TOLLY. Dell Computer Corp. commissioned. Test Summary. Test Highlights

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1 T H E TOLLY G R O U P No September 2001 Dell Computer Corp. PowerConnect 3024 and PowerConnect 5012 Performance Evaluation Test Summary Premise: Customers looking to deploy Fast Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet switches need to know that the devices they plan to use can deliver zero frame loss when handling line-rate, bidirectional data ranging from 64- to 1,518- byte frames. These switches must ensure non-blocking, wire-speed throughput across all ports. Dell Computer Corp. commissioned The Tolly Group to evaluate its Dell PowerConnect 3024, a managed workgroup switch with Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, and its Dell PowerConnect 5012, a Gigabit Ethernet over copper data center and traffic aggregation switch. The Dell PowerConnect 3024 provides 24 Fast Ethernet ports and two Gigabit Ethernet ports. The Dell PowerConnect 5012 provides 10 Gigabit Ethernet copper and two Gigabit Ethernet fiber ports. Testing was performed in September Test results show that both switches deliver 100% of the theoretical maximum throughput in Layer 2 tests of bidirectional traffic streams of 64-, 512- and 1,518- byte frames. The Dell Power- Connect 3024 forwarded 12.8 Test Highlights Dell PowerConnect 3024 and Dell PowerConnect 5012 deliver full-duplex, zero-loss wire-speed throughput across all ports and packet sizes Dell PowerConnect 3024 demonstrates an aggregate throughput of 12.8 Gbit/s for all frame sizes Dell PowerConnect 5012 achieves an aggregate throughput of 24 Gbit/s for all frame sizes PowerConnect 3024 Layer 2 Zero-Loss Aggregate Throughput 24 Fast Ethernet Ports, Two Gigabit Ethernet Ports and Two Gigabit Stacking Ports as Reported by SmartFlow Source: The Tolly Group, September 2001 Figure The Tolly Group Page 1

2 Gbit/s of aggregate throughput and the Dell PowerConnect 5012 forwarded 24 Gbit/s of aggregate throughput, for all frame sizes tested. Results PowerConnect 5012 Layer 2 Zero-Loss Aggregate Throughput 12 Gigabit Ethernet Ports as Reported by SmartFlow Zero-loss Bidirectional Throughput The Tolly Group measured the throughput of the Dell PowerConnect 3024 and Dell PowerConnect 5012 in a fullmesh, full-duplex configuration. Full mesh is each port sending traffic to every other port and each port receiving traffic from every other port. Full duplex represents an environment with no collision so that a single port can Source: The Tolly Group, September 2001 Figure 2 Full-Duplex Performance Summary for PowerConnect 3024 and PowerConnect 5012 Source: The Tolly Group, September 2001 Figure The Tolly Group Page 2

3 transmit and receive traffic simultaneously. Test results demonstrate that when forwarding 64-, 512- and 1,518-byte frames of bidirectional traffic, both the Dell PowerConnect 3024 and the Dell PowerConnect 5012 delivered 100% of the theoretical maximum throughput. (See Figures 1, 2 and 3.) Zero-Loss Bidirectional Throughput with Link Aggregation Link aggregation allows two or more physical ports to function as a single logical port between a pair of switches. Test results show that with link aggregation enabled, both the Dell PowerConnect 3024 and the Dell PowerConnect 5012 delivered 100% of the theoretical maximum throughput in Layer 2 tests of bidirectional traffic (see Figure 4). Analysis Customers deploying Fast Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet switching in highperformance networking environments need to ensure that the device chosen for implementation will deliver wire-speed performance. A switch s capability to transmit traffic at wire speed provides maximum throughput even during times of increased traffic loads. Furthermore, Dell Computer Corp. Dell PowerConnect 3024 and PowerConnect 5012 Performance Evaluation customers looking to add more switching power to their existing network infrastructures need to know that they can do so without negatively impacting performance. Test results show that both the Dell PowerConnect 3024 and the Dell PowerConnect 5012 deliver wire-speed Dell Computer Corp. Dell PowerConnect 3024 and 5012 Product Specifications* Dell PowerConnect Gbit/s switching capacity 24 Fast Ethernet 10/100 BaseT ports Two Gigabit Ethernet ports; 2 10/100/1000 BaseT ports plus two GBIC slots for fiber media support Two Gigabit stacking ports; up to six units per stack Auto negotiation for speed, duplex mode, flow control and MDI/MDIX on all BaseT ports Dell PowerConnect Gbit/s switching capacity 10 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 BaseT ports Two GBIC slots for fiber media support Auto negotiation for speed, duplex mode, flow control and MDI/MDIX on all BaseT ports Dell PowerConnect 3024 and Dell PowerConnect 5012 Up to 8,000 MAC addresses IEEE 802.1q VLAN, tagging and port-based IEEE 802.1p Class-of-Service prioritization, tagging and port-based IP multicast support via IGMP snooping IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregation Spanning Tree, port mirroring Web browser-based management, SNMP management, (four RMON groups) and console port/telnet management IU form factor, rack-mounting kit For more information contact: Dell Computer Corp. One Dell Way Round Rock, TX BUY DELL * Vendor-supplied information not verified by The Tolly Group 2001 The Tolly Group Page 3

