Theory of Operation: Protocols
Protocol Server
Most ports in an Ixia chassis operate a Protocol Server. The Protocol Server includes a complete TCP/IP stack, allowing different forms of high-level DUT testing. The Protocol Server can be configured to test a set of provided Level 2 and Level 3 protocols, which include MAC and IP addressing and IP routing. The Protocol Server for Packet over SONET cards omits all MAC configuration items, since POS does not use a MAC layer. The information gathered by the Protocol Server is used within generated frame data, as well.
The Protocol Server can be accessed through the IxRouter Window. Each protocol must be individually enabled for a selected port in the IxRouter Window.
The protocols supported by the Ixia Protocol Server are described in the following sections in this chapter:
Address Resolution Protocol (non-POS only) (includes IP to MAC addressing) |
See ARP |
Internet Gateway Management Protocol |
See IGMP |
Open Shortest Path First Protocol |
See OSPF |
Open Shortest Path First Protocol Version 3 (for IPv6) |
See OSPFv3 |
Border Gateway Protocol |
See BGP4/BGP+ |
Routing Information Protocol |
See RIP |
Routing Information Protocol: Next Generation (for IPV6) |
See RIPng |
Intermediate System to Intermediate System (Dual Mode) |
See ISISv4/v6 |
Resource ReSerVation Protocol: with Traffic Engineering Extensions |
See RSVP-TE |
Label Distribution Protocol |
See LDP |
Multicast Listener Discovery |
See MLD |
Protocol Independent Multicast: Sparse Mode |
See PIM-SM/SSM-v4/v6 |
Multi-Protocol Label Switching |
See MPLS |
Bi-Directional Forwarding |
See BFD |
Connectivity Fault Management |
See CFM |
Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP) and NPIV |
See FCoE and NPIV |
Precision Time Protocol (PTP) |
There are additional sections on the following topics: