aboutsummaryrefslogtreecommitdiffstats
path: root/docs/requirements/vswitchperf_ltd.rst
blob: 9e26f63799ea0f52a9088a5a27def5de1b3cb7e7 (plain)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
2053
2054
2055
2056
2057
2058
2059
2060
2061
2062
2063
2064
2065
2066
2067
2068
2069
2070
2071
2072
2073
2074
2075
2076
2077
2078
2079
2080
2081
2082
2083
2084
2085
2086
2087
2088
2089
2090
2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
2108
2109
2110
2111
2112
2113
2114
2115
2116
2117
2118
2119
2120
2121
2122
2123
2124
2125
2126
2127
2128
2129
2130
2131
2132
2133
2134
2135
2136
2137
2138
2139
2140
2141
2142
2143
2144
2145
2146
2147
2148
2149
2150
2151
2152
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162
2163
2164
2165
2166
2167
2168
2169
2170
2171
2172
2173
2174
2175
2176
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182
2183
2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
2195
2196
2197
2198
2199
2200
2201
2202
2203
2204
2205
2206
2207
2208
2209
2210
2211
2212
2213
2214
2215
2216
2217
2218
2219
2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234
2235
2236
2237
2238
2239
2240
2241
2242
2243
2244
2245
2246
2247
2248
2249
2250
2251
2252
2253
2254
2255
2256
2257
2258
2259
2260
2261
2262
2263
2264
2265
2266
2267
2268
2269
2270
2271
2272
2273
2274
2275
2276
2277
2278
2279
2280
2281
2282
2283
2284
2285
2286
2287
2288
2289
2290
2291
2292
2293
2294
2295
2296
2297
2298
2299
2300
2301
2302
2303
2304
2305
2306
2307
2308
2309
2310
2311
2312
2313
2314
2315
2316
2317
2318
2319
2320
2321
2322
2323
2324
2325
2326
2327
2328
2329
2330
2331
2332
2333
2334
2335
2336
2337
2338
2339
2340
2341
2342
2343
2344
2345
2346
2347
2348
2349
2350
2351
2352
2353
2354
2355
2356
2357
2358
2359
2360
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366
2367
2368
2369
2370
2371
2372
2373
2374
2375
2376
2377
2378
2379
2380
2381
2382
2383
2384
2385
2386
2387
2388
2389
2390
2391
2392
2393
2394
2395
2396
2397
2398
2399
2400
2401
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
2413
2414
2415
2416
2417
2418
2419
2420
2421
2422
2423
2424
2425
2426
2427
2428
2429
2430
2431
2432
2433
2434
2435
2436
2437
2438
2439
2440
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446
2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453
2454
2455
2456
2457
2458
2459
2460
2461
2462
2463
2464
2465
2466
2467
2468
2469
2470
2471
2472
2473
2474
2475
2476
2477
2478
2479
2480
2481
2482
2483
2484
2485
2486
2487
2488
2489
2490
2491
2492
2493
2494
2495
2496
2497
2498
2499
2500
2501
2502
2503
2504
2505
2506
2507
2508
2509
2510
2511
2512
2513
2514
2515
2516
2517
2518
2519
2520
2521
2522
2523
2524
2525
2526
2527
2528
2529
2530
2531
2532
2533
2534
2535
2536
2537
2538
2539
2540
2541
2542
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548
2549
2550
2551
2552
2553
2554
2555
2556
2557
2558
2559
2560
2561
2562
2563
2564
2565
2566
2567
2568
2569
2570
2571
2572
2573
2574
2575
2576
2577
2578
2579
2580
2581
2582
2583
2584
2585
2586
2587
2588
2589
2590
2591
2592
2593
2594
2595
2596
2597
2598
2599
2600
2601
2602
2603
2604
2605
2606
2607
2608
2609
2610
2611
2612
2613
2614
2615
2616
2617
2618
2619
2620
2621
2622
2623
2624
2625
2626
2627
2628
2629
2630
2631
2632
2633
2634
2635
2636
2637
2638
2639
2640
2641
2642
2643
2644
2645
2646
2647
2648
2649
2650
2651
2652
2653
2654
2655
2656
2657
2658
2659
2660
2661
2662
2663
2664
2665
2666
2667
2668
2669
2670
2671
2672
2673
2674
2675
2676
2677
2678
2679
2680
.. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
.. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
.. (c) OPNFV, Intel Corporation, AT&T and others.

.. 3.1

===============
Introduction
===============

The objective of the OPNFV project titled
**“Characterize vSwitch Performance for Telco NFV Use Cases”**, is to
evaluate a virtual switch to identify its suitability for a Telco
Network Function Virtualization (NFV) environment. The intention of this
Level Test Design (LTD) document is to specify the set of tests to carry
out in order to objectively measure the current characteristics of a
virtual switch in the Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure
(NFVI) as well as the test pass criteria. The detailed test cases will
be defined in details-of-LTD_, preceded by the doc-id_ and the scope_.

This document is currently in draft form.

.. 3.1.1


.. _doc-id:

Document identifier
=========================

The document id will be used to uniquely
identify versions of the LTD. The format for the document id will be:
OPNFV\_vswitchperf\_LTD\_REL\_STATUS, where by the
status is one of: draft, reviewed, corrected or final. The document id
for this version of the LTD is:
OPNFV\_vswitchperf\_LTD\_Brahmaputra\_REVIEWED.

.. 3.1.2

.. _scope:

Scope
==========

The main purpose of this project is to specify a suite of
performance tests in order to objectively measure the current packet
transfer characteristics of a virtual switch in the NFVI. The intent of
the project is to facilitate testing of any virtual switch. Thus, a
generic suite of tests shall be developed, with no hard dependencies to
a single implementation. In addition, the test case suite shall be
architecture independent.

The test cases developed in this project shall not form part of a
separate test framework, all of these tests may be inserted into the
Continuous Integration Test Framework and/or the Platform Functionality
Test Framework - if a vSwitch becomes a standard component of an OPNFV
release.

.. 3.1.3

References
===============

*  `RFC 1242 Benchmarking Terminology for Network Interconnection
   Devices <http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1242.txt>`__
*  `RFC 2544 Benchmarking Methodology for Network Interconnect
   Devices <http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__
*  `RFC 2285 Benchmarking Terminology for LAN Switching
   Devices <http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2285.txt>`__
*  `RFC 2889 Benchmarking Methodology for LAN Switching
   Devices <http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2889.txt>`__
*  `RFC 3918 Methodology for IP Multicast
   Benchmarking <http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3918.txt>`__
*  `RFC 4737 Packet Reordering
   Metrics <http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc4737.txt>`__
*  `RFC 5481 Packet Delay Variation Applicability
   Statement <http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc5481.txt>`__
*  `RFC 6201 Device Reset
   Characterization <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6201>`__

.. 3.2

.. _details-of-LTD:

===================================
Details of the Level Test Design
===================================

This section describes the features to be tested (
FeaturesToBeTested_), the test approach (Approach_);
it also identifies the sets of test cases or scenarios (
TestIdentification_) along with the pass/fail criteria and
the test deliverables.

.. 3.2.1

.. _FeaturesToBeTested:

Features to be tested
==========================

Characterizing virtual switches (i.e. Device Under Test (DUT) in this document)
includes measuring the following performance metrics:

- **Throughput** as defined by `RFC1242
  <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1242.txt>`__: The maximum rate at which
  **none** of the offered frames are dropped by the DUT. The maximum frame
  rate and bit rate that can be transmitted by the DUT without any error
  should be recorded. Note there is an equivalent bit rate and a specific
  layer at which the payloads contribute to the bits. Errors and
  improperly formed frames or packets are dropped.
- **Packet delay** introduced by the DUT and its cumulative effect on
  E2E networks. Frame delay can be measured equivalently.
- **Packet delay variation**: measured from the perspective of the
  VNF/application. Packet delay variation is sometimes called "jitter".
  However, we will avoid the term "jitter" as the term holds different
  meaning to different groups of people. In this document we will
  simply use the term packet delay variation. The preferred form for this
  metric is the PDV form of delay variation defined in `RFC5481
  <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5481.txt>`__. The most relevant
  measurement of PDV considers the delay variation of a single user flow,
  as this will be relevant to the size of end-system buffers to compensate
  for delay variation. The measurement system's ability to store the
  delays of individual packets in the flow of interest is a key factor
  that determines the specific measurement method. At the outset, it is
  ideal to view the complete PDV distribution. Systems that can capture
  and store packets and their delays have the freedom to calculate the
  reference minimum delay and to determine various quantiles of the PDV
  distribution accurately (in post-measurement processing routines).
  Systems without storage must apply algorithms to calculate delay and
  statistical measurements on the fly. For example, a system may store
  temporary estimates of the mimimum delay and the set of (100) packets
  with the longest delays during measurement (to calculate a high quantile,
  and update these sets with new values periodically.
  In some cases, a limited number of delay histogram bins will be
  available, and the bin limits will need to be set using results from
  repeated experiments. See section 8 of `RFC5481
  <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5481.txt>`__.
- **Packet loss** (within a configured waiting time at the receiver): All
  packets sent to the DUT should be accounted for.
- **Burst behaviour**: measures the ability of the DUT to buffer packets.
- **Packet re-ordering**: measures the ability of the device under test to
  maintain sending order throughout transfer to the destination.
- **Packet correctness**: packets or Frames must be well-formed, in that
  they include all required fields, conform to length requirements, pass
  integrity checks, etc.
- **Availability and capacity** of the DUT i.e. when the DUT is fully “up”
  and connected, following measurements should be captured for
  DUT without any network packet load:

  - Includes average power consumption of the CPUs (in various power states) and
    system over specified period of time. Time period should not be less
    than 60 seconds.
  - Includes average per core CPU utilization over specified period of time.
    Time period should not be less than 60 seconds.
  - Includes the number of NIC interfaces supported.
  - Includes headroom of VM workload processing cores (i.e. available
    for applications).

.. 3.2.2

.. _Approach:

Approach
==============

In order to determine the packet transfer characteristics of a virtual
switch, the tests will be broken down into the following categories:

.. 3.2.2.1

Test Categories
----------------------
- **Throughput Tests** to measure the maximum forwarding rate (in
  frames per second or fps) and bit rate (in Mbps) for a constant load
  (as defined by `RFC1242 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1242.txt>`__)
  without traffic loss.
- **Packet and Frame Delay Tests** to measure average, min and max
  packet and frame delay for constant loads.
- **Stream Performance Tests** (TCP, UDP) to measure bulk data transfer
  performance, i.e. how fast systems can send and receive data through
  the virtual switch.
- **Request/Response Performance** Tests (TCP, UDP) the measure the
  transaction rate through the virtual switch.
- **Packet Delay Tests** to understand latency distribution for
  different packet sizes and over an extended test run to uncover
  outliers.
- **Scalability Tests** to understand how the virtual switch performs
  as the number of flows, active ports, complexity of the forwarding
  logic's configuration... it has to deal with increases.
- **Control Path and Datapath Coupling** Tests, to understand how
  closely coupled the datapath and the control path are as well as the
  effect of this coupling on the performance of the DUT.
- **CPU and Memory Consumption Tests** to understand the virtual
  switch’s footprint on the system, this includes:

  * CPU core utilization.
  * CPU cache utilization.
  * Memory footprint.
  * System bus (QPI, PCI, ..) utilization.
  * Memory lanes utilization.
  * CPU cycles consumed per packet.
  * Time To Establish Flows Tests.

