Prototyping a network traffic tester using a distributed system of single board computers

Abstract

Network traffic testers are integral to developing and evaluating hardware that is used for the ever-increasing demand for faster, better and more covering data networks. However the testers typically used come with a hefty price tag and are sold by companies that specialise in the field. This paper tries to prove whether a distributed system of smaller and cheaper single-board computers can be built to function as a high-performant network traffic tester. We look at similar solutions for network traffic testers, both proprietary and non-proprietary. We formulate a set of requirements, both hardware and software, and in this paper suggest a design, implementation and evaluation of such a system. The result of our findings is a working traffic tester built from single-board computers running Linux and using the the kernel module pktgen for traffic generation, netsniff-ng for capturing traffic and the framework MPICH for communication. The test results are promising when it comes to traffic rate and accuracy, given certain limitations in the system. However the increased complexity in its usage makes it unwieldy to use and requires more work in order for it to be a viable option. However, given enough time for it to become more user-friendly we believe that this solution can compete with the more expensive alternatives.