Enterprise Network Testing: Testing Throughout the Network Lifecycle to Maximize Availability and Performance
- By Andy Sholomon, Tom Kunath
- Published Apr 14, 2011 by Cisco Press. Part of the Networking Technology series.
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- Copyright 2011
- Dimensions: 7-3/8" x 9-1/8"
- Edition: 1st
- eBook (Watermarked)
- ISBN-10: 0-13-273110-X
- ISBN-13: 978-0-13-273110-2
Enterprise Network Testing
Testing Throughout the Network Lifecycle to Maximize Availability and Performance
Andy Sholomon, CCIE® No. 15179
Tom Kunath, CCIE No. 1679
The complete guide to using testing to reduce risk and downtime in advanced enterprise networks
Testing has become crucial to meeting enterprise expectations of near-zero network downtime. Enterprise Network Testing is the first comprehensive guide to all facets of enterprise network testing. Cisco enterprise consultants Andy Sholomon and Tom Kunath offer a complete blueprint and best-practice methodologies for testing any new network system, product, solution, or advanced technology.
Sholomon and Kunath begin by explaining why it is important to test and how network professionals can leverage structured system testing to meet specific business goals. Then, drawing on their extensive experience with enterprise clients, they present several detailed case studies. Through real-world examples, you learn how to test architectural “proofs of concept,” specific network features, network readiness for use, migration processes, security, and more.
Enterprise Network Testing contains easy-to-adapt reference test plans for branches, WANs/MANs, data centers, and campuses. The authors also offer specific guidance on testing many key network technologies, including MPLS/VPN, QoS, VoIP, video, IPsec VPNs, advanced routing (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP), and Data Center Fabrics.
§ Understand why, when, and how you should test your network
§ Use testing to discover critical network design flaws
§ Incorporate structured systems testing into enterprise architecture strategy
§ Utilize testing to improve decision-making throughout the network lifecycle
§ Develop an effective testing organization and lab facility
§ Choose and use test services providers
§ Scope, plan, and manage network test assignments
§ nLeverage the best commercial, free, and IOS test tools
§ Successfully execute test plans, including crucial low-level details
§ Minimize the equipment required to test large-scale networks
§ Identify gaps in network readiness
§ Validate and refine device configurations
§ Certify new hardware, operating systems, and software features
§ Test data center performance and scalability
§ Leverage test labs for hands-on technology training
This book is part of the Networking Technology Series from Cisco Press®, which offers networking professionals valuable information for constructing efficient networks, understanding new technologies, and building successful careers.
Table of Contents
Part I Introduction to Enterprise Network Testing
Chapter 1 A Business Case for Enterprise Network Testing 3
Why Testing Is Important 3
The Network as a Business Platform 4
The Cost of Network Downtime 5
Network Changes and Downtime 7
Testing in Support of Change Control 7
Testing and the Pursuit of “Five Nines” 9
A Structured Approach to Systems Testing 13
Step 1: Assessment 13
Step 2: Test Planning 13
Step 3: Setup 14
Step 4: Execution 14
Step 5: Results 14
Summary 15
Chapter 2 Testing Throughout the Network Lifecycle 17
Enterprise and Network Architecture Primer 17
How the Enterprise Architecture Comes Together 18
Following a Convergence Vision 19
The Cisco Lifecycle Services Approach (PPDIOO) 21
PPDIOO Phase 1: Prepare 21
PPDIOO Phase 2: Plan 21
PPDIOO Phase 3: Design 22
PPDIOO Phase 4: Implement 22
PPDIOO Phase 5: Operate 22
PPDIOO Phase 6: Optimize 22
Testing and the Network Lifecycle 24
Prepare Phase: Design and Test Activities 24
Customer Requirements Document 24
Network Architectural Strategy Development 25
Business Case Document 25
Network Testing and Lab Strategy Development 25
Facilities Readiness Assessments 26
Plan Phase: Design and Test Activities 27
Architecture Design Workshops 27
Current Architectural Assessment 27
High-Level Design 28
Proof of Concept Testing 28