- **Noisy Neighbour Tests**, to understand the effects of resource
  sharing on the performance of a virtual switch.

**Note:** some of the tests above can be conducted simultaneously where
the combined results would be insightful, for example Packet/Frame Delay
and Scalability.

.. 3.2.2.2

Deployment Scenarios
--------------------------
The following represents possible deployment test scenarios which can
help to determine the performance of both the virtual switch and the
datapaths to physical ports (to NICs) and to logical ports (to VNFs):

.. 3.2.2.2.1

Physical port → vSwitch → physical port
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.. code-block:: console

                                                            _
       +--------------------------------------------------+  |
       |              +--------------------+              |  |
       |              |                    |              |  |
       |              |                    v              |  |  Host
       |   +--------------+            +--------------+   |  |
       |   |   phy port   |  vSwitch   |   phy port   |   |  |
       +---+--------------+------------+--------------+---+ _|
                  ^                           :
                  |                           |
                  :                           v
       +--------------------------------------------------+
       |                                                  |
       |                traffic generator                 |
       |                                                  |
       +--------------------------------------------------+

.. 3.2.2.2.2

Physical port → vSwitch → VNF → vSwitch → physical port
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.. code-block:: console

                                                             _
       +---------------------------------------------------+  |
       |                                                   |  |
       |   +-------------------------------------------+   |  |
       |   |                 Application               |   |  |
       |   +-------------------------------------------+   |  |
       |       ^                                  :        |  |
       |       |                                  |        |  |  Guest
       |       :                                  v        |  |
       |   +---------------+           +---------------+   |  |
       |   | logical port 0|           | logical port 1|   |  |
       +---+---------------+-----------+---------------+---+ _|
               ^                                  :
               |                                  |
               :                                  v         _
       +---+---------------+----------+---------------+---+  |
       |   | logical port 0|          | logical port 1|   |  |
       |   +---------------+          +---------------+   |  |
       |       ^                                  :       |  |
       |       |                                  |       |  |  Host
       |       :                                  v       |  |
       |   +--------------+            +--------------+   |  |
       |   |   phy port   |  vSwitch   |   phy port   |   |  |
       +---+--------------+------------+--------------+---+ _|
                  ^                           :
                  |                           |
                  :                           v
       +--------------------------------------------------+
       |                                                  |
       |                traffic generator                 |
       |                                                  |
       +--------------------------------------------------+

.. 3.2.2.2.3

Physical port → vSwitch → VNF → vSwitch → VNF → vSwitch → physical port
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. code-block:: console

                                                       _
    +----------------------+  +----------------------+  |
    |   Guest 1            |  |   Guest 2            |  |
    |   +---------------+  |  |   +---------------+  |  |
    |   |  Application  |  |  |   |  Application  |  |  |
    |   +---------------+  |  |   +---------------+  |  |
    |       ^       |      |  |       ^       |      |  |
    |       |       v      |  |       |       v      |  |  Guests
    |   +---------------+  |  |   +---------------+  |  |
    |   | logical ports |  |  |   | logical ports |  |  |
    |   |   0       1   |  |  |   |   0       1   |  |  |
    +---+---------------+--+  +---+---------------+--+ _|
            ^       :                 ^       :
            |       |                 |       |
            :       v                 :       v        _
    +---+---------------+---------+---------------+--+  |
    |   |   0       1   |         |   3       4   |  |  |
    |   | logical ports |         | logical ports |  |  |
    |   +---------------+         +---------------+  |  |
    |       ^       |                 ^       |      |  |  Host
    |       |       L-----------------+       v      |  |
    |   +--------------+          +--------------+   |  |
    |   |   phy ports  | vSwitch  |   phy ports  |   |  |
    +---+--------------+----------+--------------+---+ _|
            ^       ^                 :       :
            |       |                 |       |
            :       :                 v       v
    +--------------------------------------------------+
    |                                                  |
    |                traffic generator                 |
    |                                                  |
    +--------------------------------------------------+

.. 3.2.2.2.4

Physical port → VNF → vSwitch → VNF → physical port
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. code-block:: console

                                                        _
    +----------------------+  +----------------------+   |
    |   Guest 1            |  |   Guest 2            |   |
    |+-------------------+ |  | +-------------------+|   |
    ||     Application   | |  | |     Application   ||   |
    |+-------------------+ |  | +-------------------+|   |
    |       ^       |      |  |       ^       |      |   |  Guests
    |       |       v      |  |       |       v      |   |
    |+-------------------+ |  | +-------------------+|   |
    ||   logical ports   | |  | |   logical ports   ||   |
    ||  0              1 | |  | | 0              1  ||   |
    ++--------------------++  ++--------------------++  _|
        ^              :          ^              :
    (PCI passthrough)  |          |     (PCI passthrough)
        |              v          :              |      _
    +--------++------------+-+------------++---------+   |
    |   |    ||        0   | |    1       ||     |   |   |
    |   |    ||logical port| |logical port||     |   |   |
    |   |    |+------------+ +------------+|     |   |   |
    |   |    |     |                 ^     |     |   |   |
    |   |    |     L-----------------+     |     |   |   |
    |   |    |                             |     |   |   |  Host
    |   |    |           vSwitch           |     |   |   |
    |   |    +-----------------------------+     |   |   |
    |   |                                        |   |   |
    |   |                                        v   |   |
    | +--------------+              +--------------+ |   |
    | | phy port/VF  |              | phy port/VF  | |   |
    +-+--------------+--------------+--------------+-+  _|
        ^                                        :
        |                                        |
        :                                        v
    +--------------------------------------------------+
    |                                                  |
    |                traffic generator                 |
    |                                                  |
    +--------------------------------------------------+

.. 3.2.2.2.5

Physical port → vSwitch → VNF
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. code-block:: console

                                                          _
    +---------------------------------------------------+  |
    |                                                   |  |
    |   +-------------------------------------------+   |  |
    |   |                 Application               |   |  |
    |   +-------------------------------------------+   |  |
    |       ^                                           |  |
    |       |                                           |  |  Guest
    |       :                                           |  |
    |   +---------------+                               |  |
    |   | logical port 0|                               |  |
    +---+---------------+-------------------------------+ _|
            ^
            |
            :                                            _
    +---+---------------+------------------------------+  |
    |   | logical port 0|                              |  |
    |   +---------------+                              |  |
    |       ^                                          |  |
    |       |                                          |  |  Host
    |       :                                          |  |
    |   +--------------+                               |  |
    |   |   phy port   |  vSwitch                      |  |
    +---+--------------+------------ -------------- ---+ _|
               ^
               |
               :
    +--------------------------------------------------+
    |                                                  |
    |                traffic generator                 |
    |                                                  |
    +--------------------------------------------------+

.. 3.2.2.2.6

VNF → vSwitch → physical port
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. code-block:: console

                                                          _
    +---------------------------------------------------+  |
    |                                                   |  |
    |   +-------------------------------------------+   |  |
    |   |                 Application               |   |  |
    |   +-------------------------------------------+   |  |
    |                                          :        |  |
    |                                          |        |  |  Guest
    |                                          v        |  |
    |                               +---------------+   |  |
    |                               | logical port  |   |  |
    +-------------------------------+---------------+---+ _|
                                               :
                                               |
                                               v         _
    +------------------------------+---------------+---+  |
    |                              | logical port  |   |  |
    |                              +---------------+   |  |
    |                                          :       |  |
    |                                          |       |  |  Host
    |                                          v       |  |
    |                               +--------------+   |  |
    |                     vSwitch   |   phy port   |   |  |
    +-------------------------------+--------------+---+ _|
                                           :
                                           |
                                           v
    +--------------------------------------------------+
    |                                                  |
    |                traffic generator                 |
    |                                                  |
    +--------------------------------------------------+

.. 3.2.2.2.7

VNF → vSwitch → VNF → vSwitch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. code-block:: console

                                                             _
    +-------------------------+  +-------------------------+  |
    |   Guest 1               |  |   Guest 2               |  |
    |   +-----------------+   |  |   +-----------------+   |  |
    |   |   Application   |   |  |   |   Application   |   |  |
    |   +-----------------+   |  |   +-----------------+   |  |
    |                :        |  |       ^                 |  |
    |                |        |  |       |                 |  |  Guest
    |                v        |  |       :                 |  |
    |     +---------------+   |  |   +---------------+     |  |
    |     | logical port 0|   |  |   | logical port 0|     |  |
    +-----+---------------+---+  +---+---------------+-----+ _|
                    :                    ^
                    |                    |
                    v                    :                    _
    +----+---------------+------------+---------------+-----+  |
    |    |     port 0    |            |     port 1    |     |  |
    |    +---------------+            +---------------+     |  |
    |              :                    ^                   |  |
    |              |                    |                   |  |  Host
    |              +--------------------+                   |  |
    |                                                       |  |
    |                     vswitch                           |  |
    +-------------------------------------------------------+ _|

.. 3.2.2.2.8

HOST 1(Physical port → virtual switch → VNF → virtual switch → Physical port)
→ HOST 2(Physical port → virtual switch → VNF → virtual switch → Physical port)

HOST 1 (PVP) → HOST 2 (PVP)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.. code-block:: console

                                                       _
    +----------------------+  +----------------------+  |
    |   Guest 1            |  |   Guest 2            |  |
    |   +---------------+  |  |   +---------------+  |  |
    |   |  Application  |  |  |   |  Application  |  |  |
    |   +---------------+  |  |   +---------------+  |  |
    |       ^       |      |  |       ^       |      |  |
    |       |       v      |  |       |       v      |  |  Guests
    |   +---------------+  |  |   +---------------+  |  |
    |   | logical ports |  |  |   | logical ports |  |  |
    |   |   0       1   |  |  |   |   0       1   |  |  |
    +---+---------------+--+  +---+---------------+--+ _|
            ^       :                 ^       :
            |       |                 |       |
            :       v                 :       v        _
    +---+---------------+--+  +---+---------------+--+  |
    |   |   0       1   |  |  |   |   3       4   |  |  |
    |   | logical ports |  |  |   | logical ports |  |  |
    |   +---------------+  |  |   +---------------+  |  |
    |       ^       |      |  |       ^       |      |  |  Hosts
    |       |       v      |  |       |       v      |  |
    |   +--------------+   |  |   +--------------+   |  |
    |   |   phy ports  |   |  |   |   phy ports  |   |  |
    +---+--------------+---+  +---+--------------+---+ _|
            ^       :                 :       :
            |       +-----------------+       |
            :                                 v
    +--------------------------------------------------+
    |                                                  |
    |                traffic generator                 |
    |                                                  |
    +--------------------------------------------------+



**Note:** For tests where the traffic generator and/or measurement
receiver are implemented on VM and connected to the virtual switch
through vNIC, the issues of shared resources and interactions between
the measurement devices and the device under test must be considered.

