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:

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
  • Module only: 10.2 lbs. (4.6 kg)

  • Shipping: 19.9 lbs. (9.0 kg)

Operating Temperature Range

41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C), ambient air

Chassis Capacity

Cards per Chassis

  • 12 on XGS12-HSL or XGS12-SDL
  • 2 on XGS2-HSL or XGS2-SDL

Port Density

  • XGS12-HSL/SDL: 24-ports, 100GE QSFP28

  • XGS12-HSL/SDL: 96-ports, 25GE QSFP28

  • XGS2-HSL/SDL: 4-ports, 100GE QSFP28

  • XGS2-HSL/SDL: 16-ports, 25GE QSFP28

XGS12 and XGS2 Chassis Bundles

  • XGS2-SDL (940-0013)

  • XGS2-HSL (940-0014)

  • XGS12-SDL (940-0015)

  • XGS12-HSL (940-0016)

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

  • RoCEv2

  • HTTP

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