Understanding RFC2544-Based Benchmarking Tests for E-LAN and E-Line Services on MX Series Routers

Note:

MX Series routers support only the reflector function in RFC2544-based benchmarking tests.

The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) defines two Ethernet service types—E-LAN and E-Line—and specifies the associated service attributes and parameters. These services can be supported within the Metro Ethernet Network (MEN) and also supported over different transport technologies such as SONET, MPLS, and so on. Juniper Networks ACX Series routers, MX80, MX104 Series routers and MX240, MX480, and MX960 Series routers with MPC1, MPC2, and 16-port 10-Gigabit Ethernet MPC provide support for Layer 2 E-LAN and E-Line services reflection. Figure 1 shows a sample topology for the E-LAN and E-Line reflection supported on MX104 Series routers.

Figure 1: E-LAN And E-Line Reflection in a metro Solution

Starting in Junos OS Release 15.1, MX104 Series routers support RFC2544-based benchmarking tests for Layer 2 reflection (E-Line service) by using pseudowires (Layer 2 circuit and L2VPN). Starting in Junos OS Release 16.1, MX80 Series routers and MX240, MX480, and MX960 Series routers with MPC1, MPC2, and 16-port 10-gigabit Ethernet MPC support RFC2544-based benchmarking tests for Layer 2 reflection (E-Line service). E-Line provides transparent data transport. You can configure RFC2544-based benchmarking tests for both ingress and egress direction on the customer edge (CE) facing interface of family type CCC for an Ethernet pseudowire.

Note:

To configure RFC2544-based benchmarking tests on MX240, MX480, MX960 Series routers with MPC1, MPC2, and the 16-port 10-Gigabit Ethernet MPC, see Enabling Support for RFC 2544-Based Benchmarking Tests on MX Series Routers.

Starting in Junos OS Release 15.1, MX104 routers support RFC2544-based benchmarking tests for Layer 2 reflection (E-LAN service) by using VPLS and basic bridge domains. In Junos OS Release 14.2 and earlier, only basic bridge domains are used. Starting in Junos OS Release 16.1, MX80 Series routers and MX240, MX480, and MX960 Series routers with MPC1, MPC2, and 16-port 10-gigabit Ethernet MPC support RFC2544-based benchmarking tests for Layer 2 reflection (E-LAN service) by using VPLS and basic bridge domains. VPLS enables geographically dispersed sites to share an Ethernet broadcast domain by connecting sites across an MPLS network. All sites appear to be in the same Ethernet LAN though traffic travels across the MPLS network. Both LDP-based VPLS and BGP-based VPLS are supported. RFC2544-based benchmarking and performance measurement testing for Layer 2 E-LAN services (bridge/ VPLS) is supported on unicast traffic in egress direction only.

During the benchmarking tests, the initiator or generator transmits a test packet (unicast) to a reflector. The reflector receives and reflects the test packet back to the initiator. The test packet is an UDP-over-IP packet with a source and destination MAC address.

In a E-LAN service, the Layer 2 traffic reflection session is identified by the source MAC address, the destination MAC address, and the egress interface (logical interface). By default, RFC2544-based benchmarking tests are performed when there is no other service traffic. This mode of operation is known as out-of-service mode. The default service mode for the reflecting egress interface for an E-LAN service is also out-of-service mode. In out-of-service mode, while the test is running, all the data traffic (other than test traffic) sent to and from the test interface under test is interrupted. If the test is activated on a logical interface, all the traffic sent to and from the logical interface is interrupted. However, if there are other logical interfaces on the UNI port, the traffic sent to and from those logical interfaces is not interrupted. Control protocol peering is not interrupted whereas pass through control protocol packets such as end-to-end CFM sessions are interrupted. If you do not want the control protocol packets interrupted, you can configure the E-LAN service mode as in-service mode. In the in-service mode, while the test is running, the rest of the data traffic flow sent to and from the UNI port under test on the service is not interrupted. Both peering and pass through control protocols are not interrupted.

In an E-Line service, the reflection session is identified by the egress interface which is the logical interface. On activation of reflection on a logical interface, the traffic received on the logical interface is reflected. You can specify the type of traffic you want reflected by specifying the EtherType (specifies the protocol transported). If you do not specify the EtherType, all traffic is reflected. System does not explicitly block other traffic on the test interface during E-line service. You can block non-test traffic using firewall filters.

By default, for E-LAN services, the reflector swaps MAC addresses. The reflector swaps the source and destination MAC addresses and sends the packet back to the initiator. By default, for E-Line services, the reflector does not swap MAC addresses. Table 1 describes the MAC address swapping behavior for the service types.

By default, the IP addresses and UDP ports are not modified. Optionally, you can configure the reflector to swap the source and destination IP address and the source and destination UDP ports.

You can configure an ACX Series router to operate as an initiator as well as a reflector. The MX104 Series router can be configured to operate only as a reflector.

Starting in Junos OS Release 15.1, MX104 Series routers support the specification of the protocol transported in the Ethernet frame. Starting in Junos OS Release 16.1, MX80 Series routers and MX240, MX480, and MX960 Series routers with MPC1, MPC2, and 16-port 10-gigabit Ethernet MPC also support the specification of the protocol transported in the Ethernet frame. To specify the EtherType (specifies the protocol transported) used for reflection of the test frames, use the reflect-etype command. If you do not specify the EtherType, all EtherTypes are reflected.