**Note:** Some RFC 2889 tests require a full-mesh sending and receiving
pattern involving more than two ports. This possibility is illustrated in the
Physical port → vSwitch → VNF → vSwitch → VNF → vSwitch → physical port
diagram above (with 2 sending and 2 receiving ports, though all ports
could be used bi-directionally).

**Note:** When Deployment Scenarios are used in RFC 2889 address learning
or cache capacity testing, an additional port from the vSwitch must be
connected to the test device. This port is used to listen for flooded
frames.

.. 3.2.2.3

General Methodology:
--------------------------
To establish the baseline performance of the virtual switch, tests would
initially be run with a simple workload in the VNF (the recommended
simple workload VNF would be `DPDK <http://www.dpdk.org/>`__'s testpmd
application forwarding packets in a VM or vloop\_vnf a simple kernel
module that forwards traffic between two network interfaces inside the
virtualized environment while bypassing the networking stack).
Subsequently, the tests would also be executed with a real Telco
workload running in the VNF, which would exercise the virtual switch in
the context of higher level Telco NFV use cases, and prove that its
underlying characteristics and behaviour can be measured and validated.
Suitable real Telco workload VNFs are yet to be identified.

.. 3.2.2.3.1

Default Test Parameters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following list identifies the default parameters for suite of
tests:

-  Reference application: Simple forwarding or Open Source VNF.
-  Frame size (bytes): 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 1280, 1518, 2K, 4k OR
   Packet size based on use-case (e.g. RTP 64B, 256B) OR Mix of packet sizes as
   maintained by the Functest project <https://wiki.opnfv.org/traffic_profile_management>.
-  Reordering check: Tests should confirm that packets within a flow are
   not reordered.
-  Duplex: Unidirectional / Bidirectional. Default: Full duplex with
   traffic transmitting in both directions, as network traffic generally
   does not flow in a single direction. By default the data rate of
   transmitted traffic should be the same in both directions, please
   note that asymmetric traffic (e.g. downlink-heavy) tests will be
   mentioned explicitly for the relevant test cases.
-  Number of Flows: Default for non scalability tests is a single flow.
   For scalability tests the goal is to test with maximum supported
   flows but where possible will test up to 10 Million flows. Start with
   a single flow and scale up. By default flows should be added
   sequentially, tests that add flows simultaneously will explicitly
   call out their flow addition behaviour. Packets are generated across
   the flows uniformly with no burstiness. For multi-core tests should
   consider the number of packet flows based on vSwitch/VNF multi-thread
   implementation and behavior.

-  Traffic Types: UDP, SCTP, RTP, GTP and UDP traffic.
-  Deployment scenarios are:
-  Physical → virtual switch → physical.
-  Physical → virtual switch → VNF → virtual switch → physical.
-  Physical → virtual switch → VNF → virtual switch → VNF → virtual
   switch → physical.
-  Physical → VNF → virtual switch → VNF → physical.
-  Physical → virtual switch → VNF.
-  VNF → virtual switch → Physical.
-  VNF → virtual switch → VNF.

Tests MUST have these parameters unless otherwise stated. **Test cases
with non default parameters will be stated explicitly**.

**Note**: For throughput tests unless stated otherwise, test
configurations should ensure that traffic traverses the installed flows
through the virtual switch, i.e. flows are installed and have an appropriate
time out that doesn't expire before packet transmission starts.

.. 3.2.2.3.2

Flow Classification
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Virtual switches classify packets into flows by processing and matching
particular header fields in the packet/frame and/or the input port where
the packets/frames arrived. The vSwitch then carries out an action on
the group of packets that match the classification parameters. Thus a
flow is considered to be a sequence of packets that have a shared set of
header field values or have arrived on the same port and have the same
action applied to them. Performance results can vary based on the
parameters the vSwitch uses to match for a flow. The recommended flow
classification parameters for L3 vSwitch performance tests are: the
input port, the source IP address, the destination IP address and the
Ethernet protocol type field. It is essential to increase the flow
time-out time on a vSwitch before conducting any performance tests that
do not measure the flow set-up time. Normally the first packet of a
particular flow will install the flow in the vSwitch which adds an
additional latency, subsequent packets of the same flow are not subject
to this latency if the flow is already installed on the vSwitch.

.. 3.2.2.3.3

Test Priority
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tests will be assigned a priority in order to determine which tests
should be implemented immediately and which tests implementations
can be deferred.

Priority can be of following types: - Urgent: Must be implemented
immediately. - High: Must be implemented in the next release. - Medium:
May be implemented after the release. - Low: May or may not be
implemented at all.

.. 3.2.2.3.4

SUT Setup
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The SUT should be configured to its "default" state. The
SUT's configuration or set-up must not change between tests in any way
other than what is required to do the test. All supported protocols must
be configured and enabled for each test set up.

.. 3.2.2.3.5

Port Configuration
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The DUT should be configured with n ports where
n is a multiple of 2. Half of the ports on the DUT should be used as
ingress ports and the other half of the ports on the DUT should be used
as egress ports. Where a DUT has more than 2 ports, the ingress data
streams should be set-up so that they transmit packets to the egress
ports in sequence so that there is an even distribution of traffic
across ports. For example, if a DUT has 4 ports 0(ingress), 1(ingress),
2(egress) and 3(egress), the traffic stream directed at port 0 should
output a packet to port 2 followed by a packet to port 3. The traffic
stream directed at port 1 should also output a packet to port 2 followed
by a packet to port 3.

.. 3.2.2.3.6

Frame Formats
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**Frame formats Layer 2 (data link layer) protocols**

-  Ethernet II

.. code-block:: console

     +---------------------------+-----------+
     | Ethernet Header | Payload | Check Sum |
     +-----------------+---------+-----------+
     |_________________|_________|___________|
           14 Bytes     46 - 1500   4 Bytes
                          Bytes


**Layer 3 (network layer) protocols**

-  IPv4

.. code-block:: console

     +-----------------+-----------+---------+-----------+
     | Ethernet Header | IP Header | Payload | Checksum  |
     +-----------------+-----------+---------+-----------+
     |_________________|___________|_________|___________|
           14 Bytes       20 bytes  26 - 1480   4 Bytes
                                      Bytes

-  IPv6

.. code-block:: console

     +-----------------+-----------+---------+-----------+
     | Ethernet Header | IP Header | Payload | Checksum  |
     +-----------------+-----------+---------+-----------+
     |_________________|___________|_________|___________|
           14 Bytes       40 bytes  26 - 1460   4 Bytes
                                      Bytes

**Layer 4 (transport layer) protocols**

  - TCP
  - UDP
  - SCTP

.. code-block:: console

     +-----------------+-----------+-----------------+---------+-----------+
     | Ethernet Header | IP Header | Layer 4 Header  | Payload | Checksum  |
     +-----------------+-----------+-----------------+---------+-----------+
     |_________________|___________|_________________|_________|___________|
           14 Bytes      40 bytes      20 Bytes       6 - 1460   4 Bytes
                                                       Bytes


**Layer 5 (application layer) protocols**

  - RTP
  - GTP

.. code-block:: console

     +-----------------+-----------+-----------------+---------+-----------+
     | Ethernet Header | IP Header | Layer 4 Header  | Payload | Checksum  |
     +-----------------+-----------+-----------------+---------+-----------+
     |_________________|___________|_________________|_________|___________|
           14 Bytes      20 bytes     20 Bytes        >= 6 Bytes   4 Bytes

.. 3.2.2.3.7

Packet Throughput
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is a difference between an Ethernet frame,
an IP packet, and a UDP datagram. In the seven-layer OSI model of
computer networking, packet refers to a data unit at layer 3 (network
layer). The correct term for a data unit at layer 2 (data link layer) is
a frame, and at layer 4 (transport layer) is a segment or datagram.

Important concepts related to 10GbE performance are frame rate and
throughput. The MAC bit rate of 10GbE, defined in the IEEE standard 802
.3ae, is 10 billion bits per second. Frame rate is based on the bit rate
and frame format definitions. Throughput, defined in IETF RFC 1242, is
the highest rate at which the system under test can forward the offered
load, without loss.

The frame rate for 10GbE is determined by a formula that divides the 10
billion bits per second by the preamble + frame length + inter-frame
gap.

The maximum frame rate is calculated using the minimum values of the
following parameters, as described in the IEEE 802 .3ae standard:

-  Preamble: 8 bytes \* 8 = 64 bits
-  Frame Length: 64 bytes (minimum) \* 8 = 512 bits
-  Inter-frame Gap: 12 bytes (minimum) \* 8 = 96 bits

Therefore, Maximum Frame Rate (64B Frames)
= MAC Transmit Bit Rate / (Preamble + Frame Length + Inter-frame Gap)
= 10,000,000,000 / (64 + 512 + 96)
= 10,000,000,000 / 672
= 14,880,952.38 frame per second (fps)

.. 3.2.2.3.8

System isolation and validation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A key consideration when conducting any sort of benchmark is trying to
ensure the consistency and repeatability of test results between runs.
When benchmarking the performance of a virtual switch there are many
factors that can affect the consistency of results. This section
describes these factors and the measures that can be taken to limit
their effects. In addition, this section will outline some system tests
to validate the platform and the VNF before conducting any vSwitch
benchmarking tests.

**System Isolation:**

When conducting a benchmarking test on any SUT, it is essential to limit
(and if reasonable, eliminate) any noise that may interfere with the
accuracy of the metrics collected by the test. This noise may be
introduced by other hardware or software (OS, other applications), and
can result in significantly varying performance metrics being collected
between consecutive runs of the same test. In the case of characterizing
the performance of a virtual switch, there are a number of configuration
parameters that can help increase the repeatability and stability of
test results, including:

-  OS/GRUB configuration:

   -  maxcpus = n where n >= 0; limits the kernel to using 'n'
      processors. Only use exactly what you need.
   -  isolcpus: Isolate CPUs from the general scheduler. Isolate all
      CPUs bar one which will be used by the OS.
   -  use taskset to affinitize the forwarding application and the VNFs
      onto isolated cores. VNFs and the vSwitch should be allocated
      their own cores, i.e. must not share the same cores. vCPUs for the
      VNF should be affinitized to individual cores also.
   -  Limit the amount of background applications that are running and
      set OS to boot to runlevel 3. Make sure to kill any unnecessary
      system processes/daemons.
   -  Only enable hardware that you need to use for your test – to
      ensure there are no other interrupts on the system.
   -  Configure NIC interrupts to only use the cores that are not
      allocated to any other process (VNF/vSwitch).

-  NUMA configuration: Any unused sockets in a multi-socket system
   should be disabled.
-  CPU pinning: The vSwitch and the VNF should each be affinitized to
   separate logical cores using a combination of maxcpus, isolcpus and
   taskset.
-  BIOS configuration: BIOS should be configured for performance where
   an explicit option exists, sleep states should be disabled, any
   virtualization optimization technologies should be enabled, and
   hyperthreading should also be enabled, turbo boost and overclocking
   should be disabled.

