A YANG Data Model for Network Tester Management
draft-ietf-bmwg-network-tester-cfg-15
The information below is for an old version of the document.
| Document | Type |
This is an older version of an Internet-Draft whose latest revision state is "Active".
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Vladimir Vassilev | ||
| Last updated | 2026-06-29 (Latest revision 2026-06-26) | ||
| Replaces | draft-vassilev-bmwg-network-interconnect-tester | ||
| RFC stream | Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) | ||
| Formats | |||
| Reviews |
YANGDOCTORS Early review
(of
-08)
by Andy Bierman
Ready w/issues
|
||
| Additional resources | Mailing list discussion | ||
| Stream | WG state | Submitted to IESG for Publication | |
| Associated WG milestone |
|
||
| Document shepherd | Giuseppe Fioccola | ||
| Shepherd write-up | Show Last changed 2026-04-08 | ||
| IESG | IESG state | IESG Evaluation | |
| Consensus boilerplate | Yes | ||
| Telechat date |
(None)
Has enough positions to pass. |
||
| Responsible AD | Mohamed Boucadair | ||
| Send notices to | giuseppe.fioccola@huawei.com | ||
| IANA | IANA review state | IANA OK - Actions Needed | |
| IANA expert review state | Expert Reviews OK |
draft-ietf-bmwg-network-tester-cfg-15
Benchmarking Working Group V. Vassilev
Internet-Draft Lightside Instruments AS
Intended status: Standards Track 26 June 2026
Expires: 28 December 2026
A YANG Data Model for Network Tester Management
draft-ietf-bmwg-network-tester-cfg-15
Abstract
This document specifies a YANG data model for use in network
interconnect testing setups that contain instances of traffic
generator and traffic analyzer.
Status of This Memo
This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.
Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
Task Force (IETF). Note that other groups may also distribute
working documents as Internet-Drafts. The list of current Internet-
Drafts is at https://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/.
Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any
time. It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference
material or to cite them other than as "work in progress."
This Internet-Draft will expire on 28 December 2026.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) 2026 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
document authors. All rights reserved.
This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (https://trustee.ietf.org/
license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document.
Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights
and restrictions with respect to this document. Code Components
extracted from this document must include Revised BSD License text as
described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are
provided without warranty as described in the Revised BSD License.
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.1. Problem Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2. Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Data Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1. Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.2. Interface Specific Implementations . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2.1. Ethernet Interfaces of Type ianaift:ethernetCsmacd . 5
2.2.2. Other Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.3. Using the Network Interconnect Tester Data Model . . . . 5
2.4. Traffic Generator Module Tree Diagram . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.5. Traffic Analyzer Module Tree Diagram . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. Traffic Generator Module YANG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4. Traffic Analyzer Module YANG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.1. URI Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.2. YANG Module Name Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6. Operational Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
7. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
7.1. ietf-traffic-generator.yang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
7.2. ietf-traffic-analyzer.yang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
8. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
8.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
8.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Appendix A. Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
A.1. Basic Test Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
A.2. Generating RFC2544 Test Frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
A.3. Generating Frames with Dynamic Data Fields . . . . . . . 32
A.4. Example: NETCONF <get-config> Reply . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
1. Introduction
There is a need for a standard mechanism for specification of the
transactions part of network tests targeting frame-based octet-
aligned network interconnect devices and their implementation over
standardized network management protocols. Such a mechanism should
allow the control and monitoring of the data plane traffic in a
transactional manner. This document defines a YANG [RFC7950] data
model which is composed of two YANG modules for test traffic
generator and analyzer functions.
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1.1. Problem Statement
Network interconnect tests require active network elements part of
the tested network that generate test traffic and network elements
that analyze the test traffic at one or more points of its forwarding
path. A network interconnect tester is an entity that can either
generate test traffic, analyze test traffic, or both. Figure 1,
borrowed from [RFC2544], represents the horseshoe test setup topology
consisting of a single tester and a single Device Under Test (DUT)
connected in a network interconnect loop.
+------------+
| |
+------------| tester |<-------------+
| | | |
| +------------+ |
| |
| +------------+ |
| | | |
+----------->| DUT |--------------+
| |
+------------+
Figure 1: Test setup with tester that both sends the test traffic
and receives it back
This document defines a YANG data model of a network interconnect
tester that can be used for development of vendor-independent network
interconnect tests and utilize the advantages of transactional
management using standard protocols like Network Configuration
Protocol (NETCONF) [RFC6241].
1.2. Objectives
This section specifies the design objectives for the data model. It
should:
* provide means to specify the generated traffic as streams of
cyclic sequence of bursts with configurable frame size, frame
data, gap, and interburst gap.
* have a mandatory single stream mode and optional multi stream
mode.
* provide means for configuration of traffic streams with static
frame data where frames with identical frame data are sent during
the lifetime of the stream.
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* provide means for configuration of traffic streams with dynamic
frame data where frames contain fields with dynamic data like
generation time and sequence number.
* allow third parties to augment the base modules with alternative
dynamic fields of frame data extensions.
* provide means for realtime synchronization and orchestration of
the generated streams.
* provide counters for received test traffic frames and octets.
