Tools for high-precision monitoring and analysis of ultra-low latency networks
Network analysis solution from LDA Technologies is targeted for low-latency 10G and 25G networks. Net-Recap is powered by LDA’s Neo platform and includes:
- 10 G and 25 G TIMESTAMPING. Standard and high-precision modes support. All ports are timestamped with standard precision and aggregated into a 100 Gigabit Ethernet channel that can be sent to the front panel or connected internally to a 100 Gigabit network card. Up to 8 front panel ports can be enabled for high-precision timestamping:
- 96 picosecond accuracy in case of 10 G Ethernet
- 40 picoseconds in case of 25 G Ethernet
- CAPTURE. A Solarflare X2541 NIC installed in the Neo platform receives the timestamped data via 100 Gigabit internal backplane. SolarCapture Pro* software allows processing the data and storing it directly at a line rate on fast PCIe NVME drives located in the same NEO device.
- REPLAY. SolarReplay* software allows replaying PCAP files from NVME storage at near line rates.
- LATENCY MEASUREMENT. Based on LDA’s Time-Of-Flight technology, the solution provides 31 picoseconds measurement accuracy and allows measuring latency incurred by any part of the infrastructure: from transceivers and cables to L3 routers.
The Neo platform can be configured to run a hypervisor (from vmware, Proxmox, Citrix, etc.). In this setup, the active operating system runs as a virtual OS and can be restored, replaced, modified without even rebooting the device. This feature allows for automatic deployment and robust recovery.
*Capture and Replay functionality using SolarCapture Pro software is offered in partnership with Solarflare (a Xilinx© company)
Timestamping
With this solution, traffic from all ports is VLAN tagged, timestamped, and aggregated into one 100 G Ethernet stream at the backplane.
Net-Recap solution offers two modes: standard and high-precision. Standard mode resolution is 1.551 nanoseconds, the high-precision mode is based on LDA’s Time-Of-Flight technology and has a resolution of 96 picoseconds. Only eight ports at a time can be enabled for high-precision timestamping.
A timestamp is sampled when the first two bytes of meaningful data in an Ethernet packet arrive (the first two bytes of Destination MAC Address). Sampled Timestamp is appended to the end of the frame as an Ethernet trailer.
The VLAN tag appended to each port allows for OS-level identification of packets aggregated into 100 G stream. VLAN tags start from 101 (front panel port 1) and end with 148 (front panel port 48).
If the solution is bundled with MUX, only the ports participating in both MUX partitions are timestamped and VLAN-tagged.
Capture
VLAN-tagged Ethernet interfaces can be activated on the host operating system (101-148). Standard tools such as tcpdump can be used for capturing in PCAP format.
For Neo platforms equipped with Solarflare x2541 NIC, another option is to use the SolarCapture Pro software package that works directly with the NIC bypassing host network stack and which allows capturing the packets at near line rate.
A wide range of filters and PCAP capture scenarios allow modifying capture criteria based on customer needs.
Fast PCIe NVME storage allows capturing timestamped packets without drops directly on the device.
Replay
Captured PCAP files can be replayed back to the original port or any other set of ports using SolarReplay utility.
Latency Measurement
The solution is based on LDA’s Time-Of-Flight technology.
Highlights:
- 31 picoseconds measurement accuracy
- Two modes of operation: L1 and L2/L3
- 48 measurement ports on Neo platform
- No fiber tap or external traffic generator is required: packets are generated by the device
- L1 mode is a perfect solution to measure latencies induced by infrastructure such as cables (fiber, copper), fiber transceivers, L1 switches, fiber taps, etc.
- L2/L3 mode operates with pre-generated PCAP files to support a variety of traffic patterns
- L2/L3 mode can be used to benchmark muxes, switches and routers for minimal induced latency