**System Validation:**

System validation is broken down into two sub-categories: Platform
validation and VNF validation. The validation test itself involves
verifying the forwarding capability and stability for the sub-system
under test. The rationale behind system validation is two fold. Firstly
to give a tester confidence in the stability of the platform or VNF that
is being tested; and secondly to provide base performance comparison
points to understand the overhead introduced by the virtual switch.

* Benchmark platform forwarding capability: This is an OPTIONAL test
  used to verify the platform and measure the base performance (maximum
  forwarding rate in fps and latency) that can be achieved by the
  platform without a vSwitch or a VNF. The following diagram outlines
  the set-up for benchmarking Platform forwarding capability:

  .. code-block:: console

                                                            __
       +--------------------------------------------------+   |
       |   +------------------------------------------+   |   |
       |   |                                          |   |   |
       |   |          l2fw or DPDK L2FWD app          |   |  Host
       |   |                                          |   |   |
       |   +------------------------------------------+   |   |
       |   |                 NIC                      |   |   |
       +---+------------------------------------------+---+ __|
                  ^                           :
                  |                           |
                  :                           v
       +--------------------------------------------------+
       |                                                  |
       |                traffic generator                 |
       |                                                  |
       +--------------------------------------------------+

* Benchmark VNF forwarding capability: This test is used to verify
  the VNF and measure the base performance (maximum forwarding rate in
  fps and latency) that can be achieved by the VNF without a vSwitch.
  The performance metrics collected by this test will serve as a key
  comparison point for NIC passthrough technologies and vSwitches. VNF
  in this context refers to the hypervisor and the VM. The following
  diagram outlines the set-up for benchmarking VNF forwarding
  capability:

  .. code-block:: console

                                                            __
       +--------------------------------------------------+   |
       |   +------------------------------------------+   |   |
       |   |                                          |   |   |
       |   |                 VNF                      |   |   |
       |   |                                          |   |   |
       |   +------------------------------------------+   |   |
       |   |          Passthrough/SR-IOV              |   |  Host
       |   +------------------------------------------+   |   |
       |   |                 NIC                      |   |   |
       +---+------------------------------------------+---+ __|
                  ^                           :
                  |                           |
                  :                           v
       +--------------------------------------------------+
       |                                                  |
       |                traffic generator                 |
       |                                                  |
       +--------------------------------------------------+


**Methodology to benchmark Platform/VNF forwarding capability**


The recommended methodology for the platform/VNF validation and
benchmark is: - Run `RFC2889 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2289.txt>`__
Maximum Forwarding Rate test, this test will produce maximum
forwarding rate and latency results that will serve as the
expected values. These expected values can be used in
subsequent steps or compared with in subsequent validation tests. -
Transmit bidirectional traffic at line rate/max forwarding rate
(whichever is higher) for at least 72 hours, measure throughput (fps)
and latency. - Note: Traffic should be bidirectional. - Establish a
baseline forwarding rate for what the platform can achieve. - Additional
validation: After the test has completed for 72 hours run bidirectional
traffic at the maximum forwarding rate once more to see if the system is
still functional and measure throughput (fps) and latency. Compare the
measure the new obtained values with the expected values.

**NOTE 1**: How the Platform is configured for its forwarding capability
test (BIOS settings, GRUB configuration, runlevel...) is how the
platform should be configured for every test after this

**NOTE 2**: How the VNF is configured for its forwarding capability test
(# of vCPUs, vNICs, Memory, affinitization…) is how it should be
configured for every test that uses a VNF after this.

.. 3.2.2.4

RFCs for testing virtual switch performance
--------------------------------------------------

The starting point for defining the suite of tests for benchmarking the
performance of a virtual switch is to take existing RFCs and standards
that were designed to test their physical counterparts and adapting them
for testing virtual switches. The rationale behind this is to establish
a fair comparison between the performance of virtual and physical
switches. This section outlines the RFCs that are used by this
specification.

.. 3.2.2.4.1

RFC 1242 Benchmarking Terminology for Network Interconnection
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Devices RFC 1242 defines the terminology that is used in describing
performance benchmarking tests and their results. Definitions and
discussions covered include: Back-to-back, bridge, bridge/router,
constant load, data link frame size, frame loss rate, inter frame gap,
latency, and many more.

.. 3.2.2.4.2

RFC 2544 Benchmarking Methodology for Network Interconnect Devices
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RFC 2544 outlines a benchmarking methodology for network Interconnect
Devices. The methodology results in performance metrics such as latency,
frame loss percentage, and maximum data throughput.

In this document network “throughput” (measured in millions of frames
per second) is based on RFC 2544, unless otherwise noted. Frame size
refers to Ethernet frames ranging from smallest frames of 64 bytes to
largest frames of 9K bytes.

Types of tests are:

1. Throughput test defines the maximum number of frames per second
   that can be transmitted without any error, or 0% loss ratio.
   In some Throughput tests (and those tests with long duration),
   evaluation of an additional frame loss ratio is suggested. The
   current ratio (10^-7 %) is based on understanding the typical
   user-to-user packet loss ratio needed for good application
   performance and recognizing that a single transfer through a
   vswitch must contribute a tiny fraction of user-to-user loss.
   Further, the ratio 10^-7 % also recognizes practical limitations
   when measuring loss ratio.

2. Latency test measures the time required for a frame to travel from
   the originating device through the network to the destination device.
   Please note that RFC2544 Latency measurement will be superseded with
   a measurement of average latency over all successfully transferred
   packets or frames.

3. Frame loss test measures the network’s
   response in overload conditions - a critical indicator of the
   network’s ability to support real-time applications in which a
   large amount of frame loss will rapidly degrade service quality.

4. Burst test assesses the buffering capability of a virtual switch. It
   measures the maximum number of frames received at full line rate
   before a frame is lost. In carrier Ethernet networks, this
   measurement validates the excess information rate (EIR) as defined in
   many SLAs.

5. System recovery to characterize speed of recovery from an overload
   condition.

6. Reset to characterize speed of recovery from device or software
   reset. This type of test has been updated by `RFC6201
   <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6201.txt>`__ as such,
   the methodology defined by this specification will be that of RFC 6201.

Although not included in the defined RFC 2544 standard, another crucial
measurement in Ethernet networking is packet delay variation. The
definition set out by this specification comes from
`RFC5481 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5481.txt>`__.

.. 3.2.2.4.3

RFC 2285 Benchmarking Terminology for LAN Switching Devices
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RFC 2285 defines the terminology that is used to describe the
terminology for benchmarking a LAN switching device. It extends RFC
1242 and defines: DUTs, SUTs, Traffic orientation and distribution,
bursts, loads, forwarding rates, etc.

.. 3.2.2.4.4

RFC 2889 Benchmarking Methodology for LAN Switching
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RFC 2889 outlines a benchmarking methodology for LAN switching, it
extends RFC 2544. The outlined methodology gathers performance
metrics for forwarding, congestion control, latency, address handling
and finally filtering.

.. 3.2.2.4.5

RFC 3918 Methodology for IP Multicast Benchmarking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RFC 3918 outlines a methodology for IP Multicast benchmarking.

.. 3.2.2.4.6

RFC 4737 Packet Reordering Metrics
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RFC 4737 describes metrics for identifying and counting re-ordered
packets within a stream, and metrics to measure the extent each
packet has been re-ordered.

.. 3.2.2.4.7

RFC 5481 Packet Delay Variation Applicability Statement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RFC 5481 defined two common, but different forms of delay variation
metrics, and compares the metrics over a range of networking
circumstances and tasks. The most suitable form for vSwitch
benchmarking is the "PDV" form.

.. 3.2.2.4.8

RFC 6201 Device Reset Characterization
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RFC 6201 extends the methodology for characterizing the speed of
recovery of the DUT from device or software reset described in RFC
2544.

.. 3.2.2.5

Details of the Test Report
---------------------------------

There are a number of parameters related to the system, DUT and tests
that can affect the repeatability of a test results and should be
recorded. In order to minimise the variation in the results of a test,
it is recommended that the test report includes the following information:

-  Hardware details including:

   -  Platform details.
   -  Processor details.
   -  Memory information (see below)
   -  Number of enabled cores.
   -  Number of cores used for the test.
   -  Number of physical NICs, as well as their details (manufacturer,
      versions, type and the PCI slot they are plugged into).
   -  NIC interrupt configuration.
   -  BIOS version, release date and any configurations that were
      modified.

-  Software details including:

   -  OS version (for host and VNF)
   -  Kernel version (for host and VNF)
   -  GRUB boot parameters (for host and VNF).
   -  Hypervisor details (Type and version).
   -  Selected vSwitch, version number or commit id used.
   -  vSwitch launch command line if it has been parameterised.
   -  Memory allocation to the vSwitch – which NUMA node it is using,
      and how many memory channels.
   -  Where the vswitch is built from source: compiler details including
      versions and the flags that were used to compile the vSwitch.
   -  DPDK or any other SW dependency version number or commit id used.
   -  Memory allocation to a VM - if it's from Hugpages/elsewhere.
   -  VM storage type: snapshot/independent persistent/independent
      non-persistent.
   -  Number of VMs.
   -  Number of Virtual NICs (vNICs), versions, type and driver.
   -  Number of virtual CPUs and their core affinity on the host.
   -  Number vNIC interrupt configuration.
   -  Thread affinitization for the applications (including the vSwitch
      itself) on the host.
   -  Details of Resource isolation, such as CPUs designated for
      Host/Kernel (isolcpu) and CPUs designated for specific processes
      (taskset).

-  Memory Details

   -  Total memory
   -  Type of memory
   -  Used memory
   -  Active memory
   -  Inactive memory
   -  Free memory
   -  Buffer memory
   -  Swap cache
   -  Total swap
   -  Used swap
   -  Free swap

-  Test duration.
-  Number of flows.
-  Traffic Information:

   -  Traffic type - UDP, TCP, IMIX / Other.
   -  Packet Sizes.

-  Deployment Scenario.

**Note**: Tests that require additional parameters to be recorded will
explicitly specify this.

.. _TestIdentification:

.. 3.2.3

Test identification
=========================

.. 3.2.3.1

Throughput tests
----------------------
The following tests aim to determine the maximum forwarding rate that
can be achieved with a virtual switch. The list is not exhaustive but
should indicate the type of tests that should be required. It is
expected that more will be added.

.. 3.2.3.1.1

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 2544 X% packet loss ratio Throughput and Latency Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    This test determines the DUT's maximum forwarding rate with X% traffic
    loss for a constant load (fixed length frames at a fixed interval time).
    The default loss percentages to be tested are: - X = 0% - X = 10^-7%

    Note: Other values can be tested if required by the user.

    The selected frame sizes are those previously defined under `Default
    Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__. The test can also be used to
    determine the average latency of the traffic.

    Under the `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__
    test methodology, the test duration will
    include a number of trials; each trial should run for a minimum period
    of 60 seconds. A binary search methodology must be applied for each
    trial to obtain the final result.