* provide latency statistic in the case of test traffic with dynamic
frame data that includes timestamp.
* provide sequence number errors in the case of test traffic with
dynamic frame data that includes sequence number.
* provide means for capturing traffic frames data.
2. Data Model
2.1. Overview
The data model splits the design into two YANG modules - (1) Traffic
Generator module (TG) and (2) Traffic Analyzer module (TA). The
modules are implemented as augmentations of the "ietf-interfaces"
[RFC8343] module adding configuration and state data that model the
functionality of a network interconnect tester. The TA and TG
modules concept is illustrated with the diagram depicted in Figure 2
with a tester with two interfaces (named "eth0" and "eth1") connected
in a loop with single DUT.
+----------------+
eth0.egress | | eth1.ingress
+------------| TG tester TA |<-------------+
| | | |
| +----------------+ |
| |
| +------------+ |
| | | |
+------------->| DUT |----------------+
| |
+------------+
Figure 2: Test setup where TG and TA modules are colocated on the
same entity
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The data plane model used is of a sequence of octets that are either
part of a frame or a gap. The gaps consist of octets that are idle
and octets that are used for lower level protocol framing. The TG
module can configure deterministic cyclic or finite sequence of
static and dynamic frames. For example, an implementation of a
dynamic test frame could have the last 18 octets of the payload of
the generated frames contain incrementing sequence number field (8
octets followed by timestamp field in the [IEEE1588] format (10
octets). If frame data is defined for the last 18 octets of the
payload, it will be ignored and overwritten with dynamic data
according to this specification. In addition a dynamic payload can
fill the remaining available space in the frame.
2.2. Interface Specific Implementations
While the data model is designed to be independent of the underlying
interface type its implementation requires interface specific
document. That document has to document the mapping of the 'frame-
data' octets to the interface specific frame fields. It has to
determine which octets are lower protocol level framing octets
considered part of the gaps and document any constraints such as
minimum gap, minimum and maximum 'frame-size'.
2.2.1. Ethernet Interfaces of Type ianaift:ethernetCsmacd
The mapping and constraints specification for Ethernet interfaces
with /if:interfaces/if:interface/if:type identity equal to
ianaift:ethernetCsmacd is part of the module description statemens.
2.2.2. Other Interfaces
For other interface types such specifications should be provided so
that the data model can be implemented and used by operators.
2.3. Using the Network Interconnect Tester Data Model
A basic example of how the data model can be used in transactional
network test program to control the testers part of a network and
report counter statistics and timing measurement data is presented in
Appendix A. All example cases present the configuration and state
data from a single test trial. One of the examples demonstrates the
use of the [RFC2544] defined test frame packet. The search algorithm
logic that operates to control the trial configuration is outside the
scope of this document.
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2.4. Traffic Generator Module Tree Diagram
The meaning of the symbols in the YANG tree diagrams are defined in
[RFC8340]
module: ietf-traffic-generator
augment /if:interfaces/if:interface:
+--rw traffic-generator!
+--rw (type)
| +--:(single-stream)
| | +--rw testframe-type? identityref
| | +--rw frame-size uint32
| | +--rw frame-data? binary
| | +--rw gap uint32
| | +--rw burst-gap? uint32
| | +--rw frames-per-burst? uint32
| | +--rw modifiers
| | +--rw modifier* [id]
| | +--rw id uint32
| | +--rw action identityref
| | +--rw offset uint32
| | +--rw mask binary
| | +--rw repetitions uint32
| +--:(multi-stream)
| +--rw streams
| +--rw stream* [id]
| +--rw id uint32
| +--rw testframe-type? identityref
| +--rw frame-size uint32
| +--rw frame-data? binary
| +--rw gap uint32
| +--rw burst-gap? uint32
| +--rw frames-per-burst? uint32
| +--rw frames-per-stream uint32
| +--rw stream-gap uint32
| +--rw modifiers
| +--rw modifier* [id]
| +--rw id uint32
| +--rw action identityref
| +--rw offset uint32
| +--rw mask binary
| +--rw repetitions uint32
+--rw realtime-epoch?
| yang:date-and-time {realtime-epoch}?
+--rw start-delay? uint64
+--rw total-frames? uint64
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2.5. Traffic Analyzer Module Tree Diagram
module: ietf-traffic-analyzer
augment /if:interfaces/if:interface:
+--rw traffic-analyzer!
+--rw testframe
| +--rw type? identityref
| +--rw filter! {testframe-filter}?
| +--rw type identityref
| +--rw mask binary
| +--rw data binary
| +--rw offset uint32
+--rw capture! {capture}?
| +--rw max-frames-visible? uint64
| +--rw max-frame-data-visible? uint32
| +--rw start-trigger!
| | +--rw (start-trigger)
| | +--:(frame-index)
| | | +--rw frame-index? uint64
| | +--:(testframe-index)
| | +--rw testframe-index? uint64
| +--rw stop-trigger!
| | +--rw (stop-trigger)
| | +--:(when-full)
| | +--rw when-full? empty
| +--rw filter! {capture-filter}?
| +--rw type identityref
+--ro state
+--ro statistics
| +--ro pkts? yang:counter64
| +--ro octets? yang:counter64
| +--ro idle-octets? yang:counter64 {idle-octets-counter}?
| +--ro errors? yang:counter64
+--ro testframe-statistics
| +--ro pkts? yang:counter64
| +--ro sequence-errors? yang:counter64
| +--ro payload-errors? yang:counter64
| +--ro latency
| | +--ro samples? uint64
| | +--ro min? uint64
| | +--ro max? uint64
| | +--ro average? uint64
| | +--ro latest? uint64
| +--ro last-sequence-error
| +--ro timestamp? yang:date-and-time
| +--ro expected? uint64
| +--ro received? uint64
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+--ro capture {capture}?
