Spirent Test Center Series: Overview and Part 1

The Spirent Test Center is one of the traffic generation tools I use in my job. I am creating a youtube series on varying use cases and aspects with it. Kinda a “how to” and “lessons learned over the years” type thing.

Spirent Test Center Basics

Most of the YouTubes will also have a corresponding blog out here with links to files I will be putting out on dropbox. Each part of the series will typically be one very specific aspect about the Spirent TestCenter. …. Except for this first one.

Over the years one of the things I have done is to create a “base” STC (Spirent Test Center) file so that when others come to the lab they have a starting file that has been set up for ease of use for proof of concept styled labs. The file has in it

  • Two offline ports
  • 1 IPv4 Host with 1 vlan tag
  • 1 IPv6 Host with 1 vlan tag
  • 1 IPv4 Host with no vlan tag
  • 1 IPv6 Host with no vlan tag
  • Bidirectional Streams created between the two IPv4 hosts
  • Bidirectional Streams created between the two IPv6 hosts
  • Tweaked default configuration settings
  • Tweaked results view

This YouTube will cover, from start to finish, the creation of the above file. It will also follow on with connecting to a live Spirent Test Center chassis (running version 5.02) and relocating the offline devices and streams over to two real ports. We will then apply the config to the chassis, ARP/ND, and then start the traffic.

After starting the traffic, admittedly, I will then turn into a bit of a control freak and tweak the results view to how I have found it works best for me when working with customers.

Overview of Topics For First Training in the Series

Spirent Test Center Basic Training list

YouTube Detailed Timing

For the YouTube I list below the varying timestamps.

  1. Overview: start – 3:41
  2. Create a default Spirent TestCenter (.tcc) File (3:45-
    • Default settings for CPOC environment (3:45-12:07)
    • Create hosts (end devices) and tweak config view (12:08-21:27)
    • Create streams and tweak config view (21:28-23:47)
  3. Save file off to desktop (23:47-23:58)
  4. Open .tcc file & relocate ports to a live chassis and Apply settings (23:59-27:30)
  5. Save as new file name (27:31-27:55)
  6. Check out other ports on the live Spirent Test Center Chassis (27:56-28:26)
  7. Prepping to see the Results (28:27-29:06)
  8. ARP (29:07-29:56)
  9. Send traffic (29:57-30:33)
  10. Tweak default view – streams also also results (30:34-33:25)

YouTube



Categories: Fun in the Lab, Spirent

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