    **Expected Result**: At the end of each trial, the presence or absence
    of loss determines the modification of offered load for the next trial,
    converging on a maximum rate, or
    `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__ Throughput with X%
    loss.
    The Throughput load is re-used in related
    `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__ tests and other
    tests.

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The maximum forwarding rate in Frames Per Second (FPS) and Mbps of
       the DUT for each frame size with X% packet loss.
    -  The average latency of the traffic flow when passing through the DUT
       (if testing for latency, note that this average is different from the
       test specified in Section 26.3 of
       `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__).
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.

.. 3.2.3.1.2

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatioFrameModification
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 2544 X% packet loss Throughput and Latency Test with
    packet modification

    **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    This test determines the DUT's maximum forwarding rate with X% traffic
    loss for a constant load (fixed length frames at a fixed interval time).
    The default loss percentages to be tested are: - X = 0% - X = 10^-7%

    Note: Other values can be tested if required by the user.

    The selected frame sizes are those previously defined under `Default
    Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__. The test can also be used to
    determine the average latency of the traffic.

    Under the `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__
    test methodology, the test duration will
    include a number of trials; each trial should run for a minimum period
    of 60 seconds. A binary search methodology must be applied for each
    trial to obtain the final result.

    During this test, the DUT must perform the following operations on the
    traffic flow:

    -  Perform packet parsing on the DUT's ingress port.
    -  Perform any relevant address look-ups on the DUT's ingress ports.
    -  Modify the packet header before forwarding the packet to the DUT's
       egress port. Packet modifications include:

       -  Modifying the Ethernet source or destination MAC address.
       -  Modifying/adding a VLAN tag. (**Recommended**).
       -  Modifying/adding a MPLS tag.
       -  Modifying the source or destination ip address.
       -  Modifying the TOS/DSCP field.
       -  Modifying the source or destination ports for UDP/TCP/SCTP.
       -  Modifying the TTL.

    **Expected Result**: The Packet parsing/modifications require some
    additional degree of processing resource, therefore the
    `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__
    Throughput is expected to be somewhat lower than the Throughput level
    measured without additional steps. The reduction is expected to be
    greatest on tests with the smallest packet sizes (greatest header
    processing rates).

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The maximum forwarding rate in Frames Per Second (FPS) and Mbps of
       the DUT for each frame size with X% packet loss and packet
       modification operations being performed by the DUT.
    -  The average latency of the traffic flow when passing through the DUT
       (if testing for latency, note that this average is different from the
       test specified in Section 26.3 of
       `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__).
    -  The `RFC5481 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5481.txt>`__
       PDV form of delay variation on the traffic flow,
       using the 99th percentile.
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.

.. 3.2.3.1.3

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.Profile
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 2544 Throughput and Latency Profile

    **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    This test reveals how throughput and latency degrades as the offered
    rate varies in the region of the DUT's maximum forwarding rate as
    determined by LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio (0% Packet Loss).
    For example it can be used to determine if the degradation of throughput
    and latency as the offered rate increases is slow and graceful or sudden
    and severe.

    The selected frame sizes are those previously defined under `Default
    Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__.

    The offered traffic rate is described as a percentage delta with respect
    to the DUT's RFC 2544 Throughput as determined by
    LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLoss Ratio (0% Packet Loss case). A delta
    of 0% is equivalent to an offered traffic rate equal to the RFC 2544
    Maximum Throughput; A delta of +50% indicates an offered rate half-way
    between the Maximum RFC2544 Throughput and line-rate, whereas a delta of
    -50% indicates an offered rate of half the RFC 2544 Maximum Throughput.
    Therefore the range of the delta figure is natuarlly bounded at -100%
    (zero offered traffic) and +100% (traffic offered at line rate).

    The following deltas to the maximum forwarding rate should be applied:

    -  -50%, -10%, 0%, +10% & +50%

    **Expected Result**: For each packet size a profile should be produced
    of how throughput and latency vary with offered rate.

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The forwarding rate in Frames Per Second (FPS) and Mbps of the DUT
       for each delta to the maximum forwarding rate and for each frame
       size.
    -  The average latency for each delta to the maximum forwarding rate and
       for each frame size.
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.
    -  Any failures experienced (for example if the vSwitch crashes, stops
       processing packets, restarts or becomes unresponsive to commands)
       when the offered load is above Maximum Throughput MUST be recorded
       and reported with the results.

.. 3.2.3.1.4

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.SystemRecoveryTime
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 2544 System Recovery Time Test

    **Prerequisite Test** LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to determine the length of time it takes the DUT
    to recover from an overload condition for a constant load (fixed length
    frames at a fixed interval time). The selected frame sizes are those
    previously defined under `Default Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__,
    traffic should be sent to the DUT under normal conditions. During the
    duration of the test and while the traffic flows are passing though the
    DUT, at least one situation leading to an overload condition for the DUT
    should occur. The time from the end of the overload condition to when
    the DUT returns to normal operations should be measured to determine
    recovery time. Prior to overloading the DUT, one should record the
    average latency for 10,000 packets forwarded through the DUT.

    The overload condition SHOULD be to transmit traffic at a very high
    frame rate to the DUT (150% of the maximum 0% packet loss rate as
    determined by LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio or line-rate
    whichever is lower), for at least 60 seconds, then reduce the frame rate
    to 75% of the maximum 0% packet loss rate. A number of time-stamps
    should be recorded: - Record the time-stamp at which the frame rate was
    reduced and record a second time-stamp at the time of the last frame
    lost. The recovery time is the difference between the two timestamps. -
    Record the average latency for 10,000 frames after the last frame loss
    and continue to record average latency measurements for every 10,000
    frames, when latency returns to within 10% of pre-overload levels record
    the time-stamp.

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics collected**

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The length of time it takes the DUT to recover from an overload
       condition.
    -  The length of time it takes the DUT to recover the average latency to
       pre-overload conditions.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → virtual switch → physical.

.. 3.2.3.1.5

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.BackToBackFrames
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC2544 Back To Back Frames Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: N

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to characterize the ability of the DUT to
    process back-to-back frames. For each frame size previously defined
    under `Default Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__, a burst of traffic
    is sent to the DUT with the minimum inter-frame gap between each frame.
    If the number of received frames equals the number of frames that were
    transmitted, the burst size should be increased and traffic is sent to
    the DUT again. The value measured is the back-to-back value, that is the
    maximum burst size the DUT can handle without any frame loss. Please note
    a trial must run for a minimum of 2 seconds and should be repeated 50
    times (at a minimum).

    **Expected Result**:

    Tests of back-to-back frames with physical devices have produced
    unstable results in some cases. All tests should be repeated in multiple
    test sessions and results stability should be examined.

    **Metrics collected**

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The average back-to-back value across the trials, which is
       the number of frames in the longest burst that the DUT will
       handle without the loss of any frames.
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → virtual switch → physical.

.. 3.2.3.1.6

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.MaxForwardingRateSoak
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 2889 X% packet loss Max Forwarding Rate Soak Test

    **Prerequisite Test** LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to understand the Max Forwarding Rate stability
    over an extended test duration in order to uncover any outliers. To allow
    for an extended test duration, the test should ideally run for 24 hours
    or, if this is not possible, for at least 6 hours. For this test, each frame
    size must be sent at the highest Throughput rate with X% packet loss, as
    determined in the prerequisite test. The default loss percentages to be
    tested are: - X = 0% - X = 10^-7%

    Note: Other values can be tested if required by the user.

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  Max Forwarding Rate stability of the DUT.

       -  This means reporting the number of packets lost per time interval
          and reporting any time intervals with packet loss. The
          `RFC2889 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2289.txt>`__
          Forwarding Rate shall be measured in each interval.
          An interval of 60s is suggested.

    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.
    -  The `RFC5481 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5481.txt>`__
       PDV form of delay variation on the traffic flow,
       using the 99th percentile.

.. 3.2.3.1.7

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.MaxForwardingRateSoakFrameModification
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 2889 Max Forwarding Rate Soak Test with Frame Modification

    **Prerequisite Test**:
    LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatioFrameModification (0% Packet Loss)

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to understand the Max Forwarding Rate stability over an
    extended test duration in order to uncover any outliers. To allow for an
    extended test duration, the test should ideally run for 24 hours or, if
    this is not possible, for at least 6 hour. For this test, each frame
    size must be sent at the highest Throughput rate with 0% packet loss, as
    determined in the prerequisite test.

    During this test, the DUT must perform the following operations on the
    traffic flow:

    -  Perform packet parsing on the DUT's ingress port.
    -  Perform any relevant address look-ups on the DUT's ingress ports.
    -  Modify the packet header before forwarding the packet to the DUT's
       egress port. Packet modifications include:

       -  Modifying the Ethernet source or destination MAC address.
       -  Modifying/adding a VLAN tag (**Recommended**).
       -  Modifying/adding a MPLS tag.
       -  Modifying the source or destination ip address.
       -  Modifying the TOS/DSCP field.
       -  Modifying the source or destination ports for UDP/TCP/SCTP.
       -  Modifying the TTL.

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  Max Forwarding Rate stability of the DUT.

       -  This means reporting the number of packets lost per time interval
          and reporting any time intervals with packet loss. The
          `RFC2889 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2289.txt>`__
          Forwarding Rate shall be measured in each interval.
          An interval of 60s is suggested.

    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.
    -  The `RFC5481 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5481.txt>`__
       PDV form of delay variation on the traffic flow, using the 99th
       percentile.

.. 3.2.3.1.8

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC6201.ResetTime
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 6201 Reset Time Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to determine the length of time it takes the DUT
    to recover from a reset.

    Two reset methods are defined - planned and unplanned. A planned reset
    requires stopping and restarting the virtual switch by the usual
    'graceful' method defined by it's documentation. An unplanned reset
    requires simulating a fatal internal fault in the virtual switch - for
    example by using kill -SIGKILL on a Linux environment.

    Both reset methods SHOULD be exercised.

    For each frame size previously defined under `Default Test
    Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__, traffic should be sent to the DUT under
    normal conditions. During the duration of the test and while the traffic
    flows are passing through the DUT, the DUT should be reset and the Reset
    time measured. The Reset time is the total time that a device is
    determined to be out of operation and includes the time to perform the
    reset and the time to recover from it (cf. `RFC6201
    <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6201.txt>`__).

    `RFC6201 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6201.txt>`__ defines two methods
    to measure the Reset time:

      - Frame-Loss Method: which requires the monitoring of the number of
        lost frames and calculates the Reset time based on the number of
        frames lost and the offered rate according to the following
        formula:

        .. code-block:: console

                                    Frames_lost (packets)
                 Reset_time = -------------------------------------
                                Offered_rate (packets per second)

      - Timestamp Method: which measures the time from which the last frame
        is forwarded from the DUT to the time the first frame is forwarded
        after the reset. This involves time-stamping all transmitted frames
        and recording the timestamp of the last frame that was received prior
        to the reset and also measuring the timestamp of the first frame that
        is received after the reset. The Reset time is the difference between
        these two timestamps.