+--ro statistics
| +--ro pkts? yang:counter64
| +--ro octets? yang:counter64
+--ro frames
+--ro frame* [sequence-number]
+--ro sequence-number uint64
+--ro timestamp? yang:date-and-time
+--ro size? uint32
+--ro data? binary
3. Traffic Generator Module YANG
This module imports modules defined in [RFC8343] and [RFC9911]. The
module also references [IEEE802.3-2014] as part of the description
statements containing Ethernet interface specific implementation
details.
<CODE BEGINS> file "ietf-traffic-generator@2026-06-26.yang"
module ietf-traffic-generator {
yang-version 1.1;
namespace "urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-traffic-generator";
prefix nttg;
import ietf-interfaces {
prefix if;
reference
"RFC 8343: A YANG Data Model for Interface Management";
}
import ietf-yang-types {
prefix yang;
reference
"RFC 9911: Common YANG Data Types";
}
organization
"IETF Benchmarking Methodology Working Group";
contact
"WG Web: <https://datatracker.ietf.org/group/bmwg/about/>
WG List: BMWG <mailto:bmwg@ietf.org>
Author: Vladimir Vassilev
<mailto:vladimir@lightside-instruments.com>";
description
"This module contains a collection of YANG definitions for
management of the traffic generator functionality part
of network interconnect testers.
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Copyright (c) 2026 IETF Trust and the persons identified as
authors of the code. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or
without modification, is permitted pursuant to, and subject to
the license terms contained in, the Revised BSD License set
forth in Section 4.c of the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions
Relating to IETF Documents
(https://trustee.ietf.org/license-info).
All revisions of IETF and IANA published modules can be found
at the YANG Parameters registry group
(https://www.iana.org/assignments/yang-parameters).
This version of this YANG module is part of RFC XXXX; see
the RFC itself for full legal notices.";
revision 2026-06-26 {
description
"Initial revision.";
reference
"RFC XXXX: A YANG Data Model for
Network Tester Management";
}
feature multi-stream {
description
"The device can generate multi-stream traffic.";
}
feature realtime-epoch {
description
"The device can generate traffic precisely
at configured realtime epoch.";
}
identity testframe-type {
description
"Base identity for all test frame types.";
}
identity static {
base testframe-type;
description
"Indicates static test frame.
The frame data and size are constant.";
}
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identity dynamic {
base testframe-type;
description
"Base identity for dynamic test frame.
When used itself, it identifies unspecified
dynamic test frame type configured outside
of the data model specified configuration
interface.";
}
identity modifier-action-type {
description
"Base identity for all modifier action types.";
}
identity increment {
base modifier-action-type;
description
"Indicates increment modifier action.";
}
identity decrement {
base modifier-action-type;
description
"Indicates decrement modifier action.";
}
identity random {
base modifier-action-type;
description
"Indicates random modifier action.";
}
grouping common-data {
description
"Common configuration data.";
leaf realtime-epoch {
if-feature "realtime-epoch";
type yang:date-and-time;
description
"If this leaf is present the stream generation will start
at the specified realtime epoch.";
}
leaf start-delay {
type uint64;
units "octets";
description
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"If this leaf is present, the traffic generation will start
after the specified number of idle octets have elapsed.";
}
leaf total-frames {
type uint64;
description
"If this leaf is present the traffic generation will stop
after the specified number of frames are generated.";
}
}
grouping burst-data {
description
"Generated traffic burst parameters.";
leaf testframe-type {
type identityref {
base nttg:testframe-type;
}
default "nttg:static";
description
"In case of dynamic test frames this leaf
can specify a derived dynamic test frame identity.
For static test frames there is no practical use
of derived identities.";
}
leaf frame-size {
type uint32;
units "octets";
mandatory true;
description
"Size of the frames generated. For example, for
Ethernet interfaces the following definition
applies:
Ethernet frame-size, in octets, includes:
* Destination Address (6 octets),
* Source Address (6 octets),
* Frame Type (2 octets),
* Data (min 46 octets or 42 octets + 4 octets 802.1Q tag),
* Frame Check Sequence (FCS) (4 octets)
Ethernet frame-size does not include:
* Preamble (dependent on MAC configuration
by default 7 octets),
* Start of frame delimiter (1 octet)
Minimum standard Ethernet frame-size is 64 bytes but
generators might support smaller sizes for validation.";
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}
leaf frame-data {
type binary;
description
"The raw frame data.
