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Isolation Test

Isolation Test#

If a customer is experiencing performance issues, one of the diagnostic steps that we take is to isolate the connection and prove if overall throughput is as expected. This involves disconnecting the customer LAN and firewall, connecting a workstation directly to the EVX and carrying out a set of controlled performance tests.

Prerequisites#

  • A workstation, ideally a laptop, with a network interface fast enough for the connection throughput, usually 1 Gbps
  • iPerf3 downloaded to the workstation
    • Linux: Install iperf3 using the distro package manager
    • MacOS: Install iperf3 using Homebrew, or download from https://iperf.fr/
    • Windows: Download from https://iperf.fr/

Steps#

  1. Disconnect any firewalls and LAN switches from the EVX.
  2. Connect the workstation to one of the firewall or LAN ports, and configure an IP address.
    • If you are using a LAN presentation port, and the EVX is running a DHCP server, the workstation will receive an IP automatically.
    • If you are using a LAN presentation port, and the EVX is not running a DHCP server, the workstation will need configuring with a static IP within the LAN range and a default gateway of the EVX.
    • If you are using a firewall port, the workstation will need configuring with a static IP within the WAN range and a default gateway of the EVX.
    • Make sure there is a valid DNS server configured, like 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1.
  3. Make sure the workstation does not have WiFi enabled.
  4. Run a ping to the internet.
    • ping google.com
  5. Navigate to eviewlive.net, log in and view the live traffic page of the connection.
  6. If you don't have iPerf3 downloaded already, you will be able to download it now.
  7. Open a terminal.
    • Linux / MacOS (homebrew): Just open a terminal.
    • Windows / MacOS (download): Extract the iPerf3 ZIP, and open a terminal in the extracted folder.
  8. Evolving Networks will provide an IP address to run the performance tests to.
  9. Start a download test.
    • iperf3 -V -c <ip> -i 1 -t 30 -P 12 -R
  10. Start an upload test.
    • iperf3 -V -c <ip> -i 1 -t 30 -P 12
  11. Collect the information from the workstation terminal, the test head terminal and eView Live.
  12. Disconnect the workstation and reconnect any firewalls and LAN switches.

Results#

  • If the performance is as expected, then there is no issue with the SD-WAN appliance.
  • If performance issues are still experienced when everything has been reconnected, then there will be an issue within the LAN. This could be a bottleneck, a broadcast storm, a faulty appliance, or perhaps an issue at the application level.
  • If there is a confirmed performance issue, then the information will be logged and the investigation will continue.
Last update: February 28, 2023