Network Readiness Testing 28
Network Capacity Planning and Testing 29
Design Phase: Design and Test Activities 29
Low-Level Design 29
Migration Plan 30
Design Verification Testing 30
Migration Plan Testing 31
Implement Phase: Deliverables and Test Activities 31
Network Implementation Plan 31
Network Ready for Use Test 32
Operate Phase: Deliverables and Test Activities 32
Hands-On Lab Training 32
Re-creation of Network Problems 32
Optimize Phase: Deliverables and Test Activities 33
Predeployment Testing for Minor Design Changes 33
Software Acceptance Testing 33
Summary 34
Chapter 3 Testing and Lab Strategy Development 35
Cost Analysis and Resource Planning 36
Estimating CAPEX Necessary to Create a New Test Lab 36
Environmental Considerations 36
Estimated OPEX to Operate a Test Lab 44
Staffing 44
Power 44
Physical Facility 45
Maintenance Obligations 45
Other OPEX 46
Test Organization Financing Models 46
Cost of Business 46
Project-Based Funding 47
Departmental Chargeback 47
Testing as a Business Function 47
Return on Investment 47
Outsourced Testing 48
Test Lab Facilities Design 49
Functional Lab Design: Selecting the Hardware and Software 49
Physical Design 50
Equipment Cabinet Floor Plan Layout 53
Test Lab Operations 56
Test Organization Charter 56
Team Roles and Responsibilities 57
Management Systems 58
Equipment Inventory System 58
Equipment Scheduling/Lab Checkout Tool 58
Team Website 58
Other Operational Considerations 59
Summary 59
Chapter 4 Crafting the Test Approach 61
Motivations for Different Types of Testing 62
Proof of Concept Testing 62
Network Readiness Testing 63
Design Verification Testing 63
Hardware Certification Testing 63
Network Operating System Testing 64
Migration Plan Testing 64
Network Ready for Use Testing 65
Test Scoping 66
Step 1: Categorize the Type of Test to Be Completed 67
Step 2: Identify Project Stakeholders 67
Step 3: Identify Indicators of Test Success 68
Network Design Verification Test 68
Network Ready for Use Test 68
Step 4: Estimate the Resources Required to Complete the Test 69
Step 5: Identify Risks 70
Step 6: Identify the Timeline for Completion 70
Test Planning 71
Design the Functional Prototype Network System 71
Constructing a High-Level Lab Topology Diagram 72
Identifying the Test Suites and Test Cases 74
Choosing the Right Test Tools 75
Stateless Packet Generators (Bit Blasters) 76
Interfaces 76
Tool Power/Capacity 76
Packet/Traffic Manipulation 77
Results 78
Automation 78
When to Use Stateless Packet Generators 78
Packet Generator Vendors 79
Stateful Packet Generators (Application Simulators) 79
Stateful Generation Tool Vendors 80
Results Reporting 80
When to Use Stateful Packet Generators 80
Network Delay and Impairment Tools 81
Delay 81
Impairment 81
Network Modeling and Emulation Tools 82
Network Modeling Tools 82
Network Modeling Tool Vendors 82
Application Simulation Tools 83
Security Testing Tools 84
Network Protocol Analysis Tools 86
Writing the Test Plan 86
Overall Project Scope and Objectives 86
Test Objectives and Success Criteria 87
Test Resources Required 88
Test Schedule 90
Developing the Detailed Test Cases 91
Understanding System Test Execution Methodologies 92
Conformance Testing 92
Functional and Interoperability Testing 93
Performance and Scalability Testing 94
Format for Written Test Case 94
Summary 95
Chapter 5 Executing the Test Plan 97
Building and Operating the Functional Network Prototype System 98
Equipment Allocation and Connectivity 98
Test Lab Telemetry 100
The Test Engineer’s Toolkit 103
Understanding Your Test Tools: Quirks and Limitations 104
Understanding the Different Types of Test Traffic 105
RFCs Pertaining to Test Execution 108
Tools to Execute Complex Testing 110
Scale Testing: Simulating Large Networks with Limited Devices 110
High-Availability Testing: How to Measure Convergence Times 121
Convergence Testing: How to Trigger a Failover 123
Testing Using Delay, Jitter, and Errors 123
Using Cisco IOS Test Tools 124
Chargen Service 124
Cisco IOS IP Service-Level Agreements 125
Embedded Event Manager Scripting 129
EEM Monitored Events 130
EEM Actions 131
Using Customized Scripts 132
Test Execution 136
Before You Begin 136
Order of Testing: Getting Organized 137
Running the Test Cases 139
Capturing and Saving Results 142
Organizing the Capture Files 143
Router Configuration Files 144