The length of the specified data can be
shorter, then the '../frame-size' value
specifying only the header of the frame.
If the data specified is shorter, then the
missing tail is filled with data generated by
the algorithm corresponding to the
'../testframe-type' for the corresponding
dynamic fields or filled with zeros.
In the case of an Ethernet inteface and static
test frame the correct 4-octet FCS is added to
the generated frames. The only way to generate
frames with bad FCS is to specify the data
of full 'frame-size' length with its last 4 octets
containing bad FCS value.
If the frame data specified is longer,
then '../frame-size' the excess of the
specified frame data is truncated.
In multi-stream mode, if 'frame-data' leaf for one of the
streams is not specified, it is the value specified for
the closest stream that precedes it that is used.";
}
leaf gap {
type uint32;
units "octets";
mandatory true;
description
"Length of the period between generated frames.
For example, for Ethernet interfaces the following
definition applies:
The gap between transmission of frames is the sum
of the minimum interframe gap (IFG) as defined in
IEEE 802.3 plus any additional idle octets plus
the preamble (7 octets) and the start of frame
delimiter (1 octet). A brief recovery time
between frames allows devices to prepare for
reception of the next frame. The minimum
interframe gap is 96-bit times (12-octet times) (the time it
takes to transmit 96-bits (12 octets) of raw data on the
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medium). However, the preamble (7 octets) and start of
frame delimiter (1 octet) are considered a constant gap that
should be included in the gap. Thus, the minimum
value for standard Ethernet transmission should be considered
20 octets.";
}
leaf burst-gap {
type uint32;
units "octets";
description
"Is similar to the gap but takes place between
any two bursts of the stream.";
}
leaf frames-per-burst {
type uint32;
description
"Indicates number of frames contained in a burst.";
}
}
grouping modifier-data {
description
"Frame data modification parameters.";
container modifiers {
description
"Container holding the configured modifiers list.";
list modifier {
key "id";
description
"Each modifier specifies the action to be performed
on data at a certain offset.";
leaf id {
type uint32;
description
"Number specifying the identifier of the modifier.";
}
leaf action {
type identityref {
base nttg:modifier-action-type;
}
mandatory true;
description
"Modifier action type.";
}
leaf offset {
type uint32;
units "octets";
mandatory true;
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description
"Offset of the modified data of the frame.";
}
leaf mask {
type binary;
mandatory true;
description
"Bit mask of the actual bits affected by the modifier.";
}
leaf repetitions {
type uint32;
mandatory true;
description
"Count of the packets that will repeat the data before
the modifier makes the next update.";
}
}
}
}
grouping multi-stream-data {
description
"Multi stream traffic generation parameters.";
container streams {
description
"A container holding the stream list.";
list stream {
key "id";
description
"Each stream repeats a burst until frames-per-stream
count is reached followed by stream-gap delay.";
leaf id {
type uint32;
description
"Number specifying the order of the stream.";
}
uses burst-data;
leaf frames-per-stream {
type uint32;
mandatory true;
description
"The count of frames to be generated before
generation of the next stream is started.";
}
leaf stream-gap {
type uint32;
units "octets";
mandatory true;
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description
"Idle period after the last frame of the last burst.";
}
uses modifier-data;
}
}
}
augment "/if:interfaces/if:interface" {
description
"Traffic generator augmentations of 'ietf-interfaces'.";
container traffic-generator {
presence "Enables the traffic generator.";
description
"Traffic generator data.";
choice type {
mandatory true;
description
"Choice of the type of the generator:
Single or multi stream.";
case single-stream {
uses burst-data;
uses modifier-data;
}
case multi-stream {
uses multi-stream-data;
}
}
uses common-data;
}
}
}
<CODE ENDS>
4. Traffic Analyzer Module YANG
This module imports modules defined in [RFC8341], [RFC8343], and
[RFC9911].
<CODE BEGINS> file "ietf-traffic-analyzer@2026-06-26.yang"
module ietf-traffic-analyzer {
yang-version 1.1;
namespace "urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-traffic-analyzer";
prefix ntta;
import ietf-interfaces {
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prefix if;
reference
"RFC 8343: A YANG Data Model for Interface Management";
}
import ietf-yang-types {
prefix yang;
reference
"RFC 9911: Common YANG Data Types";
}
import ietf-netconf-acm {
prefix nacm;
reference
"RFC 8341: Network Configuration Access Control Model";
}
organization
"IETF Benchmarking Methodology Working Group";
contact
"WG Web: <https://datatracker.ietf.org/group/bmwg/about/>
WG List: BMWG <mailto:bmwg@ietf.org>
Author: Vladimir Vassilev
<mailto:vladimir@lightside-instruments.com>";
description
"This module contains a collection of YANG definitions for
management of the traffic analyzer functionality part
of network interconnect testers.
Copyright (c) 2026 IETF Trust and the persons identified as
authors of the code. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or
without modification, is permitted pursuant to, and subject to
the license terms contained in, the Revised BSD License set
forth in Section 4.c of the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions
Relating to IETF Documents
(https://trustee.ietf.org/license-info).
All revisions of IETF and IANA published modules can be found
at the YANG Parameters registry group
(https://www.iana.org/assignments/yang-parameters).
This version of this YANG module is part of RFC XXXX; see
the RFC itself for full legal notices.";
revision 2026-06-26 {
description
"Initial revision.";
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reference
"RFC XXXX: A YANG Data Model for
Network Tester Management";
}
feature testframe-filter {
description
"Indicates that the device implements
a filter that can specify a subset of packets to be
analyzed as testframes.";
}
feature capture-filter {
description
"Indicates that the device implements
a filter that can specify a subset of packets to be
captured.";
}
feature idle-octets-counter {
description
"Indicates that the device implements
idle-octets counter that accumulates the time
the link is not utilized. The minimum required
idle gaps are not counted as idle octets.";
}
feature capture {
description
"Indicates that the device implements
packet capture functionality.";
}
identity testframe-type {
description
"Base identity for all test frame types.";
}
identity unspecified {
base testframe-type;
description
"The configuration of the testframe
type of the traffic analyzer is done outside of
the data model specified configuration interface.";
}
identity testframe-filter {
description
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"Base testframe-filter identity.";
}
identity capture-filter {
description
"Base capture-filter identity.";
}
identity bit-field-match {
base ntta:testframe-filter;
description
"Bit field matching filter. Frames that do not have
equal values for all the bits of the specified data
at the offsets specified with bits set in the mask
are not processed as test frames.";
}
grouping statistics-data {
description
"Analyzed traffic statistics and test frame statistics.";
container statistics {
description
"A collection of interface-related statistics objects.
The counters in this container must be initialized
to zero when the traffic-analyzer container is created";
leaf pkts {
type yang:counter64;
description
"Total number of packets analyzed.";
}
leaf octets {
type yang:counter64;
description
"Total number of packet octets analyzed.";
}
leaf idle-octets {
if-feature "idle-octets-counter";
type yang:counter64;
description
"Total accumulated period with no frame transmission
taking place measured in octets at the current link
speed. This counter does not increment only when the
interface is operating at 100% of its capacity.
Octets not counted in '../octets' but not idle are,
for example, layer 1 framing octets - for Ethernet interfaces
7+1 preamble octets per packet as well as the 12-octets
minimum gap.";
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}
leaf errors {
type yang:counter64;
description
"Count of packets with errors.
Not counted in the pkts or captured.
For example packets with CRC error.";
}
}
container testframe-statistics {
description
"Statistics for received testframes containing
either sequence number, payload checksum,
timestamp or any combination of these features.";
leaf pkts {
type yang:counter64;
description
"Total count of detected testframes.";
}
leaf sequence-errors {
type yang:counter64;
description
"Total count of testframes with
unexpected sequence number. After each sequence
error the expected next sequence number is
updated.";
}
leaf payload-errors {
type yang:counter64;
description
"Total count of testframes with
payload errors.";
}
container latency {
description
"Latency statistics.";
leaf samples {
type uint64;
description
"Total count of testframes used for estimating
the latency statistics. When every testframe is
used, samples='../pkts'.";
}
leaf min {
type uint64;
units "nanoseconds";
description
"Minimum measured latency.";
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}
leaf max {
type uint64;
units "nanoseconds";
description
"Maximum measured latency.";
}
leaf average {
type uint64;
units "nanoseconds";
description
"The sum of all sampled latencies divided
by the number of samples.";
}
leaf latest {
type uint64;
units "nanoseconds";
description
"Latency of the latest sample.";
}
}
container last-sequence-error {
description
"Last sequence error state data.";
leaf timestamp {
type yang:date-and-time;
description
"Timestamp of the moment a testframe with
unexpected sequence number was received.";
}
leaf expected {
type uint64;
description
"Expected sequence number.";
}
leaf received {
type uint64;
description
"Received sequence number.";
}
}
}
}
grouping capture-statistics-data {
description
"Capture process statistics.";
container statistics {
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description
"Statistics for captured frames.";
leaf pkts {
type yang:counter64;
description
"Total count of captured frames.";
}
leaf octets {
type yang:counter64;
description
"This counter is identical with the in-octets/out-octets
counters defined in RFC8343 except that it counts the
octets captured since the analyzer was created.";
}
}
}
grouping capture-config-data {
description
"Grouping with a capture configuration container.";
container capture {
if-feature "capture";
presence "Enables the capture functionality";
description
"Contains capture parameters.";
leaf max-frames-visible {
type uint64;
description
"Maximum number of frame entries available in
the state/capture/frames container.";
}
leaf max-frame-data-visible {
type uint32;
description
"Maximum length of data per frame available in
the state/capture/frames/frame/data.";
}
container start-trigger {
presence "Enables trigger condition that starts
the capture process.";
description
"Specifies when the capture start is triggered.";
choice start-trigger {
mandatory true;
description
"Choice of start-trigger condition.";
case frame-index {
description
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"Start capturing frames at the specified frame index.";
leaf frame-index {
type uint64;
description
"First captured frame index.";
}
}
case testframe-index {
description
"Start capturing frames at the specified
testframe index.";