    According to `RFC6201 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6201.txt>`__ the
    choice of method depends on the test tool's capability; the Frame-Loss
    method SHOULD be used if the test tool supports:

     * Counting the number of lost frames per stream.
     * Transmitting test frame despite the physical link status.

    whereas the Timestamp method SHOULD be used if the test tool supports:
     * Timestamping each frame.
     * Monitoring received frame's timestamp.
     * Transmitting frames only if the physical link status is up.

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics collected**

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

     * Average Reset Time over the number of trials performed.

    Results of this test should include the following information:

     * The reset method used.
     * Throughput in Fps and Mbps.
     * Average Frame Loss over the number of trials performed.
     * Average Reset Time in milliseconds over the number of trials performed.
     * Number of trials performed.
     * Protocol: IPv4, IPv6, MPLS, etc.
     * Frame Size in Octets
     * Port Media: Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), etc.
     * Port Speed: 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps etc.
     * Interface Encapsulation: Ethernet, Ethernet VLAN, etc.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    * Physical → virtual switch → physical.

.. 3.2.3.1.9

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.MaxForwardingRate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC2889 Forwarding Rate Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    This test measures the DUT's Max Forwarding Rate when the Offered Load
    is varied between the throughput and the Maximum Offered Load for fixed
    length frames at a fixed time interval. The selected frame sizes are
    those previously defined under `Default Test
    Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__. The throughput is the maximum offered
    load with 0% frame loss (measured by the prerequisite test), and the
    Maximum Offered Load (as defined by
    `RFC2285 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2285.txt>`__) is *"the highest
    number of frames per second that an external source can transmit to a
    DUT/SUT for forwarding to a specified output interface or interfaces"*.

    Traffic should be sent to the DUT at a particular rate (TX rate)
    starting with TX rate equal to the throughput rate. The rate of
    successfully received frames at the destination counted (in FPS). If the
    RX rate is equal to the TX rate, the TX rate should be increased by a
    fixed step size and the RX rate measured again until the Max Forwarding
    Rate is found.

    The trial duration for each iteration should last for the period of time
    needed for the system to reach steady state for the frame size being
    tested. Under `RFC2889 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2289.txt>`__
    (Sec. 5.6.3.1) test methodology, the test
    duration should run for a minimum period of 30 seconds, regardless
    whether the system reaches steady state before the minimum duration
    ends.

    **Expected Result**: According to
    `RFC2889 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2289.txt>`__ The Max Forwarding
    Rate is the highest forwarding rate of a DUT taken from an iterative set of
    forwarding rate measurements. The iterative set of forwarding rate measurements
    are made by setting the intended load transmitted from an external source and
    measuring the offered load (i.e what the DUT is capable of forwarding). If the
    Throughput == the Maximum Offered Load, it follows that Max Forwarding Rate is
    equal to the Maximum Offered Load.

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The Max Forwarding Rate for the DUT for each packet size.
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → virtual switch → physical. Note: Full mesh tests with
       multiple ingress and egress ports are a key aspect of RFC 2889
       benchmarks, and scenarios with both 2 and 4 ports should be tested.
       In any case, the number of ports used must be reported.

.. 3.2.3.1.10

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.ForwardPressure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC2889 Forward Pressure Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.MaxForwardingRate

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to determine if the DUT transmits frames with an
    inter-frame gap that is less than 12 bytes. This test overloads the DUT
    and measures the output for forward pressure. Traffic should be
    transmitted to the DUT with an inter-frame gap of 11 bytes, this will
    overload the DUT by 1 byte per frame. The forwarding rate of the DUT
    should be measured.

    **Expected Result**: The forwarding rate should not exceed the maximum
    forwarding rate of the DUT collected by
    LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.MaxForwardingRate.

    **Metrics collected**

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  Forwarding rate of the DUT in FPS or Mbps.
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → virtual switch → physical.

.. 3.2.3.1.11

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.ErrorFramesFiltering
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC2889 Error Frames Filtering Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to determine whether the DUT will propagate any
    erroneous frames it receives or whether it is capable of filtering out
    the erroneous frames. Traffic should be sent with erroneous frames
    included within the flow at random intervals. Illegal frames that must
    be tested include: - Oversize Frames. - Undersize Frames. - CRC Errored
    Frames. - Dribble Bit Errored Frames - Alignment Errored Frames

    The traffic flow exiting the DUT should be recorded and checked to
    determine if the erroneous frames where passed through the DUT.

    **Expected Result**: Broken frames are not passed!

    **Metrics collected**

    No Metrics are collected in this test, instead it determines:

    -  Whether the DUT will propagate erroneous frames.
    -  Or whether the DUT will correctly filter out any erroneous frames
       from traffic flow with out removing correct frames.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → virtual switch → physical.

.. 3.2.3.1.12

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.BroadcastFrameForwarding
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC2889 Broadcast Frame Forwarding Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: N

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to determine the maximum forwarding rate of the
    DUT when forwarding broadcast traffic. For each frame previously defined
    under `Default Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__, the traffic should
    be set up as broadcast traffic. The traffic throughput of the DUT should
    be measured.

    The test should be conducted with at least 4 physical ports on the DUT.
    The number of ports used MUST be recorded.

    As broadcast involves forwarding a single incoming packet to several
    destinations, the latency of a single packet is defined as the average
    of the latencies for each of the broadcast destinations.

    The incoming packet is transmitted on each of the other physical ports,
    it is not transmitted on the port on which it was received. The test MAY
    be conducted using different broadcasting ports to uncover any
    performance differences.

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The forwarding rate of the DUT when forwarding broadcast traffic.
    -  The minimum, average & maximum packets latencies observed.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → virtual switch 3x physical. In the Broadcast rate testing,
       four test ports are required. One of the ports is connected to the test
       device, so it can send broadcast frames and listen for miss-routed frames.

.. 3.2.3.1.13

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.WorstN-BestN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: Modified RFC 2544 X% packet loss ratio Throughput and Latency Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    This test determines the DUT's maximum forwarding rate with X% traffic
    loss for a constant load (fixed length frames at a fixed interval time).
    The default loss percentages to be tested are: X = 0%, X = 10^-7%

    Modified RFC 2544 throughput benchmarking methodology aims to quantify
    the throughput measurement variations observed during standard RFC 2544
    benchmarking measurements of virtual switches and VNFs. The RFC2544
    binary search algorithm is modified to use more samples per test trial
    to drive the binary search and yield statistically more meaningful
    results. This keeps the heart of the RFC2544 methodology, still relying
    on the binary search of throughput at specified loss tolerance, while
    providing more useful information about the range of results seen in
    testing. Instead of using a single traffic trial per iteration step,
    each traffic trial is repeated N times and the success/failure of the
    iteration step is based on these N traffic trials. Two types of revised
    tests are defined - *Worst-of-N* and *Best-of-N*.

    **Worst-of-N**

    *Worst-of-N* indicates the lowest expected maximum throughput for (
    packet size, loss tolerance) when repeating the test.

    1.  Repeat the same test run N times at a set packet rate, record each
        result.
    2.  Take the WORST result (highest packet loss) out of N result samples,
        called the Worst-of-N sample.
    3.  If Worst-of-N sample has loss less than the set loss tolerance, then
        the step is successful - increase the test traffic rate.
    4.  If Worst-of-N sample has loss greater than the set loss tolerance
        then the step failed - decrease the test traffic rate.
    5.  Go to step 1.

    **Best-of-N**

    *Best-of-N* indicates the highest expected maximum throughput for (
    packet size, loss tolerance) when repeating the test.

    1.  Repeat the same traffic run N times at a set packet rate, record
        each result.
    2.  Take the BEST result (least packet loss) out of N result samples,
        called the Best-of-N sample.
    3.  If Best-of-N sample has loss less than the set loss tolerance, then
        the step is successful - increase the test traffic rate.
    4.  If Best-of-N sample has loss greater than the set loss tolerance,
        then the step failed - decrease the test traffic rate.
    5.  Go to step 1.

    Performing both Worst-of-N and Best-of-N benchmark tests yields lower
    and upper bounds of expected maximum throughput under the operating
    conditions, giving a very good indication to the user of the
    deterministic performance range for the tested setup.

    **Expected Result**: At the end of each trial series, the presence or
    absence of loss determines the modification of offered load for the
    next trial series, converging on a maximum rate, or
    `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__ Throughput
    with X% loss.
    The Throughput load is re-used in related
    `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__ tests and other
    tests.

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The maximum forwarding rate in Frames Per Second (FPS) and Mbps of
       the DUT for each frame size with X% packet loss.
    -  The average latency of the traffic flow when passing through the DUT
       (if testing for latency, note that this average is different from the
       test specified in Section 26.3 of
       `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__).
    -  Following may also be collected as part of this test, to determine
       the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system:

      -  CPU core utilization.
      -  CPU cache utilization.
      -  Memory footprint.
      -  System bus (QPI, PCI, ...) utilization.
      -  CPU cycles consumed per packet.

.. 3.2.3.1.14

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.Overlay.Network.<tech>.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       **Title**: <tech> Overlay Network RFC 2544 X% packet loss ratio Throughput and Latency Test


       NOTE: Throughout this test, four interchangeable overlay technologies are covered by the
       same test description.  They are: VXLAN, GRE, NVGRE and GENEVE.

      **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

      **Priority**:

      **Description**:
      This test evaluates standard switch performance benchmarks for the scenario where an
      Overlay Network is deployed for all paths through the vSwitch. Overlay Technologies covered
      (replacing <tech> in the test name) include:

      - VXLAN
      - GRE
      - NVGRE
      - GENEVE

      Performance will be assessed for each of the following overlay network functions:

      - Encapsulation only
      - De-encapsulation only
      - Both Encapsulation and De-encapsulation

      For each native packet, the DUT must perform the following operations:

      - Examine the packet and classify its correct overlay net (tunnel) assignment
      - Encapsulate the packet
      - Switch the packet to the correct port

      For each encapsulated packet, the DUT must perform the following operations:

      - Examine the packet and classify its correct native network assignment
      - De-encapsulate the packet, if required
      - Switch the packet to the correct port

    The selected frame sizes are those previously defined under `Default
    Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__.

    Thus, each test comprises an overlay technology, a network function,
    and a packet size *with* overlay network overhead included
    (but see also the discussion at
    https://etherpad.opnfv.org/p/vSwitchTestsDrafts ).

    The test can also be used to determine the average latency of the traffic.

    Under the `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__
    test methodology, the test duration will
    include a number of trials; each trial should run for a minimum period
    of 60 seconds. A binary search methodology must be applied for each
    trial to obtain the final result for Throughput.

    **Expected Result**: At the end of each trial, the presence or absence
    of loss determines the modification of offered load for the next trial,
    converging on a maximum rate, or
    `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__ Throughput with X%
    loss (where the value of X is typically equal to zero).
    The Throughput load is re-used in related
    `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__ tests and other
    tests.

    **Metrics Collected**:
    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The maximum Throughput in Frames Per Second (FPS) and Mbps of
       the DUT for each frame size with X% packet loss.
    -  The average latency of the traffic flow when passing through the DUT
       and VNFs (if testing for latency, note that this average is different from the
       test specified in Section 26.3 of
       `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__).
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.

