TOI Author :: Fathima Thasneem

Interface reflectors are useful to make sure a service provided to customers is working as expected and it's within SLA constraints. Now, we are extending the support to configure subinterfaces as ethernet reflector. The Subinterface Interface Reflector feature allows performing certain actions (such as source/destination MAC address swap) on packets reaching subinterfaces patched to Pseudowire that are reflected back to the source interface. It is useful to test properties and SLAs before deploying the service for a customer.

RFC2544 defines a number of benchmark tests that may be used to describe the performance characteristics of a network interconnecting device(s). Starting from 4.28.1F, Arista switches support throughput test belonging to a set of benchmark tests as defined in RFC2544. Starting from 4.29.0F, Arista switches support frame loss rate test.

As Ethernet technologies made their way into the Metropolitan Area Networks ( MAN ) and the Wide Area Networks ( WAN ), from the conventional enterprise level usage, they are now widely being used by service providers to provide end-to-end connectivity to customers. Such service provider networks are typically spread across large geographical areas. Additionally, the service providers themselves may be relying on certain internet backbone providers, referred to as “operators”, to provide connectivity in case the geographical area to be covered is too huge.