leaf testframe-index {
type uint64;
description
"First captured testframe index.";
}
}
}
}
container stop-trigger {
presence "Enables trigger condition that stops
the capture process.";
description
"Specifies when the capture is stopped.";
choice stop-trigger {
mandatory true;
description
"Choice of stop-trigger condition.";
case when-full {
description
"Stops capturing when the implementation can not store
more frames.";
leaf when-full {
type empty;
description
"When present in configuration capture stops when
the capture buffer is full.";
}
}
}
}
container filter {
if-feature "capture-filter";
presence "When packets are filtered before captured
according to the filter type";
description
"Contains the filtering rules for capturing only
a specific subset of the frames.";
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leaf type {
type identityref {
base ntta:capture-filter;
}
mandatory true;
description
"Type of the applied filter. External modules can
define alternative filter type identities.";
}
}
}
}
grouping capture-data {
description
"Grouping with statistics and data of one or more
captured frames.";
container capture {
if-feature "capture";
description
"Capture statistics data and frames.";
uses capture-statistics-data;
container frames {
description
"Contains list of captured frames.";
list frame {
key "sequence-number";
description
"Statistics and data of a captured frame.";
leaf sequence-number {
type uint64;
description
"Incremental counter of frames captured.";
}
leaf timestamp {
type yang:date-and-time;
description
"Timestamp of the moment the frame was captured.";
}
leaf size {
type uint32;
description
"Frame length. Ideally the data captured will be
of the same length but can be shorter
depending on implementation limitations.";
}
leaf data {
type binary;
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description
"Raw data of the captured frame.";
nacm:default-deny-all;
}
}
}
}
}
grouping testframe-config-data {
description
"Grouping with a testframe configuration container.";
container testframe {
description
"Generated traffic burst parameters.";
leaf type {
type identityref {
base ntta:testframe-type;
}
default "ntta:unspecified";
description
"The 'unspecified' default value enables the option
for configuration of the testframe type of the traffic
analyzer outside of the data model specified
configuration interface.";
}
container filter {
if-feature "testframe-filter";
presence "When present packets are
filtered before analyzed according
to the filter type";
description
"Contains the filtering rules for processing only
a specific subset of the frames as test frames.";
leaf type {
type identityref {
base ntta:testframe-filter;
}
mandatory true;
description
"Type of the applied filter. External modules can
define alternative filter type identities.";
}
}
}
}
augment "/if:interfaces/if:interface" {
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description
"Traffic analyzer augmentations of ietf-interfaces.";
container traffic-analyzer {
presence "Enables the traffic analyzer.";
description
"Traffic analyzer top container.";
uses testframe-config-data;
uses capture-config-data;
container state {
config false;
description
"State data.";
uses statistics-data;
uses capture-data;
}
}
}
augment "/if:interfaces/if:interface/ntta:traffic-analyzer/"
+ "ntta:testframe/ntta:filter" {
when "derived-from-or-self(ntta:type, 'ntta:bit-field-match')";
description
"Logical AND of masked bit fields.";
leaf mask {
type binary;
mandatory true;
description
"Specifies bit field mask for comparison.
Non-masked bit fields are ignored.";
}
leaf data {
type binary;
mandatory true;
description
"Specify data to be matched according to the specified mask.";
}
leaf offset {
type uint32;
mandatory true;
description
"Offset in the frame where 'mask' and 'data' are applied.";
}
}
}
<CODE ENDS>
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5. IANA Considerations
This document registers two URIs and two YANG modules.
5.1. URI Registration
IANA is requested to register the following URI in the "ns" registry
within the "IETF XML Registry" group [RFC3688]:
URI: urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-traffic-generator
Registrant Contact: The IESG
XML: N/A; the requested URI is an XML namespace.
URI: urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-traffic-analyzer
Registrant Contact: The IESG
XML: N/A; the requested URI is an XML namespace.
5.2. YANG Module Name Registration
IANA is requested to register the following YANG module in the "YANG
Module Names" registry [RFC6020] within the "YANG Parameters"
registry group.
Name: ietf-traffic-generator
Maintained by IANA? N
Namespace: urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-traffic-generator
Prefix: nttg
Reference: RFC XXXX
Name: ietf-traffic-analyzer
Maintained by IANA? N
Namespace: urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-traffic-analyzer
Prefix: ntta
Reference: RFC XXXX
6. Operational Considerations
The configuration nodes defined in the ietf-traffic-generator module
allow deterministic specification of traffic as a sequences of frames
each followed by a gap. Unless 'realtime-epoch' leaf is present the
interface starts generation upon the creation or any change of the
configuration under '/if:interfaces/if:interface/nttg:traffic-
generator'. Multiple traffic generators on different interfaces can
be synchronized with the 'start-delay' leaf. Traffic generation
continues until as many frames as specified by the 'total-frames'
leaf when it is present are generated or until the traffic generator
generator configuration under the 'traffic-generator' container is
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deleted causing the traffic generation to stop or changed causing the
traffic generation to stop then restart.
The data model design requires transactional network management
protocol that can replace one configuration with another in atomic
operation. This is why NETCONF [RFC6241] is suitable and RESTCONF
[RFC8040] is not without special mechanisms designed to emulate
transactional protocol behavior.
The presence of '/if:interfaces/if:interface/ntta:traffic-analyzer'
container defined in the ietf-traffic-analyzer module enables the
traffic analyzer functionality on an interface. The traffic analyzer
continues its operation until the 'traffic-analyzer' container is
deleted or changed causing the traffic analyzer to stop then restart
discarding its state including statistics and captured frames.
7. Security Considerations
This section is modeled after the template described in Section 3.7.1
of [RFC9907].
The YANG modules “ietf-traffic-generator” and “ietf-traffic-analyzer”
define a data model that is designed to be accessed via YANG-based
transactional management protocols, such as the Network Configuration
Protocol (NETCONF) [RFC6241]. These YANG-based management protocols
(1) have to use a secure transport layer (e.g., Secure Shell (SSH)
[RFC4252], TLS [RFC8446], and QUIC [RFC9000]) and (2) have to use
mutual authentication.
The Network Configuration Access Control Model (NACM) [RFC8341]
provides the means to restrict access for particular NETCONF users to
a preconfigured subset of all available NETCONF protocol operations
and content.
7.1. ietf-traffic-generator.yang
There are a number of data nodes defined in this YANG module that are
writable/creatable/deletable (i.e., "config true", which is the
default). All writable data nodes are likely to be sensitive or
vulnerable in some network environments. Write operations (e.g.,
edit-config) and delete operations to these data nodes without proper
protection or authentication can have a negative effect on network
operations. The following subtrees and data nodes have particular
sensitivities/vulnerabilities:
* /if:interfaces/if:interface/nttg:traffic-generator: This can be
used for malicious purposes like generating network traffic part
of a Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack.
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7.2. ietf-traffic-analyzer.yang
Some of the readable data nodes in this YANG module may be considered
sensitive or vulnerable in some network environments. It is thus
important to control read access (e.g., via get, get-config, or
notification) to these data nodes. Specifically, the following
subtrees and data nodes have particular sensitivities/
vulnerabilities:
* /if:interfaces/if:interface/ntta:traffic-
analyzer/ntta:capture/ntta:frames/ntta:frame/ntta:data: is
designed for use in testing and verification but can be used for
reading information contained in packets sent and received on any
of the interfaces on systems that implement the capture feature
and, thus, disclose sensitive data.
8. References
8.1. Normative References
[RFC3688] Mealling, M., "The IETF XML Registry", BCP 81, RFC 3688,
DOI 10.17487/RFC3688, January 2004,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3688>.
[RFC6020] Bjorklund, M., Ed., "YANG - A Data Modeling Language for
the Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF)", RFC 6020,
DOI 10.17487/RFC6020, October 2010,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6020>.
[RFC7950] Bjorklund, M., Ed., "The YANG 1.1 Data Modeling Language",
RFC 7950, DOI 10.17487/RFC7950, August 2016,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7950>.
[RFC8341] Bierman, A. and M. Bjorklund, "Network Configuration
Access Control Model", STD 91, RFC 8341,
DOI 10.17487/RFC8341, March 2018,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8341>.
[RFC8343] Bjorklund, M., "A YANG Data Model for Interface
Management", RFC 8343, DOI 10.17487/RFC8343, March 2018,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8343>.
[RFC9911] Schönwälder, J., Ed., "Common YANG Data Types", RFC 9911,
DOI 10.17487/RFC9911, December 2025,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc9911>.
8.2. Informative References
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[IEEE802.3-2014]
IEEE WG802.3 - Ethernet Working Group, "IEEE 802.3-2014",
2014.
[IEEE1588] IEEE, "IEEE 1588-2008", 2008.
[RFC2544] Bradner, S. and J. McQuaid, "Benchmarking Methodology for
Network Interconnect Devices", RFC 2544,
DOI 10.17487/RFC2544, March 1999,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2544>.
[RFC4252] Ylonen, T. and C. Lonvick, Ed., "The Secure Shell (SSH)
Authentication Protocol", RFC 4252, DOI 10.17487/RFC4252,
January 2006, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4252>.
[RFC6241] Enns, R., Ed., Bjorklund, M., Ed., Schoenwaelder, J., Ed.,
and A. Bierman, Ed., "Network Configuration Protocol
(NETCONF)", RFC 6241, DOI 10.17487/RFC6241, June 2011,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6241>.
[RFC8040] Bierman, A., Bjorklund, M., and K. Watsen, "RESTCONF
Protocol", RFC 8040, DOI 10.17487/RFC8040, January 2017,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8040>.
[RFC8340] Bjorklund, M. and L. Berger, Ed., "YANG Tree Diagrams",
BCP 215, RFC 8340, DOI 10.17487/RFC8340, March 2018,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8340>.
[RFC8446] Rescorla, E., "The Transport Layer Security (TLS) Protocol
Version 1.3", RFC 8446, DOI 10.17487/RFC8446, August 2018,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8446>.
[RFC9000] Iyengar, J., Ed. and M. Thomson, Ed., "QUIC: A UDP-Based
Multiplexed and Secure Transport", RFC 9000,
DOI 10.17487/RFC9000, May 2021,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc9000>.
