What is RFC 2544 and what does it measure?

RFC 2544 is a benchmarking methodology used to evaluate network equipment performance across LAN and WAN networks, defining standardized tests for Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss, and Back-to-Back frames.

What four core tests does RFC 2544 define?

RFC 2544 defines four core tests: Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss, and Back-to-Back.

What does the Throughput test measure?

The Throughput test determines the steady-state maximum number of frames per second that can be transmitted without errors, by starting at full media speed and adjusting the rate to find the highest loss-free throughput.

What does the Latency test measure?

The Latency test measures the time required for a frame to travel from the originating device through the device under test (or network) and back to PacketExpert™ 100G, with microsecond accuracy.

What does the Frame Loss test measure?

The Frame Loss test measures the Frame Loss Rate across a range of input data rates and frame sizes.

What does the Back-to-Back test measure?

The Back-to-Back test measures the maximum number of frames that can be sent at full line rate before a frame is lost, assessing performance under bursty traffic conditions.

What is the difference between Dual Port and Single Port RFC 2544 testing?

In Dual Port RFC 2544 testing, traffic is transmitted on one port and the looped-back traffic from the DUT is received on the opposite port. In Single Port RFC 2544 testing, traffic is transmitted and looped back on the same port, with PacketExpert™ measuring Tx and Rx time to calculate latency.

Which link speeds are supported for RFC 2544 testing?

RFC 2544 testing is supported on 1G, 10G, 25G, and 100G ports, with 40G and 50G support coming soon.

Which protocol layers can RFC 2544 be run over?

RFC 2544 testing can be performed over Framed Ethernet (Layer 2), Stacked VLAN (Q-in-Q), Stacked MPLS, IP, or UDP.

Does RFC 2544 support stacked VLAN and stacked MPLS?

Yes. Test frames can be configured with Stacked VLAN and Stacked MPLS, enabling end-to-end RFC 2544 testing across Carrier Ethernet/MPLS networks.

What frame sizes are supported, and why is a minimum frame length enforced?

Frame lengths from 64 bytes up to Jumbo frames (16,000 bytes) are supported. Because stacked VLAN and MPLS headers add overhead, the minimum valid frame length can exceed 64 bytes, so the configuration screen displays the minimum required length and rejects any configured frame size below it.

How many standard frame sizes does RFC 2544 recommend?

RFC 2544 recommends 7 different standard frame sizes for Ethernet testing.

What test parameters can be configured?

Configurable parameters include Frame Sizes, Unidirectional/Bidirectional mode, Number of Trials, Trial Duration, Resolution, and protocol header fields such as MAC addresses, IP addresses, UDP ports, VLAN ID, and MPLS Labels.

Does RFC 2544 support unidirectional and bidirectional testing?

Yes. RFC 2544 testing supports both unidirectional and bidirectional traffic between ports.

In what formats are RFC 2544 results displayed?

Results are displayed in both tabular and graphical formats for Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss, and Back-to-Back tests.

What additional functionalities are bundled with RFC 2544 testing on PacketExpert™ 100G?

In addition to RFC 2544 Testing, the platform also bundles Wire-speed BERT, Smart Loopback, ExpertSAM™ (ITU-T Y.1564), and Python/REST API automation and regression testing.

Does PacketExpert™ 100G support PTP-based synchronization for RFC 2544?

Yes. PacketExpert™ 100G supports synchronization based on Precision Time Protocol (PTP), enabling accurate delay measurements.

Can RFC 2544 testing be automated?

Yes. RFC 2544 testing supports test automation and regression testing via Python and REST APIs.

What information is included in the PDF report?

The PDF report includes the full test configuration, test results (in both tabular and graphical format, matching the GUI), and interface configuration details.

What information is included in the CSV report?

The CSV report includes only the Results and Statistics parameters for the test conducted.

