README-binary-search.md

binary-search.py

A script to conduct a binary-search for maximum packet throughput. This script is designed to work with different traffic generator solutions. Currently it natively supports TRex (https://trex-tgn.cisco.com/) with two different traffic generator implementations: trex-txrx.py and trex-txrx-profile.py. The goal is to refine and enhance the binary-search features completely separate from the actual traffic generators.

Installation

1. Download

   First, download this git repository

   # git clone https://github.com/atheurer/trafficgen
   

2. Build/Install

   If you intend to use TRex, the trafficgen repo includes a script (trex-install.sh) that will download and install TRex in /opt/trex:

   # cd /path/to/trafficgen
   # ./install-trex.sh
   Downloading TRex v2.81 from https://trex-tgn.cisco.com/trex/release/v2.81.tar.gz...
   installed TRex v2.81 from https://trex-tgn.cisco.com/trex/release/v2.81.tar.gz
   # ls -l /opt/trex
   total 4
   lrwxrwxrwx  1 root  root    5 Aug 26 15:27 current -> v2.81
   drwxr-xr-x 17 33066   25 4096 May  7 12:17 v2.81
   

Configuration

1. Allocate huegpages needed by the traffic generator. 1GB page size is recommended. Reboot after grub has been modified.

   # grubby --update-kernel=`grubby --default-kernel` --args="default_hugepagesz=1G hugepagesz=1G hugepages=32"
   

2. Bind DPDK to two network interfaces needed by the traffic generator.

   If you intend to use TRex, it also includes a binding utility under /opt/trex/current/dpdk_set_ports.py. Binding with vfio-pci kernel module is recommended.

Running

binary-search.py is controlled entirely by command line options. Please see all of the options with --help. The recommded minimum number of optons are:

--devices
--traffic-generator
--max-loss-pct
--frame-size

Note that you must use two physical devices, and these device shoud be connected direcly to a "device-under-test" or to each other to enable loopback testing.