February 2017

Spirent Communications

Spirent TestCenter Software and Hardware New Features 4.73

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 2

Contents

NEW PRODUCTS AND FEATURES ................................................................................................... 3

HARDWARE ......................................................................................................................................... 3

SOFTWARE ........................................................................................................................................... 6

SPIRENT SUPPORT ............................................................................................................................ 15

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 3

New Products and Features

Hardware

Spirent TestCenter fX3/mX3 HSE/FC Modules (link to datasheet)

Several variants of Fibre Channel capable load modules including a 7-speed and an FC only

version are released with Spirent TestCenter 4.73.

Full fX3/mX3 Ethernet Functionality

4 ports of 16/32G Fibre Channel interface

o 2 ports per QSFP28 interface

o Up to 48 ports per chassis

Port speed can be set independently per QSFP28 interface

Per port user reservation

Transmitter Training Signal (TTS) feature (32G mode)

Internal and external clock

o Internal clock supports PPM adjustment per QSFP28 interface

Supports Class 2 and Class 3 FC traffic

Real-time TX stream adjustments

64K transmit streams

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 4

Support for Shortreach(SR) QSFP28 transceivers

Per port capture with analyzer filters (Wireshark FC decodes)

Data Center Bridging with 8 Priority Flow Control queues per port

DCBX, FCoE and FIP protocol emulation

Unicast and multicast benchmarking

Routing, MPLS, Carrier Ethernet, Switching and Access Protocols

Note: When changing modes between Fibre Channel and Ethernet the optical interface must be

swapped with the appropriate transceiver for the mode and speed intended.

Spirent TestCenter WLAN C50 Appliance: C50-KIT-16-START and C50-KIT-17-START

In Spirent TestCenter release 4.73, the WLAN interfaces installed in the C50 appliance

consist of multiple IEEE 802.11 radios. This provides for maximum user configurability and

the flexibility to emulate various IEEE 802.11ac SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO clients on 5GHz

band and other legacy 802.11 a/b/g/n clients on either 2.4GHz or 5GHz band.

A single Wave-2 WLAN radio supports 802.11ac Wave-2 clients with different spatial stream

configurations up to 4x4, for the best realistic client emulation scenarios in either SU-MIMO

or MU-MIMO mode.

Designed for testing WLAN network infrastructure devices, including the latest 802.11ac

Wave-2 carrier or enterprise thin APs with controllers, consumer APs, and integrated

broadband WLAN gateway, Spirent TestCenter WLAN solutions offer the best in class traffic

generation and analysis for testing functionality, performance, and scalability.

Spirent TestCenter C50 WLAN Wave-2 Appliance

Platform Configurations and Features

Spirent TestCenter C50 Appliance based WLAN Testing solutions

Unique hardware configurations with one Spirent 802.11ac Wave-1 WLAN card and

two Spirent 802.11ac Wave-2 WLAN cards

Spirent BASE-T 4-port quint speed (100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10G) or quad speed

(100M/1G/2.5G/5G) Ethernet card with copper RJ45 interface

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 5

Hardware timing card for precise timing synchronization between different ports and

between different appliances

Supports IEEE 802.11ac Wave-2 Standard 4x4 MIMO with 80MHz channel bandwidth

Supports 80+80MHz and 160MHz channel bandwidth for MIMO up to 2x2

Supports downlink (from AP to client) MU-MIMO for 80 MHz channel

Unique multiple WLAN cards and multiple radio architecture design, suitable for MU-

MIMO testing

Integrated internal channel attenuator for up to 31dB attenuation with 0.25dB

resolution

Combined 2.5G/5G Ethernet capability with 802.11ac Wave-2 solution for higher than

1Gbps maximum throughput testing

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 6

Software Features

IEEE 1588 User configurable UTC offset

With Spirent TestCenter release 4.73, IEEE 1588 UTC offset is now user configurable with the

default value set to 36s.

Spirent TestCenter Virtual

Benchmark Rate Mode

Spirent TestCenter release 4.73 adds support for Benchmark Rate Mode (BRM) on 10G and

40G port interfaces using the DPDK driver on KVM platform, and 10G port interfaces with DPDK

driver on ESXi platform. BRM can achieve rates as high as 5.5Gb line rate with 64-byte sized

frames using the standard Spirent TestCenter Virtual footprint and suitable host configurations.

BRM mode is intended for performance benchmarking use cases such as RFC 2544 and

supports TCP and UDP headers, but does not support modifiers or other dynamic stream

configuration changes while traffic is running. Consult the Spirent TestCenter Virtual Quick Start

Guide for additional details.

NTP-Enhanced

Release 4.73 also includes significant enhancements to the Spirent TestCenter Virtual NTP

client implementation referred to as NTP-E. Notably new support for "Burst" mode that greatly

increases the speed at which synchronization to an NTP server is achieved from an average of

30 minutes to 1 minute. Additional enhancements include the use of a new timing library and

when the NTP server is connected to a stratum 1 clock source, enables latency precision down

to 100 microseconds. To ensure proper synchronization, Spirent TestCenter Virtual adds new

synch statistics reporting the progress of synchronization and the offset achieved to NTP server.

NTP-E is supported on BRM as well. Consult the Spirent TestCenter Virtual Quick Start Guide

for additional details.

DPDK Driver

In release 4.73, Spirent TestCenter Virtual the DPDK driver has been upgraded to DPDK version

16.11. Spirent TestCenter Virtual DPDK is supported on KVM and ESXi in pass-through and SR-

IOV modes.

AppPerf ALP

Release 4.73 adds support for configurable Tx goodput rate on AppPerf. Transmit rate

configuration is applied to both a server and client simultaneously, and the sum of client and

server Tx rates are reported in the statistics.

Note: Support for rate configuration of either a client or server is not supported in this release.

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 7

SP SDN/Routing New Feature

Segment Routing: Enhancement to OSPF

Release 4.73 added support for “Simplified Segment Routing” which simplifies the configuration

for SR. Users do not need to add Sub-TLVs manually for SR. In addition, “Simplified SR” does

auto configuration of required Sub-TLVs as per the topology selected from the IGP (for example:

Tree, Grid, Fullmesh, Ring, and Hub & Spoke). Simplified SR is enabled by default.

By default, the Base value is 16000 and the Range is 8000; however, users can change these

values as per the DUT configuration.

Users can add Prefix-SID by checking the “Generate SID for Prefix” checkbox under the Node tab. By default, Spirent TestCenter will generate all the routes using Ext. Prefix TLV; however, users can change this % value to use a mix of Ext. Prefix TLV and Ext. Prefix Range TLV.

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 8

Simplified SR shows the preview of Node/Prefix/Adj-SID labels as per the starting SID value

configured in the route generator wizard. Users can modify the value of the SID by enabling

“Customize SR SID”. Prefix-SID preview does not display until users apply the configuration to

the Spirent TestCenter hardware.

BGP-flowspec v6 for Unicast Routes

In addition to IPv6 flowspec VPN Routes, in release 4.73, Spirent TestCenter now supports v6

flowspec routes for Unicast Type-1 and Type-2. The existing flowspec v6 license includes

support for VPN and Unicast routes.

BGP Option to Disable Sending EOR (End of RIB) to DUT

BPK-1004A/B Unicast Routing (BGP) Base Package

Spirent TestCenter release 4.73 now supports a new BGP session option to disable and enable sending an EOR (End of RIB) marker to a DUT. By default, sending EOR marker is enabled, and emulated BGP devices in Spirent TestCenter will send out the EOR marker to the DUT after sending all BGP updates. Users now have the option to disable sending EOR (End of RIB) marker to a DUT on a per BGP session basis by deselecting the “EOR Maker” checkbox. When the “EOR Marker” option is turned off, emulated BGP devices in Spirent TestCenter will not send the EOR marker to the DUT after sending all BGP updates.

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 9

Option to Customize TTL Value in BGP Messages

BPK-1004A/B Unicast Routing (BGP) Base Package

Spirent TestCenter release 4.73 now supports a new BGP session option to allow users to

customize the TTL value used in BGP open, keepalive, update, and notification messages. The

default TTL value is 255. Use the “TTL value” option to set the desired TTL value on a per BGP

session basis.

VXLAN EVPN Overlay L2VNI Traffic Wizard

BPK-1310A VXLAN Emulation with EVPN Learning

Spirent TestCenter release 4.73 adds a new automatic traffic mode in the VXLAN EVPN overlay

wizard. Users can quickly configure traffic stream blocks between VM/host endpoints in the same

L2VNI segment on different VXLAN and non-VXLAN ports within the wizard. If users prefer to

configure the traffic manually, the option to launch traffic wizard within the VXLAN EVPN overlay

wizard is still available. In the new automatic traffic wizard page, users can select the “Westside”

ports and “Eastside” ports. The “Westside” can only have VXLAN ports. The “Eastside” can have

either VXLAN ports or Non-VXLAN ports, but not both at the same time. Neither the “Westside”

or “Eastside” port lists can be empty. Users can select a “Full Mesh” or “One to One” traffic

pattern. Users can also specify traffic direction as “East -> West” only, or “West -> East” only, or

bidirectional. Traffic streams are configured between VM/host endpoints under same L2VNI on

Westside VXLAN ports and Eastside non-VXLAN or VXLAN ports.

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 10

VXLAN Enable ARP for VMs in EVPN Learning Mode

BPK-1310A VXLAN Emulation with EVPN Learning

Spirent TestCenter release 4.73 now supports a new option to enable ARP for VMs on a per

segment block basis in the “VXLAN Segments” page. By default, the “Enable VM ARP” option is

disabled. This option is only applicable when the “Communication Type” is “EVPN learning”. This

option is supported for the EVPN learning DBD (device behind device) scenario. VM ARP

requests are encapsulated in outer VTEP IP headers.

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 11

When the “Enable VM ARP” option is checked/enabled, users can trigger ARP on all streams at

the same time by selecting the command “All Stream Blocks->ARP/ND->Start ARP/ND”.

Users can also trigger ARP on an individual stream by selecting that stream and executing the

command “ARP/ND->Start ARP/ND”.

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 12

VXLAN Show Bindings in Result View

BPK-1310A VXLAN Emulation with EVPN Learning

Spirent TestCenter release 4.73 adds a new result view to display VXLAN bindings. To enable

this view, users select “System Views “, then “Switching”, then “VXLAN” and then “VXLAN

Binding Results” view options in the “Change Result View” drop-down menu in the Result View

window.

With the new VXLAN binding result view, users can view the VXLAN local and remote VM to

VTEP bindings and binding status in a single result view window. The binding results can be

refreshed manually or automatically.

VXLAN RD/RT/L2VNI Distribution to VMs in a Single Route Block and the Option to Set L3VNI Count for Each L2VNI Segment Block

BPK-1310A VXLAN Emulation with EVPN Learning

Spirent TestCenter release 4.73 adds a new option “VPN Parameter Distribution Type” for EVPN

MAC/IP (Type-2) and IP Prefix (Type-5) routes. This option has two possible values –

“RoundRobin” and “Linear”. The default value is “RoundRobin”. Based on the user-configured

VPN parameter distribution type, RT, RD and VNI values are distributed to all VMs configured in

a route block in either round robin or linear manner. This VPN parameter distribution is used in

both traffic and DBD (device behind device) scenarios.

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 13

This “VPN Parameter Distribution Type” option is only applicable for EVPN MAC/IP (Type-2)

and IP Prefix (Type-5) routes when the “Data Plane Encapsulation” field is set to VXLAN.

The new “VPN Parameter Distribution Type” field is also added to the “VXLAN Segment” page.

The field takes RoundRobin or Linear as input, with “RoundRobin” being the default value. This

field is only applicable when the “Communication Type” field is set to “EVPN Learning”.

The “L3VNI Count” field was also added to the “VXLAN Segment” page. This field is only

applicable when the “Enable L3 VNI” checkbox is selected. With this feature, users can associate

multiple L2VNIs to a list of L3VNIs in a single L2VNI segment block.

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 14

DHCP SERVER – Force Renew token

BPK-1077A/B DHCP Server

Spirent TestCenter release 4.73 adds a new option for Authentication called “Force Renew

Token.” This allows the server to send a token, user defined, with each Force Renew Request.

If the token does not match the Client, it will discard the Force Renew Message.

Discontinuance Notification – FreeBSD

At the end of 2017, Spirent will discontinue automation support for FreeBSD on all Spirent

TestCenter software and hardware products.

Customers are encouraged to move to one of the supported operating systems listed in the

Operating Systems Requirements section of the Spirent TestCenter Software and Hardware

Release Notes.

Spirent TestCenter 4.73 New Features

February 2017 15

Spirent Support

To obtain technical support for Spirent Communications products, please contact our Support

Services department using any of the following methods:

Americas

E-mail: support@spirent.com

Web: https://support.spirent.com/SpirentCSC/

Toll Free: +1 800-SPIRENT (+1 800-774-7368) (North America)

Phone: +1 818-676-2616

Hours: Monday through Friday, 06:30 to 18:00 Pacific Time

Europe, Middle East, Africa

E-mail: support@spirent.com

Web: https://support.spirent.com/SpirentCSC/

Phone: +33 (1) 6137 2270 (France)

Phone: +44 1803 546333 (UK)

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 09:00 to 18:00, 9:00 to 17:00 Friday, Paris Time

Asia Pacific

E-mail: support@spirent.com

Web: https://support.spirent.com/SpirentCSC/

Phone: +86 (400) 810-9529 (toll-free mainland China only)

Phone: +86 (10) 8233 0033 (China)

Operating Hours: Monday through Friday, 09:00 to 18:00 Beijing Time

Company Address

Spirent Communications, Inc.

27349 Agoura Road

Calabasas, CA 91301

USA

The latest versions of user manuals, application notes, and software and firmware updates are available

on the Spirent Communications Customer Service Center website at

https://support.spirent.com/SpirentCSC/.

Information about Spirent Communications and its products and services can be found on the main

company website at https://www.spirent.com.

© 2017 All of the company names and/or brand names and/or product names referred to in this document, in

particular, the name “Spirent” and its logo device, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Spirent plc and its

subsidiaries, pending registration in accordance with relevant national laws. All other registered trademarks or

trademarks are the property of their respective owners.