IPv6 Benchmarking Methodology for Network Interconnect Devices
RFC 5180

Network Working Group                                       C. Popoviciu
Request for Comments: 5180                                      A. Hamza
Category: Informational                                  G. Van de Velde
                                                           Cisco Systems
                                                             D. Dugatkin
                                                           FastSoft Inc.
                                                                May 2008

     IPv6 Benchmarking Methodology for Network Interconnect Devices

Status of This Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Abstract

   The benchmarking methodologies defined in RFC 2544 are IP version
   independent.  However, RFC 2544 does not address some of the
   specificities of IPv6.  This document provides additional
   benchmarking guidelines, which in conjunction with RFC 2544, lead to
   a more complete and realistic evaluation of the IPv6 performance of
   network interconnect devices.  IPv6 transition mechanisms are outside
   the scope of this document.

Popoviciu, et al.            Informational                      [Page 1]
RFC 5180             IPv6 Benchmarking Methodology              May 2008

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................2
   2. Existing Definitions ............................................3
   3. Tests and Results Evaluation ....................................3
   4. Test Environment Setup ..........................................3
   5. Test Traffic ....................................................4
      5.1. Frame Formats and Sizes ....................................4
           5.1.1. Frame Sizes to Be Used on Ethernet ..................5
           5.1.2. Frame Sizes to Be Used on SONET .....................5
      5.2. Protocol Addresses Selection ...............................6
           5.2.1. DUT Protocol Addresses ..............................6
           5.2.2. Test Traffic Protocol Addresses .....................7
      5.3. Traffic with Extension Headers .............................7
      5.4. Traffic Setup ..............................................9
   6. Modifiers .......................................................9
      6.1. Management and Routing Traffic .............................9
      6.2. Filters ...................................................10
           6.2.1. Filter Format ......................................10
           6.2.2. Filter Types .......................................11
   7. Benchmarking Tests .............................................12
      7.1. Throughput ................................................13
      7.2. Latency ...................................................13
      7.3. Frame Loss ................................................13
      7.4. Back-to-Back Frames .......................................13
      7.5. System Recovery ...........................................14
      7.6. Reset .....................................................14
   8. IANA Considerations ............................................14
   9. Security Considerations ........................................14
   10. Conclusions ...................................................15
   11. Acknowledgements ..............................................15
   12. References ....................................................15
      12.1. Normative References .....................................15
      12.2. Informative References ...................................16
   Appendix A.  Theoretical Maximum Frame Rates Reference ............17
      A.1.  Ethernet .................................................17
      A.2.  Packet over SONET ........................................18

1.  Introduction

   The benchmarking methodologies defined by RFC 2544 [9] are proving to
   be useful in consistently evaluating IPv4 forwarding performance of
   network elements.  Adherence to these testing and result analysis
   procedures facilitates objective comparison of IPv4 performance data
   measured on various products and by various individuals.  While the
   principles behind the methodologies introduced in RFC 2544 are
   largely IP version independent, the protocol has continued to evolve,
   particularly in its version 6 (IPv6).

Popoviciu, et al.            Informational                      [Page 2]
RFC 5180             IPv6 Benchmarking Methodology              May 2008

   This document provides benchmarking methodology recommendations that
   address IPv6-specific aspects, such as evaluating the forwarding
   performance of traffic containing extension headers, as defined in