RFC 2544 Network Testing on PacketExpert™ 100G

RFC 2544 Testing – Ethernet throughput, latency, frame loss and back-to-back performance tests on Ethernet, VLAN, MPLS, IPv4 / IPv6 and UDP layers.

Sample Test Report

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Overview

PacketExpert™ 100G supports Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss and Back to Back tests as specified in RFC 2544. RFC 2544 is a benchmarking methodology that defines tests used to evaluate equipment performance. These tests include - Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss Rate, and Back-to-back frames. Networks under test in RFC 2544 can be Local Area Networks (LAN) or Wide Area Networks (WAN).

RFC 2544 network testing includes the following types of measurements:

Throughput - Determines the steady state maximum number of frames per second that can be transmitted without errors
Latency - Measures the time required for a frame to travel from the originating device through the network to the destination device. Microsecond accuracy
Frame Loss - Measure the Frame Loss Rate across various input data rates and frame sizes
Back-to-Back - It measures the maximum number of frames received at full line rate before a frame is lost. This assesses performance with bursty traffic

PacketExpert™ 100G - RFC 2544 Testing

In Dual port RFC 2544 test, PacketExpert™ allows Ethernet Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss, and Back-to-Back performance tests in accordance with RFC 2544 specifications on 1G/10G/25G/100G ports (40G and 5G Coming Soon). The test is setup such that the traffic can be generated and transmitted on either of the dual ports and the looped back traffic from the DUT is received on the opposite port validating the test parameters.

In Single port RFC 2544 test, the PacketExpert™ allows Ethernet Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss, and Back-to-Back performance tests in accordance with RFC 2544 specifications on 1G/10G/25G/100G ports (40G and 5G coming soon). The test is setup such that the traffic is transmitted on 1G/10G/25G/100G ports and the PacketExpert™ 100G at the DUT end can be configured to loop the traffic back on the same port measuring the Tx and Rx time thus calculating the latency.

Single Port RFC 2544

The test tool supports multiple functionalities -

Wire speed BERT (Bit Error Rate Testing):
Wire speed BERT is a standard testing methodolgy that verifies data transmission and reception on high-speed networks. By simulating different scenarios and analyzing error rates, it ensures optimal network integrity and reliability.
Smart Loopback :
Smart Loopback is a groundbreaking technology that allows efficient and reliable loopback testing. It enables seamless monitoring and troubleshooting of network connections, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted network operation. With Smart Loopback, users can easily verify data integrity, identify potential issues, and streamline the debugging process, enhancing overall network performance.
ExpertSAM™ (ITU-T Y.1564)
Ensure service-level agreements (SLAs) are met with ExpertSAM™, an advanced testing framework based on ITU-T Y.1564 standards. By conducting comprehensive tests and measurements, ExpertSAM™ guarantees that your network meets performance criteria, enabling you to deliver exceptional quality of service (QoS) to your customers.
RFC 2544 Testing :
Leverage the power of RFC 2544 Testing to assess and optimize the network performance. Through comprehensive tests measuring throughput, latency, frame loss, and back-to-back scenarios, user can identify bottlenecks, fine-tune configurations, and maximize the efficiency of the network infrastructure.
Python Automation and Regression Testing:
Supports Test automation and regression testing via Python and REST APIs

Features

Throughput, back-to-back, latency and frame loss testing supporting uni-directional and bi-directional traffic between ports
Supports RFC 2544 on Optical 1G/10G/25G/100G ports (40G and 50G are coming soon)
Support for frame lengths from 64 bytes to Jumbo frames (up to 16000 bytes)
Includes various parameter configurations such as Frame Sizes selection, Unidirectional/Bidirectional, Number of trials, Trial Duration, Resolution, and many more
User-defined options to configure various packet header parameters, like MAC addresses, IP addresses, UDP ports, VLAN ID, MPLS Labels, and more
Results are displayed in both tabular as well as graphical format
Test result reports available in PDF and CSV file formats
Supports synchronization based on Precision Time Protocol (PTP), enabling accurate delay measurements

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RFC 2544 and what does it measure?: RFC 2544 is a benchmarking methodology used to evaluate network equipment performance across LAN and WAN networks, defining standardized tests for Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss, and Back-to-Back frames.
What four core tests does RFC 2544 define?: RFC 2544 defines four core tests: Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss, and Back-to-Back.
What does the Throughput test measure?: The Throughput test determines the steady-state maximum number of frames per second that can be transmitted without errors, by starting at full media speed and adjusting the rate to find the highest loss-free throughput.
What does the Latency test measure?: The Latency test measures the time required for a frame to travel from the originating device through the device under test (or network) and back to PacketExpert™ 100G, with microsecond accuracy.
What does the Frame Loss test measure?: The Frame Loss test measures the Frame Loss Rate across a range of input data rates and frame sizes.
What does the Back-to-Back test measure?: The Back-to-Back test measures the maximum number of frames that can be sent at full line rate before a frame is lost, assessing performance under bursty traffic conditions.
What is the difference between Dual Port and Single Port RFC 2544 testing?: In Dual Port RFC 2544 testing, traffic is transmitted on one port and the looped-back traffic from the DUT is received on the opposite port. In Single Port RFC 2544 testing, traffic is transmitted and looped back on the same port, with PacketExpert™ measuring Tx and Rx time to calculate latency.
Which link speeds are supported for RFC 2544 testing?: RFC 2544 testing is supported on 1G, 10G, 25G, and 100G ports, with 40G and 50G support coming soon.
Which protocol layers can RFC 2544 be run over?: RFC 2544 testing can be performed over Framed Ethernet (Layer 2), Stacked VLAN (Q-in-Q), Stacked MPLS, IP, or UDP.
Does RFC 2544 support stacked VLAN and stacked MPLS?: Yes. Test frames can be configured with Stacked VLAN and Stacked MPLS, enabling end-to-end RFC 2544 testing across Carrier Ethernet/MPLS networks.

What frame sizes are supported, and why is a minimum frame length enforced?: Frame lengths from 64 bytes up to Jumbo frames (16,000 bytes) are supported. Because stacked VLAN and MPLS headers add overhead, the minimum valid frame length can exceed 64 bytes, so the configuration screen displays the minimum required length and rejects any configured frame size below it.
How many standard frame sizes does RFC 2544 recommend?: RFC 2544 recommends 7 different standard frame sizes for Ethernet testing.
What test parameters can be configured?: Configurable parameters include Frame Sizes, Unidirectional/Bidirectional mode, Number of Trials, Trial Duration, Resolution, and protocol header fields such as MAC addresses, IP addresses, UDP ports, VLAN ID, and MPLS Labels.
Does RFC 2544 support unidirectional and bidirectional testing?: Yes. RFC 2544 testing supports both unidirectional and bidirectional traffic between ports.
In what formats are RFC 2544 results displayed?: Results are displayed in both tabular and graphical formats for Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss, and Back-to-Back tests.
What additional functionalities are bundled with RFC 2544 testing on PacketExpert™ 100G?: In addition to RFC 2544 Testing, the platform also bundles Wire-speed BERT, Smart Loopback, ExpertSAM™ (ITU-T Y.1564), and Python/REST API automation and regression testing.
Does PacketExpert™ 100G support PTP-based synchronization for RFC 2544?: Yes. PacketExpert™ 100G supports synchronization based on Precision Time Protocol (PTP), enabling accurate delay measurements.
Can RFC 2544 testing be automated?: Yes. RFC 2544 testing supports test automation and regression testing via Python and REST APIs.
What information is included in the PDF report?: The PDF report includes the full test configuration, test results (in both tabular and graphical format, matching the GUI), and interface configuration details.
What information is included in the CSV report?: The CSV report includes only the Results and Statistics parameters for the test conducted.