.. 3.2.3.1.15

Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.MatchAction.PacketLossRatio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 2544 X% packet loss ratio match action Throughput and Latency Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to determine the cost of carrying out match
    action(s) on the DUT’s RFC2544 Throughput with X% traffic loss for
    a constant load (fixed length frames at a fixed interval time).

    Each test case requires:
         * selection of a specific match action(s),
         * specifying a percentage of total traffic that is elligible
           for the match action,
         * determination of the specific test configuration (number
           of flows, number of test ports, presence of an external
           controller, etc.), and
         * measurement of the RFC 2544 Throughput level with X% packet
           loss: Traffic shall be bi-directional and symmetric.

    Note: It would be ideal to verify that all match action-elligible
    traffic was forwarded to the correct port, and if forwarded to
    an unintended port it should be considered lost.

    A match action is an action that is typically carried on a frame
    or packet that matches a set of flow classification parameters
    (typically frame/packet header fields). A match action may or may
    not modify a packet/frame. Match actions include [1]:
         * output : outputs a packet to a particular port.
         * normal: Subjects the packet to traditional L2/L3 processing
           (MAC learning).
         * flood: Outputs the packet on all switch physical ports
           other than the port on which it was received and any ports
           on which flooding is disabled.
         * all: Outputs the packet on all switch physical ports other
           than the port on which it was received.
         * local: Outputs  the packet on the ``local port,'' which
           corresponds to the network device that has the same name as
           the bridge.
         * in_port: Outputs the packet on the port from which it was
           received.
         * Controller: Sends the packet and its metadata to the
           OpenFlow controller as a ``packet in'' message.
         * enqueue: Enqueues  the  packet  on the specified queue
           within port.
         * drop: discard the packet.

   Modifications include [1]:
         * mod vlan: covered by LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatioFrameModification
         * mod_dl_src: Sets the source Ethernet address.
         * mod_dl_dst: Sets the destination Ethernet address.
         * mod_nw_src: Sets the IPv4 source address.
         * mod_nw_dst: Sets the IPv4 destination address.
         * mod_tp_src: Sets the TCP or UDP or SCTP source port.
         * mod_tp_dst: Sets the TCP or UDP or SCTP destination port.
         * mod_nw_tos: Sets the  DSCP bits in the IPv4 ToS/DSCP or
           IPv6 traffic class field.
         * mod_nw_ecn: Sets the ECN bits in the appropriate IPv4 or
           IPv6 field.
         * mod_nw_ttl: Sets the IPv4 TTL or IPv6 hop limit field.

    Note: This comprehensive list requires extensive traffic generator
    capabilities.

    The match action(s) that were applied as part of the test should be
    reported in the final test report.

    During this test, the DUT must perform the following operations on
    the traffic flow:
        * Perform packet parsing on the DUT’s ingress port.
        * Perform any relevant address look-ups on the DUT’s ingress
          ports.
        * Carry out one or more of the match actions specified above.

    The default loss percentages to be tested are: - X = 0% - X = 10^-7%
    Other values can be tested if required by the user. The selected
    frame sizes are those previously defined under Default Test
    Parameters.

    The test can also be used to determine the average latency of the
    traffic when a match action is applied to packets in a flow. Under
    the RFC2544 test methodology, the test duration will include a
    number of trials; each trial should run for a minimum period of 60
    seconds. A binary search methodology must be applied for each
    trial to obtain the final result.

    **Expected Result:**

    At the end of each trial, the presence or absence of loss
    determines the modification of offered load for the next trial,
    converging on a maximum rate, or RFC2544Throughput with X% loss.
    The Throughput load is re-used in related RFC2544 tests and other
    tests.

    **Metrics Collected:**

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:
        * The RFC 2544 Throughput in Frames Per Second (FPS) and Mbps
          of the DUT for each frame size with X% packet loss.
        * The average latency of the traffic flow when passing through
          the DUT (if testing for latency, note that this average is
          different from the test specified in Section 26.3 ofRFC2544).
        * CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of
          this test, to determine the vSwitch’s performance footprint
          on the system.

    The metrics collected can be compared to that of the prerequisite
    test to determine the cost of the match action(s) in the pipeline.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → virtual switch → physical (and others are possible)

    [1] ovs-ofctl - administer OpenFlow switches
        [http://openvswitch.org/support/dist-docs/ovs-ofctl.8.txt ]


.. 3.2.3.2

Packet Latency tests
---------------------------
These tests will measure the store and forward latency as well as the packet
delay variation for various packet types through the virtual switch. The
following list is not exhaustive but should indicate the type of tests
that should be required. It is expected that more will be added.

.. 3.2.3.2.1

Test ID: LTD.PacketLatency.InitialPacketProcessingLatency
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: Initial Packet Processing Latency

    **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    In some virtual switch architectures, the first packets of a flow will
    take the system longer to process than subsequent packets in the flow.
    This test determines the latency for these packets. The test will
    measure the latency of the packets as they are processed by the
    flow-setup-path of the DUT. There are two methods for this test, a
    recommended method and a nalternative method that can be used if it is
    possible to disable the fastpath of the virtual switch.

    Recommended method: This test will send 64,000 packets to the DUT, each
    belonging to a different flow. Average packet latency will be determined
    over the 64,000 packets.

    Alternative method: This test will send a single packet to the DUT after
    a fixed interval of time. The time interval will be equivalent to the
    amount of time it takes for a flow to time out in the virtual switch
    plus 10%. Average packet latency will be determined over 1,000,000
    packets.

    This test is intended only for non-learning virtual switches; For learning
    virtual switches use RFC2889.

    For this test, only unidirectional traffic is required.

    **Expected Result**: The average latency for the initial packet of all
    flows should be greater than the latency of subsequent traffic.

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  Average latency of the initial packets of all flows that are
       processed by the DUT.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → Virtual Switch → Physical.

.. 3.2.3.2.2

Test ID: LTD.PacketDelayVariation.RFC3393.Soak
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: Packet Delay Variation Soak Test

    **Prerequisite Tests**: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio (0% Packet Loss)

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to understand the distribution of packet delay
    variation for different frame sizes over an extended test duration and
    to determine if there are any outliers. To allow for an extended test
    duration, the test should ideally run for 24 hours or, if this is not
    possible, for at least 6 hour. For this test, each frame size must be
    sent at the highest possible throughput with 0% packet loss, as
    determined in the prerequisite test.

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The packet delay variation value for traffic passing through the DUT.
    -  The `RFC5481 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5481.txt>`__
       PDV form of delay variation on the traffic flow,
       using the 99th percentile, for each 60s interval during the test.
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.

.. 3.2.3.3

Scalability tests
------------------------
The general aim of these tests is to understand the impact of large flow
table size and flow lookups on throughput. The following list is not
exhaustive but should indicate the type of tests that should be required.
It is expected that more will be added.

.. 3.2.3.3.1

Test ID: LTD.Scalability.Flows.RFC2544.0PacketLoss
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 2544 0% loss Flow Scalability throughput test

    **Prerequisite Test**: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio, IF the
    delta Throughput between the single-flow RFC2544 test and this test with
    a variable number of flows is desired.

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to measure how throughput changes as the number
    of flows in the DUT increases. The test will measure the throughput
    through the fastpath, as such the flows need to be installed on the DUT
    before passing traffic.

    For each frame size previously defined under `Default Test
    Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__ and for each of the following number of
    flows:

    -  1,000
    -  2,000
    -  4,000
    -  8,000
    -  16,000
    -  32,000
    -  64,000
    -  Max supported number of flows.

    This test will be conducted under two conditions following the
    establishment of all flows as required by RFC 2544, regarding the flow
    expiration time-out:

    1) The time-out never expires during each trial.

    2) The time-out expires for all flows periodically. This would require a
    short time-out compared with flow re-appearance for a small number of
    flows, and may not be possible for all flow conditions.

    The maximum 0% packet loss Throughput should be determined in a manner
    identical to LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio.

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The maximum number of frames per second that can be forwarded at the
       specified number of flows and the specified frame size, with zero
       packet loss.

.. 3.2.3.3.2

Test ID: LTD.MemoryBandwidth.RFC2544.0PacketLoss.Scalability
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 2544 0% loss Memory Bandwidth Scalability test

    **Prerequisite Tests**: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio, IF the
    delta Throughput between an undisturbed RFC2544 test and this test with
    the Throughput affected by cache and memory bandwidth contention is desired.

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to understand how the DUT's performance is
    affected by cache sharing and memory bandwidth between processes.

    During the test all cores not used by the vSwitch should be running a
    memory intensive application. This application should read and write
    random data to random addresses in unused physical memory. The random
    nature of the data and addresses is intended to consume cache, exercise
    main memory access (as opposed to cache) and exercise all memory buses
    equally. Furthermore:

    - the ratio of reads to writes should be recorded. A ratio of 1:1
      SHOULD be used.
    - the reads and writes MUST be of cache-line size and be cache-line aligned.
    - in NUMA architectures memory access SHOULD be local to the core's node.
      Whether only local memory or a mix of local and remote memory is used
      MUST be recorded.
    - the memory bandwidth (reads plus writes) used per-core MUST be recorded;
      the test MUST be run with a per-core memory bandwidth equal to half the
      maximum system memory bandwidth divided by the number of cores. The test
      MAY be run with other values for the per-core memory bandwidth.
    - the test MAY also be run with the memory intensive application running
      on all cores.

    Under these conditions the DUT's 0% packet loss throughput is determined
    as per LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio.

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The DUT's 0% packet loss throughput in the presence of cache sharing and
       memory bandwidth between processes.

.. 3.2.3.3.3

Test ID: LTD.Scalability.VNF.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: VNF Scalability RFC 2544 X% packet loss ratio Throughput and
               Latency Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    This test determines the DUT's throughput rate with X% traffic loss for
    a constant load (fixed length frames at a fixed interval time) when the
    number of VNFs on the DUT increases. The default loss percentages
    to be tested are: - X = 0% - X = 10^-7% . The minimum number of
    VNFs to be tested are 3.

    Flow classification should be conducted with L2, L3 and L4 matching
    to understand the matching and scaling capability of the vSwitch. The
    matching fields which were used as part of the test should be reported
    as part of the benchmark report.

    The vSwitch is responsible for forwarding frames between the VNFs

    The SUT (vSwitch and VNF daisy chain) operation should be validated
    before running the test. This may be completed by running a burst or
    continuous stream of traffic through the SUT to ensure proper operation
    before a test.

    **Note**: The traffic rate used to validate SUT operation should be low
    enough not to stress the SUT.

    **Note**: Other values can be tested if required by the user.

    **Note**: The same VNF should be used in the "daisy chain" formation.
    Each addition of a VNF should be conducted in a new test setup (The DUT
    is brought down, then the DUT is brought up again). An atlernative approach
    would be to continue to add VNFs without bringing down the DUT. The
    approach used needs to be documented as part of the test report.

