Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for processing data units are disclosed. According to one method, the method occurs at a network interface of a computing platform having per data unit processing overhead that limits throughput of the network interface. The method includes concatenating multiple individual data units into a concatenated data unit (CDU), wherein the CDU includes a header portion for at least one of the multiple data units, processing the CDU as a single data unit rather than as multiple individual data units such that the CDU incurs processing overhead of a single data unit rather than that of multiple individual data units, and de-concatenating the CDU into the multiple individual data units.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for processing data units are disclosed. According to one method, the method occurs at a network interface of a computing platform having per data unit processing overhead that limits throughput of the network interface. The method includes concatenating multiple individual data units into a concatenated data unit (CDU), wherein the CDU includes a header portion for at least one of the multiple data units, processing the CDU as a single data unit rather than as multiple individual data units such that the CDU incurs processing overhead of a single data unit rather than that of multiple individual data units, and de-concatenating the CDU into the multiple individual data units.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring a convergence time of a network. Test traffic including a plurality of packet groups may be transmitted and received via the network. The network may be instructed to redirect packets belonging to a selected packet group from a first port of the network to a second port of the network. A first test port unit coupled to the first port may determine an arrival rate for the selected packet group and store a below threshold timestamp when the arrival rate first falls below a predetermined threshold rate. A second test port unit coupled to the second port may determine an arrival rate for the selected packet group and store an above threshold timestamp when the arrival rate first equals or exceeds the predetermined threshold rate. The convergence time may be determined based on the below threshold timestamp and the above threshold timestamp.

Abstract: Apparatus, processes, and computer readable storage media for processing received packets. A session memory, coupled to and shared by a plurality of packet processors, may store configuration and statistics information for a plurality of communication sessions. A session active memory may store session identifiers corresponding to packets currently being processed by the plurality of packet processors. A comparator may compare a session identifier extracted from a received packet with the stored session identifiers to determine if another packet belonging to the same session as the received packet is currently being processed. Forwarding logic may distribute received packets among the plurality of packet processors. In the case that another packet belonging to the same session as the received packet is currently being processed, the forwarding logic may wait until the processing of the another packet is complete before sending the received packet to one of the packet processors.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring a convergence time of a network. Test traffic including a plurality of packet groups may be transmitted and received via the network. The network may be instructed to redirect packets belonging to a selected packet group from a first port of the network to a second port of the network. A first test port unit coupled to the first port may determine an arrival rate for the selected packet group and store a below threshold timestamp when the arrival rate first falls below a predetermined threshold rate. A second test port unit coupled to the second port may determine an arrival rate for the selected packet group and store an above threshold timestamp when the arrival rate first equals or exceeds the predetermined threshold rate. The convergence time may be determined based on the below threshold timestamp and the above threshold timestamp.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus, a machine readable media, and methods for testing a network. The apparatus may include a statistics engine coupled to a memory. The statistics engine may extract a packet group identifier (PGID) from a packet received from the network and retrieve traffic statistics associated with the PGID from the memory. The retrieved traffic statistics may include a packets-per-interval count and a packets-per-interval threshold, the packets-per-interval count indicating a number of packets received within a time interval of a sequence of time intervals. At the start of each new time interval, the statistics engine may set a flag indicating whether or not the packets-per-interval count for the previous time interval was equal to or greater than the packets-per-interval threshold. The flag may be saved in the memory as part of the traffic statistics associated with the extracted PGID.

Abstract: Apparatus, processes, and computer readable storage media for processing received packets. A session memory, coupled to and shared by a plurality of packet processors, may store configuration and statistics information for a plurality of communication sessions. A session active memory may store session identifiers corresponding to packets currently being processed by the plurality of packet processors. A comparator may compare a session identifier extracted from a received packet with the stored session identifiers to determine if another packet belonging to the same session as the received packet is currently being processed. Forwarding logic may distribute received packets among the plurality of packet processors. In the case that another packet belonging to the same session as the received packet is currently being processed, the forwarding logic may wait until the processing of the another packet is complete before sending the received packet to one of the packet processors.

