Transcript Throughput Testing with NDT

Continuous Throughput Testing
and
Dynamic Visualization
Utilizing
Network Diagnostic Tool
(NDT)
To solve our problem ;)
Why did we do this project?
2
1.
MCNC was requested to perform network
throughput and quality testing for hundreds of
K-12 schools in NC.
2.
We had several constraints that limited our
testing ability.
3.
TIME was an issue, we had to move fast!!
4.
Visualization was extremely important to convey
the results to both technical and non-technical
audiences.
What was the problem to solve?
3
1.
Perform network testing at remote locations with
virtually no IT “hands” on-site.
2.
We could not install any software or hardware at the
remote sites.
3.
The data should reflect the actual network
performance of the student “end-host” computers.
4.
How to get the results in a format that anyone can
read/understand.
What did we do?
Modified NDT java applet
 Manipulated applet to run continuously after “start” initiated
 Tcpbw100.java modified to re-run test every 5 min after the
start button is clicked
Wrote Custom PHP Scripts
 Parsed web100srv log files for results
 Extracted date/time, IP address, upload and download speeds
 Wrote data to RRD files for later graphing / analysis
Built 4 NDT Servers
 With all the usual suspects (NDT v.5.4.12, Web100
modified kernel, Userland libraries)
 Imaged every box with CactiEZ CD Beta v0.2b
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Testing, Testing, 1,2,3…
• We needed to see how the modified NDT would operate
with a heavy load
• Conducted initial testing on staff at MCNC on one NDT
server
• We estimated we needed 4 NDT servers--somewhat
arbitrary (but it worked!)
• Challenges
– Firewall ports
– Screensaver/Sleep mode
• We tested schools over a week and coordinated timing
with Tech Directors across the State of NC.
5
Results!
• We had ~130 schools attempt the testing.
• Of those, we had around 80 schools with enough data
to show connection quality.
• Results varied among schools and school systems.
• One problem we found (after the fact) is several
school systems used NAT, so results were
inconclusive for individual schools.
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Results! (cont’d)
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Next Steps…
8
1.
Ability to enter information before running the test, and
capturing that information into the logs/results.
2.
Integration into Cacti (automatically create graphs and
datasources in MYSQL.
3.
Ability to pick times the test will run again.
4.
Ability to start testing without having to press “Start”.
5.
Based on results of tests, recommend TCP tuning
parameters.
Vision – Communication - Collaboration
DEMO !
NDT Test
NDT Test Results
Vision – Communication - Collaboration
Questions?
Comments?
Andrew @ mcnc.org
Carla @ mcnc.org
Just in Case
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (LZW) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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Just in Case
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Just in Case 2
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