IXIA Data Center Storage Load Modules
This chapter provides details about Data Center Storage (DCS) load modules, their specifications, and features.
Keysight’s Data Center Storage 100GE Test Load Module generates realistic RoCEv2 traffic at line-rate in a controlled and repetitive manner. It enables users to characterize the performance and latency impacts of various storage workloads and tune switching fabric parameters to overcome network congestion.The Data Center Storage Load Modules have 2 QSFP28 ports that can fanout to 8 x 25GE ports.
Driven by IxLoad – the test application for measuring the quality of experience (QoE) of real-time, business-critical applications with converged multiplay service emulations – the Data Center Storage 100GE Test Load Module is a unique platform for validating RoCEv2 implementations and parameter settings of converged data center switches.
Compared to homegrown or open source test solutions on commercial compute servers, the Keysight RoCEv2 test solution brings higher efficiency through high scalability, high density, simplified and unified management, easier configurability, and lower maintenance while providing comprehensive and replicable testing.
Key Features
The key features of Data Center Storage load modules are as follows:
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Provides data center performance for RoCE and HTTP traffic with full congestion control mechanism support for exercising the systems under test (SUT) in realworld conditions, enabling users to easily identify performance and interoperability issues.
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The modular architecture of the solution allows linear performance scaling to multi terabits by populating a Keysight XGS12-HSL or XGS12-SDL chassis with up to 12 Data Center Storage Test load modules.
Load Module
DCS100GE2Q28ALL is a 2 port load module with QSFP28 interface. It provides support for native QSFP28 100GBASE-SR4 pluggable optical transceivers (QSFP28-SR4-XCRV). Each of the 100GE QSFP28 ports can operate through a fan-out cable as 4 x 25GE SFP28 ports. The Data Center Storage Test Load Module is multiuser. The ports are independent and can be used in a single or multiple concurrent test sessions. It is compatible only with Keysight XGS12-HSL or XGS12-SDL chassis. This load module supports only IxLoad software application.
The DCS100GE2Q28ALL load module is shown in the following figure:
Part Numbers
Part Numbers for the DCS Load Module is provided in the following table.
Model Number | Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|
DCS100GE2Q28ALL |
957-5110 |
2-ports of 100GE with the QSFP28 physical interface. |
Specifications
The load module specifications are contained in the following table.
Feature | DCS100GE2Q28ALL |
---|---|
Hardware, Load Module Specifications |
|
Physical Interfaces |
2-port, 100GE QSFP28 |
Transceiver Support |
QSFP28 SR4 and LR4 (pluggable transceivers) |
Memory |
128GB |
Hardware Encryption Offload |
Yes |
Hardware-Based Traffic Capture (for BreakingPoint) |
N/A |
Capture Memory (for IxLoad) |
Maximum between 2GB or 2 Million packets, per interface |
FPGA Offload |
Yes |
IPv4, IPv6, UDP, TCP |
Hardware checksum generation |
Load Module Dimensions |
16.4" (L) x 12.0" (W) x 1.3" (H) 417mm (L) x 305mm (W) x 33mm (H) |
Load Module Weights |
|
Operating Temperature Range |
41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C), ambient air |
Chassis Capacity |
|
Cards per Chassis |
|
Port Density |
|
XGS12 and XGS2 Chassis Bundles |
|
DCS Load Module, IxLoad Performance
The performance numbers in a back-to-back scenario using a single DCS load module are provided in the following table:
Performance Metric | DCS100GE2Q28ALL Support | XGS12 Chassis with 12 Load Modules |
---|---|---|
HTTP Throughput |
100 Gbps |
1.2 Tbps |
RoCEv2 Throughput | 100 Gbps | 1.2 Tbps |
Number of Q-Pairs | 8k | 96k |
Latency | <100ns |
Transceiver and Cable Support
The transceiver and cable support for the DCS load module is provided in the following table:
Transceiver/Cable Part Number | Description |
---|---|
QSFP28-SR4-XCVR |
QSFP28 100GBASE-SR4 100GE pluggable optical transceiver, MMF (multimode), 850 nm, 100 m reach |
QSFP28-LR4-XCVR |
QSFP28 100GBASE-LR4 100GE pluggable optical transceiver, SMF (single mode fiber), 1310 nm, 10 km reach |
942-0088 |
QSFP28 passive, copper, Direct Attach Cable (DAC), 3 meter length |
942-0092 |
QSFP28 Active Optical Cable (AOC), multimode fiber, 850 nm, 3 meter length |
Application Support
The Keysight application support for DCS load modules is provided in the following table:
Hardware | Application Support |
---|---|
DCS100GE2Q28ALL |
IxOS, IxLoad, TCL API, REST API |
IxLoad Application Support | DCS100GE2Q28ALL |
---|---|
Application Delivery |
|
Mechanical Specifications
Front Panel
The front panel of the DCS load module is shown in the following figure:
LED Panel
There are 3 tricolor LEDs per port. The LED panel specifications for DCS are provided in the following table.
Speed Mode | LED1: TX LED | LED2: RX LED | LED3: MODE LED |
---|---|---|---|
25GE |
Port Inactive/No Power=Off Link Down (all)=Solid Red Link Up (all)=Solid Green Tx Active=Blinking Green |
Port Inactive/No Power=Off Rx Active with Errors=Blinking Red Rx Active=Blinking Green |
Mode=Off Card Fault=Solid Red |