4 throughput in a full-duplex, full-mesh configuration, for all tested frames sizes, with a capacity equal to the calculated maximum for each switch. This means that each device can handle a theoretical worst-case traffic load of 100% utilization on all ports simultaneously, without frame loss. When Tolly Group engineers connect three Dell Power- Connect 3024 switches via their stacking ports, the devices under test delivered wire-speed throughput in a Fast Ethernet environment. Additionally, tests show that both the Dell PowerConnect 3024 and the Dell Power- Connect 5012 proved capable of delivering wire-speed throughput even when configured for link aggregation. This high level of performance offers customers the ability to expand bandwidth incrementally within their networks and/or add switching power when needed by taking advantage of the scalability provided by the features inherent in these switches. Test Configuration and Methodology For this series of performance tests, The Tolly Group deployed a Dell PowerConnect 3024, software version and a Dell PowerConnect 5012, software version PowerConnect 3024 Link Aggregation (802.3ad) 20 Fast Ethernet Ports to Aggregated Link of Two Gigabit Ethernet Ports as Reported by SmartFlow Source: The Tolly Group, September 2001 Figure 4 Zero-loss, bidirectional throughput test configuration To test the Dell Power- Connect 3024, Tolly Group engineers connected it to a Spirent Communications SmartBits 6000 via 24 Fast Ethernet ports, three Gigabit Ethernet stack ports and two Gigabit Ethernet fiber uplinks. To test the Dell PowerConnect 5012, Tolly Group engineers connected it to a Spirent Communications SmartBits 2000 equipped with 10 Gigabit Ethernet copper links and two Gigabit Ethernet ports (see Figure 5). Zero-loss, bidirectional throughput tests with link aggregation enabled configuration To test the link aggregation capability of the Dell PowerConnect 3024, Tolly Group engineers configured two Dell PowerConnect 3024 switches with full-duplex traffic flowing to 20 Fast Ethernet ports on each PowerConnect 3024 switch. Traffic was routed between the two switches utilizing the devices 802.3ad link aggregation capability, aggregating the four Gigabit Ethernet fiber ports (two on each switch) 2001 The Tolly Group Page 4

5 Performance Test Bed R Sm artb its 2000 Perform ance Analysis System SmartBits 2000 or equivalent 24 Fast Ethernet One Gigabit Ethernet Two Gigabit Ethernet over fiber Stack Port A One Gigabit Ethernet Stack Port B SmartBits Controller with SmartFlow ver. 1.3 Source: The Tolly Group, September 2001 Figure 5 into one trunk group using the PowerConnect s 3024 s Port Trunking administration. A SmartBits 6000 sat in line with the devices under test, generating the traffic. To test the Dell PowerConnect 5012, Tolly Group engineers connected it to a Dell Power- Connect 5012 configured with two Gigabit Ethernet copper ports and two Gigabit Ethernet fiber ports with a Dell Power- Connect 3024 configured with 20 Fast Ethernet ports and two Gigabit Ethernet fiber ports. Both devices connected via their Gigabit Ethernet fiber ports. A SmartBits 2000 sat inline with the devices under test. Methodology A 500-MHz MS-6119 Pentium III generic PC, with 131 Mbytes of RAM and Gbytes of fixed-disk space, served as the console for the Spirent SmartBits, as well as for the configuration for the device under test. The console was running Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Service Pack 1. A Raritan Computer Inc. MasterConsole controlled the console. Both devices under test were subjected to steady state, zero-loss (0.001%) bidirectional packet-per-second (PPS) throughput tests. Tolly Group engineers configured SmartBits to send full-mesh, full-duplex traffic of 64-, 512- and 1,518- byte frames. Both devices under test were configured for maximum speed and fullduplex operation while Spanning Tree, flow control and all other ancillary functions were disabled, except for the link aggregation test in which link aggregation was enabled. An Acterna Domino DA-360 also tapped into the SmartBits console to verify packet content, but was removed before the performance tests commenced. Tolly engineers initiated each test and recorded results. If frame loss exceeding the test threshold occurred, the offered load was decremented by 1% and engineers ran the test again until there was no frame loss. Engineers performed three iterations of each test to verify consistency of results. Each test had a duration of one minute The Tolly Group Page 5

6 Link-Aggregation Test Bed SmartBits Console with SmartFlow ver Copper Gigabit Ethernet links Two Gigabit Fiber ports R Sm artb its 2000 Perform anc e Analysis System SmartBits 2000 or equivalent Source: The Tolly Group, September 2001 Figure 6 The Tolly Group gratefully acknowledges the providers of test equipment used in this project. Vendor Product Web address Acterna Corp. Domino Internetwork Analyzer Raritan Computer, Inc. MasterConsole Spirent Communications SmartBits SMB Spirent Communications SmartBits SMB Spirent Communications SmartFlow Since its inception, The Tolly Group has produced highquality tests that meet three overarching criteria: All tests are objective, fully documented and repeatable. We endeavor to provide complete disclosure of information concerning individual product tests, and multiparty competitive product evaluations. As an independent organization, The Tolly Group does not accept retainer contracts from vendors, nor does it endorse products or suppliers. This open and honest environment assures vendors they are treated fairly, and with the necessary care to guarantee all parties that the results of these tests are accurate and valid. The Tolly Group has codified this into the Fair Testing Charter, which may be viewed at Project Profile Sponsor: Dell Computer Corp. Document number: Product class: Layer 2 Fast Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet switches Products under test: Dell PowerConnect 3024 Dell PowerConnect 5012 Testing window: September 2001 Software versions tested: Dell PowerConnect 3024, software version Dell PowerConnect 5012, software version Software status: Generally available For more information on this document, or other services offered by The Tolly Group, visit our World Wide Web site at send to info@tolly.com, call (800) or (732) Internetworking technology is an area of rapid growth and constant change. The Tolly Group conducts engineering-caliber testing in an effort to provide the internetworking industry with valuable information on current products and technology. While great care is taken to assure utmost accuracy, mistakes can occur. In no event shall The Tolly Group be liable for damages of any kind including direct, indirect, special, incidental, and consequential damages which may result from the use of information contained in this document. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The Tolly Group doc rev. clk 17 Oct The Tolly Group Page 6