    The selected frame sizes are those previously defined under `Default
    Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__. The test can also be used to
    determine the average latency of the traffic.

    Under the `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__
    test methodology, the test duration will
    include a number of trials; each trial should run for a minimum period
    of 60 seconds. A binary search methodology must be applied for each
    trial to obtain the final result for Throughput.

    **Expected Result**: At the end of each trial, the presence or absence
    of loss determines the modification of offered load for the next trial,
    converging on a maximum rate, or
    `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__ Throughput with X%
    loss.
    The Throughput load is re-used in related
    `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__ tests and other
    tests.

    If the test VNFs are rather light-weight in terms of processing, the test
    provides a view of multiple passes through the vswitch on logical
    interfaces. In other words, the test produces an optimistic count of
    daisy-chained VNFs, but the cumulative effect of traffic on the vSwitch is
    "real" (assuming that the vSwitch has some dedicated resources, and the
    effects on shared resources is understood).


    **Metrics Collected**:
    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The maximum Throughput in Frames Per Second (FPS) and Mbps of
       the DUT for each frame size with X% packet loss.
    -  The average latency of the traffic flow when passing through the DUT
       and VNFs (if testing for latency, note that this average is different from the
       test specified in Section 26.3 of
       `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__).
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.

.. 3.2.3.3.4

Test ID: LTD.Scalability.VNF.RFC2544.PacketLossProfile
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     **Title**: VNF Scalability RFC 2544 Throughput and Latency Profile

     **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

     **Priority**:

     **Description**:

     This test reveals how throughput and latency degrades as the number
     of VNFs increases and offered rate varies in the region of the DUT's
     maximum forwarding rate as determined by
     LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio (0% Packet Loss).
     For example it can be used to determine if the degradation of throughput
     and latency as the number of VNFs and offered rate increases is slow
     and graceful, or sudden and severe. The minimum number of VNFs to
     be tested is 3.

     The selected frame sizes are those previously defined under `Default
     Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__.

     The offered traffic rate is described as a percentage delta with respect
     to the DUT's RFC 2544 Throughput as determined by
     LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLoss Ratio (0% Packet Loss case). A delta
     of 0% is equivalent to an offered traffic rate equal to the RFC 2544
     Throughput; A delta of +50% indicates an offered rate half-way
     between the Throughput and line-rate, whereas a delta of
     -50% indicates an offered rate of half the maximum rate. Therefore the
     range of the delta figure is natuarlly bounded at -100% (zero offered
     traffic) and +100% (traffic offered at line rate).

     The following deltas to the maximum forwarding rate should be applied:

     -  -50%, -10%, 0%, +10% & +50%

    **Note**: Other values can be tested if required by the user.

    **Note**: The same VNF should be used in the "daisy chain" formation.
    Each addition of a VNF should be conducted in a new test setup (The DUT
    is brought down, then the DUT is brought up again). An atlernative approach
    would be to continue to add VNFs without bringing down the DUT. The
    approach used needs to be documented as part of the test report.

    Flow classification should be conducted with L2, L3 and L4 matching
    to understand the matching and scaling capability of the vSwitch. The
    matching fields which were used as part of the test should be reported
    as part of the benchmark report.

    The SUT (vSwitch and VNF daisy chain) operation should be validated
    before running the test. This may be completed by running a burst or
    continuous stream of traffic through the SUT to ensure proper operation
    before a test.

    **Note**: the traffic rate used to validate SUT operation should be low
    enough not to stress the SUT

    **Expected Result**: For each packet size a profile should be produced
    of how throughput and latency vary with offered rate.

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The forwarding rate in Frames Per Second (FPS) and Mbps of the DUT
       for each delta to the maximum forwarding rate and for each frame
       size.
    -  The average latency for each delta to the maximum forwarding rate and
       for each frame size.
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.
    -  Any failures experienced (for example if the vSwitch crashes, stops
       processing packets, restarts or becomes unresponsive to commands)
       when the offered load is above Maximum Throughput MUST be recorded
       and reported with the results.

.. 3.2.3.4

Activation tests
----------------
The general aim of these tests is to understand the capacity of the
and speed with which the vswitch can accommodate new flows.

.. 3.2.3.4.1

Test ID: LTD.Activation.RFC2889.AddressCachingCapacity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC2889 Address Caching Capacity Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: N/A

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    Please note this test is only applicable to virtual switches that are capable of
    MAC learning. The aim of this test is to determine the address caching
    capacity of the DUT for a constant load (fixed length frames at a fixed
    interval time). The selected frame sizes are those previously defined
    under `Default Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__.

    In order to run this test the aging time, that is the maximum time the
    DUT will keep a learned address in its flow table, and a set of initial
    addresses, whose value should be >= 1 and <= the max number supported by
    the implementation must be known. Please note that if the aging time is
    configurable it must be longer than the time necessary to produce frames
    from the external source at the specified rate. If the aging time is
    fixed the frame rate must be brought down to a value that the external
    source can produce in a time that is less than the aging time.

    Learning Frames should be sent from an external source to the DUT to
    install a number of flows. The Learning Frames must have a fixed
    destination address and must vary the source address of the frames. The
    DUT should install flows in its flow table based on the varying source
    addresses. Frames should then be transmitted from an external source at
    a suitable frame rate to see if the DUT has properly learned all of the
    addresses. If there is no frame loss and no flooding, the number of
    addresses sent to the DUT should be increased and the test is repeated
    until the max number of cached addresses supported by the DUT
    determined.

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  Number of cached addresses supported by the DUT.
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → virtual switch → 2 x physical (one receiving, one listening).

.. 3.2.3.4.2

Test ID: LTD.Activation.RFC2889.AddressLearningRate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC2889 Address Learning Rate Test

    **Prerequisite Test**: LTD.Memory.RFC2889.AddressCachingCapacity

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    Please note this test is only applicable to virtual switches that are capable of
    MAC learning. The aim of this test is to determine the rate of address
    learning of the DUT for a constant load (fixed length frames at a fixed
    interval time). The selected frame sizes are those previously defined
    under `Default Test Parameters <#DefaultParams>`__, traffic should be
    sent with each IPv4/IPv6 address incremented by one. The rate at which
    the DUT learns a new address should be measured. The maximum caching
    capacity from LTD.Memory.RFC2889.AddressCachingCapacity should be taken
    into consideration as the maximum number of addresses for which the
    learning rate can be obtained.

    **Expected Result**: It may be worthwhile to report the behaviour when
    operating beyond address capacity - some DUTs may be more friendly to
    new addresses than others.

    **Metrics collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The address learning rate of the DUT.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → virtual switch → 2 x physical (one receiving, one listening).

.. 3.2.3.5

Coupling between control path and datapath Tests
-------------------------------------------------------
The following tests aim to determine how tightly coupled the datapath
and the control path are within a virtual switch. The following list
is not exhaustive but should indicate the type of tests that should be
required. It is expected that more will be added.

.. 3.2.3.5.1

Test ID: LTD.CPDPCouplingFlowAddition
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: Control Path and Datapath Coupling

    **Prerequisite Test**:

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to understand how exercising the DUT's control
    path affects datapath performance.

    Initially a certain number of flow table entries are installed in the
    vSwitch. Then over the duration of an RFC2544 throughput test
    flow-entries are added and removed at the rates specified below. No
    traffic is 'hitting' these flow-entries, they are simply added and
    removed.

    The test MUST be repeated with the following initial number of
    flow-entries installed: - < 10 - 1000 - 100,000 - 10,000,000 (or the
    maximum supported number of flow-entries)

    The test MUST be repeated with the following rates of flow-entry
    addition and deletion per second: - 0 - 1 (i.e. 1 addition plus 1
    deletion) - 100 - 10,000

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  The maximum forwarding rate in Frames Per Second (FPS) and Mbps of
       the DUT.
    -  The average latency of the traffic flow when passing through the DUT
       (if testing for latency, note that this average is different from the
       test specified in Section 26.3 of
       `RFC2544 <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2544.txt>`__).
    -  CPU and memory utilization may also be collected as part of this
       test, to determine the vSwitch's performance footprint on the system.

    **Deployment scenario**:

    -  Physical → virtual switch → physical.

.. 3.2.3.6

CPU and memory consumption
---------------------------------
The following tests will profile a virtual switch's CPU and memory
utilization under various loads and circumstances. The following
list is not exhaustive but should indicate the type of tests that
should be required. It is expected that more will be added.

.. 3.2.3.6.1

Test ID: LTD.Stress.RFC2544.0PacketLoss
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    **Title**: RFC 2544 0% Loss CPU OR Memory Stress Test

    **Prerequisite Test**:

    **Priority**:

    **Description**:

    The aim of this test is to understand the overall performance of the
    system when a CPU or Memory intensive application is run on the same DUT as
    the Virtual Switch. For each frame size, an
    LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio (0% Packet Loss) test should be
    performed. Throughout the entire test a CPU or Memory intensive application
    should be run on all cores on the system not in use by the Virtual Switch.
    For NUMA system only cores on the same NUMA node are loaded.

    It is recommended that stress-ng be used for loading the non-Virtual
    Switch cores but any stress tool MAY be used.

    **Expected Result**:

    **Metrics Collected**:

    The following are the metrics collected for this test:

    -  Memory and CPU utilization of the cores running the Virtual Switch.
    -  The number of identity of the cores allocated to the Virtual Switch.
    -  The configuration of the stress tool (for example the command line
       parameters used to start it.)

    **Note:** Stress in the test ID can be replaced with the name of the
              component being stressed, when reporting the results:
              LTD.CPU.RFC2544.0PacketLoss or LTD.Memory.RFC2544.0PacketLoss

.. 3.2.3.7

Summary List of Tests
----------------------------
1. Throughput tests

  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.PacketLossRatioFrameModification
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.Profile
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.SystemRecoveryTime
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.BackToBackFrames
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.Soak
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.SoakFrameModification
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC6201.ResetTime
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.MaxForwardingRate
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.ForwardPressure
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.ErrorFramesFiltering
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2889.BroadcastFrameForwarding
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.RFC2544.WorstN-BestN
  - Test ID: LTD.Throughput.Overlay.Network.<tech>.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio

2. Packet Latency tests

  - Test ID: LTD.PacketLatency.InitialPacketProcessingLatency
  - Test ID: LTD.PacketDelayVariation.RFC3393.Soak

3. Scalability tests

  - Test ID: LTD.Scalability.Flows.RFC2544.0PacketLoss
  - Test ID: LTD.MemoryBandwidth.RFC2544.0PacketLoss.Scalability
  - LTD.Scalability.VNF.RFC2544.PacketLossProfile
  - LTD.Scalability.VNF.RFC2544.PacketLossRatio

4. Acivation tests

  - Test ID: LTD.Activation.RFC2889.AddressCachingCapacity
  - Test ID: LTD.Activation.RFC2889.AddressLearningRate

5. Coupling between control path and datapath Tests

  - Test ID: LTD.CPDPCouplingFlowAddition

6. CPU and memory consumption

  - Test ID: LTD.Stress.RFC2544.0PacketLoss