[RFC9907] Bierman, A., Boucadair, M., Ed., and Q. Wu, "Guidelines
for Authors and Reviewers of Documents Containing YANG
Data Models", BCP 216, RFC 9907, DOI 10.17487/RFC9907,
March 2026, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc9907>.
Appendix A. Examples
The topology depicted in Figure 3 is used for the examples in this
appendix:
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+-------------+ +------------+ +------------+
| | eth0 eth0 | | eth1 eth0 | |
| tester0 TG|>--------->| dut0 |>--------->|TA tester1 |
| | | | | |
+-------------+ +------------+ +------------+
Figure 3: Test setup where TG and TA modules are on distinct
entities that are not colocated
A.1. Basic Test Program
This pseudo code program orchestrates a network test and shows how
the model can be used:
# Connect to network
net=connect("topology.xml")
# Configure DUTs and enable traffic-analyzers
net.node("dut0").edit( \
"create /interfaces/interface[name='eth0'] -- type=ethernetCsmacd")
net.node("dut0").edit(
"create /interfaces/interface[name='eth1'] -- type=ethernetCsmacd")
net.node("dut0").edit(
"create /flows/flow[id='t0'] -- match/in-port=eth0 "
"actions/action[order='0']/output-action/out-port=eth1")
net.node("tester1").edit(
"create /interfaces/interface[name='eth0']/traffic-analyzer")
net.commit()
# Get network state - before
before=net.get()
# Start traffic
net.node("tester0).edit(
"create /interfaces/interface[name='eth0']/traffic-generator -- "
"frame-size=64 gap=20")
net.commit()
time.sleep(60)
# Stop traffic
net.node("tester1").edit("delete /interfaces/interface[name='eth0']/"
"traffic-generator")
net.commit()
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# Get network state - after
after=net.get()
# Report
sent_pkts=delta("tester0",before,after,
"/interfaces/interface[name='eth0']/statistics/out-unicast-pkts")
received_pkts=delta("tester1",before,after,
"/interfaces/interface[name='eth0']/statistics/in-unicast-pkts")
analyzed_pkts=absolute("tester1",after,
"/interfaces/interface[name='eth0']/traffic-analyzer/
"statistics/pkts")
latency_max=absolute(after,
"/interfaces/interface[name='eth0']/traffic-analyzer/state/"
"testframe-stats/latency/max")
# Cleanup
net.node("tester1").edit(
"delete /interfaces/interface/traffic-analyzer")
net.node("dut0").edit("delete /flows")
net.node("dut0").edit("delete /interfaces")
net.commit()
A.2. Generating RFC2544 Test Frames
Appendix C.2.6.4 of [RFC2544] specifies a detailed format. The
'frame-data' leaf provides an operator with full control over the
generated frames payload. Notice that the encoding used to specify
the value of the 'frame-data' leaf in this pseudocode example is not
the encoding NETCONF would use on the wire which is Base64 but
instead it is specified with human-readable format identical to the
'hex-string' type defined in [RFC9911].
...
net.node("tester1").edit(
"merge /interfaces/interface[name='eth0']/"
"traffic-generator -- frame-data="
"6c:a9:6f:00:00:02:6c:a9:6f:00:00:01:08:00:45:00:"
"00:2e:d4:a5:00:00:0a:11:58:16:c0:00:02:01:C0:00:"
"02:02:c0:20:00:07:00:1a:00:00:01:02:03:04:05:06:"
"07:08:09:0a:0b:0c:0d:0e:0f:10:11:12")
...
The resulting configuration serialized as XML is shown below in
Appendix A.4
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A.3. Generating Frames with Dynamic Data Fields
Adding a modifier functionality to the single stream traffic
generator configuration. In this example, the highest 16 bits of the
source MAC address of the generated Ethernet frame will be
incremented.
...
net.node("tester1").edit(
"merge /interfaces/interface[name='eth0']/"
"traffic-generator/modifiers/modifier[id='0'] -- "
"offset=6 mask=ff:ff action=increment repetitions=1")
...
A.4. Example: NETCONF <get-config> Reply
This section gives an example of a reply to the NETCONF <get-config>
request for <running> for a device that implements the ietf-traffic-
generator module and its configuration was modified according to the
examples above.
<rpc-reply
xmlns="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:netconf:base:1.0"
message-id="101">
<data>
<interfaces
xmlns="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-interfaces"
xmlns:ianaift="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:iana-if-type"
xmlns:nttg="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:yang:ietf-traffic-generator">
<interface>
<name>eth0</name>
<type>ianaift:ethernetCsmacd</type>
<nttg:traffic-generator>
<frame-size>64</frame-size>
<frame-data>
bKlvAAACbKlvAAABCABFAAAu1KUAAAoRWBbAAAIB
wAACAsAgAAcAGgAAAQIDBAUGBwgJCgsMDQ4PEBES
</frame-data>
<gap>20</gap>
</nttg:traffic-generator>
</interface>
</interfaces>
</data>
</rpc-reply>
Author's Address
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Vladimir Vassilev
Lightside Instruments AS
Email: vladimir@lightside-instruments.com
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