How we did it

Performance testing was a collaborative effort with Spirent Communications, which provided equipment and lab space. We used five SmartBits SMB-6000B chassis, fully populated with FBC-3602A 1G and 2G bit/sec Fibre Channel modules. Ports on the SmartBits tool can be configured for half- or full-duplex testing. Spirent's SmartFabric Test Application, Version 1.20, provided port-by-port results.

Cisco submitted an MDS 9509 switch populated with two DS-X9530-SF1-K9 Supervisor 1 cards running firmware Version 1.0(1) and seven DS-X9016 16-port 1G and2G bit/sec Fibre Channel Cards.

Basic throughput and latency were measured using bidirectional traffic flows configured in 56-port pairs. The tests were run for 30 seconds using small (60-byte) and large (2,148-byte) frames at 100% load. Latency was measured at 10% and 100% loads to evaluate frame delays within the switch under stress.

To continue reading, register here and become an Insider. You'll get free access to premium content from CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World. See more Insider content or sign in.

Performance testing was a collaborative effort with Spirent Communications, which provided equipment and lab space. We used five SmartBits SMB-6000B chassis, fully populated with FBC-3602A 1G and 2G bit/sec Fibre Channel modules. Ports on the SmartBits tool can be configured for half- or full-duplex testing. Spirent's SmartFabric Test Application, Version 1.20, provided port-by-port results.

Cisco submitted an MDS 9509 switch populated with two DS-X9530-SF1-K9 Supervisor 1 cards running firmware Version 1.0(1) and seven DS-X9016 16-port 1G and2G bit/sec Fibre Channel Cards.

Basic throughput and latency were measured using bidirectional traffic flows configured in 56-port pairs. The tests were run for 30 seconds using small (60-byte) and large (2,148-byte) frames at 100% load. Latency was measured at 10% and 100% loads to evaluate frame delays within the switch under stress.

With our high-stress, full-mesh throughput test, we configured each of 112 SmartBits ports to send large frames to, and receive from, each of the other 111 ports.

In our reboot test, we cut off power to the devices to see how quickly the devices could resume normal operation.

To test nondisruptive code load, we started a bidirection flow of large frames across all 112 ports. Midway through the test, a code load was initiated and completed before the traffic flows concluded.

Read more about lans & wans in Network World's LANs & WANs section.