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:

Protocols Supported by Ixia Protocol Server

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)

See Precision Time Protocol (PTP) IEEE 1588v2

There are additional sections on the following topics: