Creating heavy burst loads for testing switches

[cseli-dolby]

Is there a tool I can download or purchase to produce heavy burst loads for testing switches?  Multicast loads preferred.

Background:

We have a number of 3560G switches that are dropping packets under heavy burst loads.  We confirmed with support that the buffers in the ASICs are not capable of handling the high number of packets that come through some of our interfaces every few minutes.

We're considering replacing these with other models and would like to test the "other" models with test loads before we purchase them.

Thanks in advance

[Reza Sharifi]

Chris,

There is Ixia and also Spirent.  They are both hardware based devices for stress testing equipment and can do a verity of applications, but have to warn you that they are not cheap.

HTH

Reza

[Siddharth Chandrachud]

Hello,

You can try some packet generator softwares freely available online, but for extensive testing, a hardware like maybe Ixia generally is more useful.

I do not know if you had opened a TAC case for buffer related drops (input drops or output drops ?)

You can have it investigated.

Also, do call cisco pre-sales and let them know your target data-rate and they should be able to provide you a platform that adheres to your needs.

Sid Chandrachud

Cisco TAC