Data Archival 144
Summary 145
Part II Case Studies
Chapter 6 Proof of Concept Testing Case Study 149
Background for the Proof of Concept Testing Case Study 149
Proposed Data Center Architecture 150
Compute Infrastructure 151
Storage Infrastructure 152
LAN Infrastructure 152
WAN Infrastructure 153
Virtualization Software 153
Risks of Deploying the Proposed Solution 153
Proof of Concept Test Strategy 154
POC Test Objectives 154
POC Test Topology 154
Proof of Concept Test Scope 156
Network Baseline Test 156
Application Baseline Test 156
Network and Application Integrity Test 157
Failure/Recovery Test 157
Feature Validation Tests 157
Automation Validation Test 157
Performance/Scalability/Capacity Test 157
Summary of POC Test Cases 158
Summary 162
Chapter 7 Network Readiness Testing Case Study 163
Background for the Network Readiness Testing Case Study 163
Legacy Network Infrastructure Overview 164
Cisco Unified Communications Proposed Solution 164
Risks Associated with Implementing the Proposed Solution 165
Network Readiness Assessment Approach and Findings 166
Network Readiness Assessment 166
Hierarchy and Modularity 166
Utilization and Redundancy 167
Access Layer Links 168
IP Routing 169
QoS 169
Network Path Analysis 170
Details of Network Path Analysis Testing 171
Summary of Recommendations 173
Summary 174
Chapter 8 Design Verification Testing Case Study 175
Background for the Design Verification Testing Case Study 176
High-Level Design for Blue Ridge University MPLS Backbone 177
Low-Level Design for Blue Ridge University MPLS Backbone 178
Risks of Deploying the Proposed Solution 182
Low-Level Design Verification Test Strategy 182
Test Objectives 182
Test Topology 183
Design Verification Test Scope 184
Network Baseline Test 184
Feature/Functionality Tests 184
Negative/Destructive Tests 185
Performance/Scalability Tests 185
Operations/Duty Cycle Tests 185
Summary of Design Verification Test Cases 185
Summary 190
Chapter 9 Migration Plan Testing Case Study 191
Background for the Migration Plan Testing Case Study 192
Legacy and New Network Design Overview 192
New Backbone Design 194
End-State Network Design 194
High-Level Network Migration Plan 197
Migration Test Plan 198
Summary of Migration Plan Testing 199
Summary 201
Chapter 10 New Platform and Code Certification Case Study 203
Background for the New Platform and Code Certification Case Study 204
Proposed Top-of-Rack Architecture 205
Hardware for the New Infrastructure 207
Platform and Code Certification Test Plan 210
New Platform Certification Objectives 210
New Software Certification Objectives 210
New Platform and Code Certification Test Topology 211
New Platform and Code Certification Test Scope 212
Network and SAN Baseline Tests 212
Management Functionality Test 212
Failure/Recovery Test 213
Feature Validation Test 213
Performance/Scalability/Capacity Tests 213
Summary of New Platform and Code Certification Test Cases 213
Summary 217
End Notes 217
Chapter 11 Network Ready for Use Testing Case Study 219
Background for the NRFU Case Study 220
Sports and Entertainment Stadium Network Architecture 221
Network Topology 224
Physical Network Topology 225
Core Layer Components 225
Distribution Layer Components 225
Access Layer Components 226
Multicast Architecture 226
Stadium HD Video 227
General IP Multicast Topology 228
Additional Infrastructure Considerations 230
Network Ready for Use Test Strategy 230
Success Criteria 230
Test Prerequisites 231
Test Phases 231
Test Tools 232
Summary of NRFU Test Cases 232
Summary 240
Part III Test Plans
Chapter 12 Inter-Organization Secure Data Center Interconnect: Firewall Test Plan 249
Background 249
Physical and Logical Test Topology 250
Test Objectives 251
Test Case Summary 251
Detailed Test Cases 252
Chapter 13 Site-to-Site IPsec Virtual Private Networking: DMVPN and GET VPN Test Plans 273
Background 274
Physical and Logical Test Topology 274
Test Objectives 279
DMVPN Test Cases Summary 279
Detailed DMVPN Test Cases 280
GET VPN Test Cases Summary 302
Detailed GET VPN Test Cases 302
Chapter 14 Data Center 3.0 Architecture: Nexus Platform Feature and Performance Test Plan 323
Background 324
Physical and Logical Test Topology 325
Test Objectives 328
Traffic Flows for All Tests 328
Test Case Summary 328
Detailed Test Cases 329
End Note 356
