7. Generating Traffic for WLAN Testing

Goal: Setup and run Wireless LAN traffic using the LANforge CT520. Return to LANforge-FIRE Cookbook

In this test scenario, the LANforge CT520 is used to simulate 4 virtual wireless stations that associate with a third party access point. Three traffic tests will be configured and run to demonstrate possible wireless access point tests.

1. Configure the wireless card on your LANforge CT520.

   A: Go to the Port Manager and select port ath0 or wmaster0
   B: Modify port ath0 or wmaster0
   C: Setup the Wifi Channel and Mode you want to use, then click OK

   • For more information, see the LANforge User's Guide: Ports (Interfaces)
   • Return to LANforge-FIRE Cookbook
2. Create the virtual wireless stations.
   Note: Because there is only one physical wireless card in the LANforge CT520, all of its virtual stations will use the same wireless channel, but each virtual station can associate with different access points by using multiple ESSIDs.

   A: Select port ath0 or wmaster0 and click Create
   B: Select the Wifi STA button, then enter Quantity, STA ID, and ESSID: • In this example, all 4 virtual stations will connect to the same access point • If your access point can serve DHCP, you can select the 'DHCP-IPv4' checkbox here to enable each virtual station as a DHCP client • If you choose to enter IP addresses manually, the create function will increment the last octet of the IP address for each virtual station created • Click OK when finished
   C: Verify that the virtual wireless stations are created

   • For more information, see the LANforge User's Guide: Ports (Interfaces)
   • Return to LANforge-FIRE Cookbook
3. Setup IP addresses using DHCP.

   A: CTRL-select all of the virtual wireless stations and eth0 then click Modify • NOTE: This will bring up 5 modify windows at once
   B: Verify the 'DHCP-IPv4' checkbox is selected for each interface intended as a DHCP client (if not done when created): • If using WEP for the wireless stations, replace 'none' in the Key field with the hexadecimal key string generated by your access point where you enabled WEP • Click OK when finished
   C: If your access point DHCP service is running, the 4 virtual wireless stations and eth0 will acquire their IP addresses after a few seconds
   D: Scroll to the right to view each station's link quality and other interface details

   • For more information, see the LANforge User's Guide: Creating & Deleting Virtual Interfaces
   • Return to LANforge-FIRE Cookbook
4. Create Layer-3 connections.

   A: Go to the Layer-3 tab and click Create
   B: Create a wireless-to-wired UDP speed test: • Test 1: sta1-eth0, UDP, 15 Mbps bi-directional, 1472 byte packets
   C: Create a wireless-to-wired TCP connections per second test: • Test 2: sta2-eth0, TCP, Endpoint-A IP Port 0, CX Duration 0 • NOTE: Duration 0 means there will be zero delay between attempted TCP connections created between sta2 and eth0 which will allow LANforge to generate as many connections per second as possible through the access point
   D: Create a wireless station-to-wireless station speed test: • Test 3: sta3-sta4, UDP, 1.544 Mbps bi-directional, 1472 byte packets

   • For more information, see the LANforge User's Guide: Layer-3 Cross-Connects (FIRE)
   • Return to LANforge-FIRE Cookbook
5. Run traffic tests individually, and view results on the L3 Endps tab.

   A: Test 1 results show that the wireless station can transmit 15 Mbps, but can only receive about 10 Mbps from the access point
   B: Test 2 results show about 400 TCP connections per second are being established through the access point
   C: Test 3 results show a maximum throughput of about 1.5 Mbps between wireless stations through the access point • NOTE: This test was run iteratively at different speeds to determine that 1 Mbps was the maximum stable throughput between wireless stations through the access point

   • For more information, see the LANforge User's Guide: Layer-3 Endpoints (FIRE)
   • Return to LANforge-FIRE Cookbook

  Email Candela Technologies at: support@candelatech.com if you have any questions or suggestions.