EXFO ETS-1000 - Manual (Page 41)

Ethernet Tester Analyzer 33
5 Typical Tasks and Solutions
Typical Tasks
The main task for Ethernet-network testing is the compliance validation of
service level agreements (SLAs) between operators and subscribers.
Quality of Service (QoS) must be verified. This can be accomplished by
performing the RFC2544 test which provides throughput, frame loss rate,
latency, and back-to-back measurements. When multiple services/QoS
levels are provided, the performance is best verified via a multiple stream
test. Other utility tools such as Ping and Trace Route provide basic network
connectivity information. Finally in order to perform end-to-end tests, the
Loopback mode allows re-directing traffic at the physical, data link,
network and transport OSI layers.
RFC 2544 Methodology
The RFC 2544 methodology defines a specific set of tests to measure and
report the performance characteristics of network unit. According to the
RFC 2544, for Ethernet-network test the following frame sizes are
recommended to be used: 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 1280, and 1518 bytes.
Taking into consideration the tests defined by the methodology
(throughput, latency, frame loss rate, and back-to-back), this methodology
is the de-facto standard for analyzing the Ethernet-network performance.
ETS-1000 analyzer supports four standard tests defined by the RFC 2544
methodology.