Hi Alexandre,
We (at least the Linux team) don't use the DOS version of Lanconf at all. So I
can't really say if it works as a driving test platform. We even rarely use
the Linux version of Lanconf as pktgen (Packet Gen) is much more configurable.
The graphics should not be a problem, neither should the mouse can keyboard.
In the Debian release, are you using the stock igb driver or are you using the
latest one from our Sourceforge site (e1000.sf.net)? Not that it really
matters it's just that we don't test against Debian very often.
The I350 NIC will be a good packet generator though you should look at pktgen
instead of Lanconf I think.
Cheers,
John
From: Alexandre Desnoyers [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 11:06 AM
To: Ronciak, John
Cc: [email protected]; <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [E1000-devel] Intel GigE NIC - Missing lots of packets
Hi John,
Thanks for your answer.
On the software side, we did many test using ping, iperf and netperf under
Linux... But all the screen-shots have been made by booting "Plain-Old-DOS"
(Win98SE), with no TSR at all in config.sys+autoexec.bat, and just running
LANCONF from there on both PC. So there shouldn't be anything software-wise to
create any problems.
I'm planning to buy an Intel I350 NIC, 2 ports, for the packet generator PC.
Please let me know if you recommend this setup and if you see any compatibility
issues with LANCONF.
Your comment regarding bus bandwidth made me think about the integrated video
card... Do you know or have you seen that an integrated video card sharing the
CPU DRAM could create such bandwidth limitation? Even when running pure DOS in
text mode? This is pretty much the only bandwidth-intensive device in the test
system. The other devices are the USB ports for the keyboard+mouse+USB-Key.
Nothing else.
FYI, we're using Debian with a 3.0.0 kernel (maybe 3.0.1... not sure) when
running ping/iperf/netperf. We haven't run LANCONF under Linux.
Thanks again,
Alexandre Desnoyers
Electronic Design Engineer
Qtechnology A/S
Valby Langgade 142, 1.sal - 2500 Valby - Denmark -
www.qtec.com<http://www.qtec.com>
Ronciak, John wrote:
Alexandre,
You have a lot of questions here. Let's start with some level setting. Using
UDP there may be some packet drops depending on how fast the packets are being
processed. I think you may need to set the volume to packets (throughput) you
are going to be sending/receiving on you device and see if packets are still
being dropped on that device. From what you say below it doesn't look like the
82580 device/system is dropping any packets. It's the other systems/devices
with the drops right?
What is happening when you see RNBC (receive no buffer count) is that the
packets aren't being processed fast enough by the system and if it continues
you see the MPC (missed packet count) increase when the packets are actually
dropped. This could be happening due to the a slow system, slow bus, something
else on the system taking up CPU or PCI bus bandwidth, etc.
So I would recommend testing this again with the your device with the 82580 and
one other higher-end system as the link partner. Set the test up for you
desired throughput and see what your systems do with that throughput. I
wouldn't use you laptop as a partner, use a server type system if possible.
Limit what is running on it while you are testing. Disable other PCI/PCIe
devices in the system, if possible, if they are taking up lots of bus bandwidth.
You also did not say what Linux version you are using on your system. This can
also have an effect on what you are seeing. You talk about your HW and Lanconf
but not the system SW.
Please let us know.
BTW, the packet drops you are seeing is not excessive at all but possible can
be reduced if the test is correct for your environment.
Cheers,
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Alexandre Desnoyers [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 5:50 AM
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: [E1000-devel] Intel GigE NIC - Missing lots of packets
Hello everyone,
I've just registered to the mailing list following the recommendation
of Peter Waskiewicz from Intel.
Here is the situation:
I've designed an embedded x86 board with a Intel 82580 NIC (both dual
and quad GigE). We're seeing some packet loss when using either "ping
-f", "iperf" and "netperf" under Linux. After investigating a little
more, I found the DOS LANConf tool that can be used to test the NIC
according to IEEE standards.
Our embedded application is a real-time image analysis system, and the
image frames are sent via UDP packets to another computer
(point-to-point). We're seeing some packet losses and are trying to
debug this.
Sorry for using Tinypic links for the screenshot... but I believe that
the server do not support attachment. Feel free to request a personal
email with the properly named attachment.
Questions:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
1) Can you recommend an Intel PCIe NIC "reference" card that can be
used as traffic generator? I was thinking about the "Intel PRO/1000 PT
Server Adapter", but maybe you have a better recommendation.
Right now, I'm using the LOM 82578DC NIC from an Intel DH55TC
motherboard as the traffic generator for LANConf.
According to the Intel "1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T Physical Layer
Compliance Tests Manual", version 4.3, the recommended NIC is a 82543,
but it's now listed as "end of life" on Intel's website... And it only
has a PCI interface which is not fast enough for full speed GigE
testing
(confirmed with an old Intel 82541 based PCI card)
What is the architectural differences between the client and server
NICs? I need to convince my boss to spend the money on the correct
card :)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
2) When doing the Send/Receive LANConf test between my 82580 and the
82578DC LOM, I get "Mpc" and "Rnbc" errors on the 82578DC, but no error
on the 82580. There is about 5 Mpc errors per seconds, and about 15
Rnbc
errors per seconds.
Embedded 82580 screenshot - with link to Intel LOM.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/35inm7b.jpg
Intel LOM screenshot - with link to 82580.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2q1f34o.jpg
Is this somehow normal??
I also get Mpc and Rnbc errors on both my T60p laptop and the LOM NIC
when testing between them. Check those two screenshot:
Lenovo T60p screenshot - with link to Intel LOM.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/11l6k5t.jpg
Intel LOM screenshot - with link to T60p.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/sfvswk.jpg
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
3) When looking at the bandwidth values, they seems half of what they
should be on the 82580.
The 82580 total report ~1020Mbps and the partner (LOM) reports
2046Mbps....
Embedded 82580 screenshot - with link to Intel LOM.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/35inm7b.jpg
Intel LOM screenshot - with link to 82580.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2q1f34o.jpg
Any explanation??
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
4) The BER test between the 82580 and the LOM is failing in one
direction.
BER screenshot between 82580 and Intel LOM - 82580 is RX.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/k9b86s.jpg
BER screenshot between 82580 and Intel LOM - LOM is RX.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/15qclfl.jpg
Tested at GigE speed
Any suggestion of what to check??
Here is what I've checked so far:
- Mounted a 25MHz 2ppm TCXO oscillator (not xtal) on the 82580
- 1000BASE-T Peak Differential Output Voltage and Level Accuracy
- 1000BASE-T Maximum Output Droop
- 100BASE-TX Differential Output Voltage (UTP)
- 100BASE-TX Waveform Overshoot
- 100Base-TX Rise and Fall Times
- 100Base-TX Duty Cycle Distortion (DCD)
- 100Base-TX Transmit Jitter
All of the test above at well within the limits specified in
"1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T Physical Layer Compliance Tests Manual"
Using LANConf v1.18.8.1 under Win98SE DOS boot disk.
Cable is Cat5E STP (not UTP), 2 meter long, point-to-point
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
Thank you very much for you time,
Alexandre Desnoyers
Electronic Design Engineer
Qtechnology A/S
Valby Langgade 142, 1.sal - 2500 Valby - Denmark -
www.qtec.com<http://www.qtec.com>
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