RFC 2544 Test Configurations

PacketExpert™ 100G supports Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss and Back-to-Back tests as specified in RFC 2544. RFC 2544 can be done over Framed Ethernet (Layer 2), Stacked VLAN (Q-in-Q), Stacked MPLS, IP or UDP.

RFC 2544 allows the test frame to be configured with Stacked VLAN and Stacked MPLS. This way, end to end RFC 2544 test can be conducted across a Carrier Ethernet/MPLS network.

PacketExpert™ 100G RFC 2544 Configurations Summary

Global configuration option includes parameter settings that are common to all the 4 tests - Throughput, Latency, Back-to-Back, Frame Loss. This application supports frame lengths from 64 bytes to Jumbo frames (up to 16000 bytes). Due to addition of stacked VLAN and stacked MPLS, the minimum length required for frame can come up to be > 64, anything lesser, traffic may not be sent at all. So, this display is provided to help user to configure the correct frame length. It includes an option to configure with the minimum frame length required. Also, any Frame Size configured less than the minimum frame length will be rejected. RFC 2544 recommends 7 different frame sizes for Ethernet.

Global Configuration (Dual Port)

Users can configure various RFC 2544 test parameters including frame sizes, unidirectional or bidirectional testing, number of trials, trial duration and protocol headers such as MAC addresses, IP addresses, UDP ports, VLAN ID, MPLS Labels, etc.

Throughput, Latency, Frame loss, Back-to-Back Test Configuration

RFC 2544 Test Results

The PacketExpert™ allows for RFC 2544 testing, which includes various performance metrics such as Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss, and Back-to-Back performance tests. The results from these tests can be displayed in both tabular and graphical formats.

Overall-Test-Results

Displays test status such as In Progress, Completed, and Aborted. In addition, it displays status of learning frames and test frames for the current trial along with Bandwidth, Tx Frames and Rx Frames.

RFC 2544 Overall Test Results

Throughput

The Throughput test determines the maximum throughput of the device under test where no frame loss occurs. Starting at full media speed, the rate is adjusted to find the highest throughput without any frame loss

Throughput Loopback Testing

Throughput End to End Testing

Throughput results are displayed in terms of bandwidth (in percentage/Gbps/Mbps/Kbps/Fps) for each frame size. Graphically, it is plotted as throughput vs frame size.

RFC 2544 Throughput Test Results

Latency

The Latency test is to find the time required for the sent frame to go through the device under test and return to PacketExpert™ 100G.

Latency Loopback Testing

Latency End to End Testing

Latency values are displayed in terms of microseconds or milliseconds for each frame size. Graphically, the latency value is plotted against frame size

RFC 2544 Latency Test Results

Frame Loss

The Frame Loss test is to determine the Frame Loss Rate over the entire range of input data rates and frame sizes.

Frame Loss Loopback Testing

Frame Loss End to End Testing

Frame Loss results are displayed in terms of the throughput (in percentage/ Mbps/Gbps/Kbps) measured over the range of input rates (in percentage) for each frame size. Graphically, for each frame size, the throughput is plotted against the test rate. For multiple frame sizes, there will be multiple line graphs

RFC 2544 Frame Loss Test Results

Back-to-Back

The Back to Back test is to find the maximum number of frames that can be sent at maximum throughput without frame loss.

Back to Back Loopback Testing

Back to Back End to End Testing

Back-to-Back values are displayed in terms of the burst size (in milliseconds) for each frame size. Graphically, the burst size is plotted against frame size

RFC 2544 Back to Back Test Results

Report Generation

Users can generate reports in PDF and CSV file formats detailing the configuration and results of the previously run test.

The PDF report file generated includes all the details such as the Test configuration, Test results, Interface configuration etc. For RFC 2544, results are saved in tabular as well as graphical format, just as in the GUI.

RFC 2544 PDF Report File

The CSV report file generated includes only the Results and the Statistics parameters for the test conducted.

RFC 2544 CSV Report File

Ethernet/IP Tester