Chapter 15 IPv6 Functionality Test Plan 357
The IPv6 Specification 357
Considerations for IPv6 Testing 358
IPv6 Header Format 358
IPv6 Address Scopes 359
IPv6 Extension Headers 361
IPv6 Source Address Selection 362
ICMPv6 363
IPv6 Neighbor Discovery 363
IPv6 Autoconfiguration 364
IPv6 PMTUD 365
IPv6 Security 365
Physical and Logical Test Topology 366
Test Objectives 368
Test Case Summary 368
Detailed Test Cases 368
End Notes 382
Chapter 16 MPLS/VPN: Scalability and Convergence Test Plan 383
Background 384
Physical and Logical Test Topology 386
Technical Details of the Test Topology 387
Emulated Control Plane Scale 388
Control Plane Scale Methodology 389
Test Objectives 389
Test Case Summary 390
Detailed Test Cases 391
Chapter 17 WAN and Application Optimization: Performance Routing and Wide Area Application Services Test Plan 433
Background 434
Physical and Logical Test Topology 434
Test Traffic 438
Test Objectives 440
Test Case Summary 440
Detailed Test Cases 441
Chapter 18 Using the Lab for Hands-on Technology Training: Data Center 3.0 Configuration Lab Guide 487
Background 488
Physical and Logical Lab Topology 489
Lab Objectives 490
Detailed Hands-on Lab 490
Step 1: Log In to Your Assigned Pod 490
Lab 1: Configuring Unified Computing System Ethernet Ports and Named VLANs Using Unified Computing System Manager 490
Step 1: Launch UCSM from a Web Browser 493
Step 2: Enable the Server Ports Between the UCS 6100 Fabric Interconnect and the UCS Chassis 493
Step 3: Enable the Uplink Ports Between the UCS 6100 Fabric Interconnect and the Nexus 7000 Switches 496
Step 4: Configure Named VLANs on the UCS 498
Lab 2: Configuring UCS Network and Server-Related Pools 500
Step 1: Configure an IP Pool for External Blade Management 501
Step 2: Create a MAC Address Pool for the UCS 503
Lab 3: Creating Virtual PortChannels on the Nexus 7000 Series Switches 505
Virtual Device Context Overview 505
Virtual PortChannel Overview 506
vPC Terminology 507
Step 1: Create VLANs on the Nexus 7000s 507
Step 2: Create a vPC on the Nexus 7000s for Connectivity to Your UCS Chassis 509
Step 3: Create a 40-Gbps PortChannel on the UCS 6100 Fabric Interconnect for Connectivity to the Nexus 7000 Pair 517
Step 4: Verify PortChannel and vPC on the Nexus 7000 519
Lab 4: Creating a VSAN and Enabling Fibre Channel Connectivity Between the UCS 6100 Fabric Interconnect and MDS 9506 521
Terminology 521
Step 1: Enable NPIV Mode, Create a VSAN, and Associate the Fibre Channel Ports of the MDS to the New VSAN 523
Step 2: Create a New VSAN on the UCS 525
Step 3: Associate Fibre Channel Interfaces with the UCS VSAN 526
Lab 5: Configuring UCS Service Profiles 526
Terminology for Service Profiles 528
Step 1: Create a vNIC Template 529
Step 2: Create a SAN Pool and vHBA Template 531
Step 3: Configure Server Boot Policies (SAN and LAN) 534
Step 4: Create an IPMI Profile 538
Step 5: Create a Local Disk Configuration Policy 539
Step 6: Create a Serial over LAN Policy 540
Step 7: Create a UUID Suffix Pool 540
Step 8: Create a Server Pool 542
Step 9: Create a Service Profile Template 543
Step 10: Create Service Profiles from a Service Profile Template 552
Step 11: Clone and Manually Associate a Service Profile 554
Lab 6: Configuring SAN Zoning and Core Switch Connectivity on the MDS 9506 556
Step 1: Record UCS Service Profile WWPN Assignments 557
Step 2: Create a Zone for each Service Profile on the MDS 559
Step 3: Place the Zones in a Zoneset for Your POD/VSAN 901 561
Step 4: Activate the Zoneset on the MDS 562
Step 5: Configure MDS Connectivity to the Core SAN 562
Lab 7: Enabling IP and Routing Features on the Nexus 7000 Series Switches 564
Step 1: Configure Layer 3 VLAN Interfaces with IPv4 Addressing 565
Step 2: Configure Hot Standby Router Protocol 567
Step 3: Configure OSPF Routing on Core and VLAN Interfaces 570
Step 4: Enable OSPF Routing on the VLAN Interfaces 572
Step 5: Add a Redundant Path to the Core—Add OSPF Adjacency Between Nexus 7000s Across the PortChannel Trunk 573
Lab 8: Verifying the Blade Servers Boot VMware ESX 4.0 576
Step 1: Connect to Server KVM Console and Verify Boot Status 576
Step 2: Verify ESX Service Console IP Connectivity 578
Lab 9: Adding the UCS Blade Servers into VMware vCenter 580
9781587141270 TOC 3/16/2011
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