Abstract: There are disclosed apparatus and methods for scheduling packet transmission. At least one scheduled traffic queue holds a plurality of scheduled packets, each scheduled packet having an associated scheduled transmit time. At least one unscheduled traffic queue holds plurality of unscheduled packets. A packet selector causes transmission of scheduled packets from the scheduled traffic queue at the associated scheduled transmit time, while causing transmission of unscheduled packets from the unscheduled traffic queue during the time intervals between transmissions of scheduled packets.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus, a machine readable media, and methods for testing a network. The apparatus may include a statistics engine coupled to a memory. The statistics engine may extract a packet group identifier (PGID) from a packet received from the network and retrieve traffic statistics associated with the PGID from the memory. The retrieved traffic statistics may include a packets-per-interval count and a packets-per-interval threshold, the packets-per-interval count indicating a number of packets received within a time interval of a sequence of time intervals. At the start of each new time interval, the statistics engine may set a flag indicating whether or not the packets-per-interval count for the previous time interval was equal to or greater than the packets-per-interval threshold. The flag may be saved in the memory as part of the traffic statistics associated with the extracted PGID.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus, process, and computer readable storage media for processing received packets. The apparatus may include a plurality of packet processors. A session active checker may identify a session associated with a first received packet and may determine if any other packet belonging to the identified session is currently being processed by any of the plurality of packet processors. The first receive packet may be sent to a selected one of the plurality of packet processors when no other packets belonging to the identified session are currently being processed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a reconfigurable network test system. The reconfigurable test system may include a plurality of test modules, a plurality of network interface units, a plurality of bypass units, and a multi-port switch. Each of the network interface units may have a first end and a second end adapted to be connected to a network. Each bypass unit may be in communication with an associated test module, the first end of an associated network interface unit, a first associated switch port, and a second associated switch port. Each bypass unit may have a first mode wherein the associated test module is placed in communication with the first end of the associated network interface unit, and a second mode wherein the associated test module is placed in communication with the first associated switch port and the associated network interface unit is placed in communication with the second associated switch.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus, process, and computer readable storage media for processing received packets. The apparatus may include a plurality of packet processors. A session active checker may identify a session associated with a first received packet and may determine if any other packet belonging to the identified session is currently being processed by any of the plurality of packet processors. The first receive packet may be sent to a selected one of the plurality of packet processors when no other packets belonging to the identified session are currently being processed.

Abstract: Data communication optimization is disclosed. In a method, when data transmission is requested, an outgoing data unit is prepared with dummy payload data. In a method, when data reception is requested, the header and validation information from an incoming data unit is provided while the payload of the data unit is ignored. The methods cause an increase in the throughput of a network card when transmitting and/or receiving a data units having a large payload. The methods may be achieved on a hardware device included on a board in a network testing system and/or with associated software.

Abstract: There is disclosed a reconfigurable network test system. The reconfigurable test system may include a plurality of test modules, a plurality of network interface units, a plurality of bypass units, and a multi-port switch. Each of the network interface units may have a first end and a second end adapted to be connected to a network. Each bypass unit may be in communication with an associated test module, the first end of an associated network interface unit, a first associated switch port, and a second associated switch port. Each bypass unit may have a first mode wherein the associated test module is placed in communication with the first end of the associated network interface unit, and a second mode wherein the associated test module is placed in communication with the first associated switch port and the associated network interface unit is placed in communication with the second associated switch.

Abstract: There are disclosed apparatus and methods for scheduling packet transmission. At least one scheduled traffic queue holds a plurality of scheduled packets, each scheduled packet having an associated scheduled transmit time. At least one unscheduled traffic queue holds plurality of unscheduled packets. A packet selector causes transmission of scheduled packets from the scheduled traffic queue at the associated scheduled transmit time, while causing transmission of unscheduled packets from the unscheduled traffic queue during the time intervals between transmissions of scheduled packets.

Abstract: A network interface that accesses multiple sized memory segments is disclosed. In a method, a data unit is received and its size is evaluated. A group of memory segments is selected from a plurality of groups of memory segments based on the size of the data unit. The selected group of memory segments has a plurality of memory segments large enough to accommodate the incoming data unit. A memory segment from the selected group is allocated memory. The data unit is stored in the memory segment. The methods may be achieved in a network interface included in, for example, a network card, a network testing system and a computer.

Abstract: Data communication optimization is disclosed. In a method, when data transmission is requested, an outgoing data unit is prepared with dummy payload data. In a method, when data reception is requested, the header and validation information from an incoming data unit is provided while the payload of the data unit is ignored. The methods cause an increase in the throughput of a network card when transmitting and/or receiving a data units having a large payload. The methods may be achieved on a hardware device included on a board in a network testing system and/or with associated software.