-speed test flow through a multiplexer. The multiplexer coherently combines the parallel streams from multiple transmit engines, achieving the data rate capability of multiple generators while maintaining system coherence and proper packet sequencing
2Productivity
If multiple transmit engines are used to generate high-speed flows, then the productivity is improved, but the coherence of combined streams becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The multiplexer monitors the output of each transmit engine and dynamically adjusts packet selection and timing based on feedback about current stream states. This feedback mechanism ensures that packets from multiple transmit engines are combined in a coherent manner that maintains proper sequencing and timing relationships, preserving stream coherence even at high aggregate data rates
3Device complexity
If a single packet generator is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the data rate capability is insufficient for modern network testing
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single-dimensional sequential processing approach to a multi-dimensional parallel architecture. Multiple transmit engines operate simultaneously in parallel dimensions, each generating traffic at moderate rates, while the multiplexer combines these parallel streams to achieve high aggregate data rates that would be impossible for a single generator to produce
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a packet generator and method of generating a packet flow. The packet generator may include a plurality of parallel transmit engines to form packets for transmission and a multiplexer to coherently interleave packets formed by the plurality of transmit engines.