Using GÉANT2 bwctl Servers

NRENs may request access to BWCTL servers in order to run iperf tests to and from their own BWCTL servers (and even to run tests between GÉANT2 servers). In order to do this, the following should be done:-

Configure own bwctl server(s)

(If necessary) Install latest version of iperf (from here) and bwctl (from here)
(Ideally) Configure bwctl and iperf to use ports currently allowed by DANTE
Add 62.40.122.0/23 to your limits file (example)

For more info on bwctl see BwctlTool

Set up AES controlled access (if required)

Using AES keys can restrict access to specific users (who know the password). They are also needed if you want to run tests between, say, two GÉANT2 servers.

Create AES username and password (note: Keys file must be bwctld.keys and recommend it is co-located with bwctld.conf and =bwctld.limits=)
- {{[user@localhost]$aespasswd \-f <keys_file_path> \[\-n\] <username>}}
In bwcltd.limits assign user to a bwctl group e.g. assign user nrenA troubleshooter

Send details to DANTE

E-mail DANTE operations with details of:
- Your BWCTL host’s address(es)
- Any non-standard BWCTL ports being used (much simpler/quicker if you use ports already supported)
- AES username and key (if AES is being used)
- AES password (if reciprocal tests are allowed)
- Required test limits (if 4 minutes duration and 750Mbps max UDP bandwidth are not sufficient)
(DANTE will add addresses to own MPs' bwcltd.limits files)

Run a test

AES Test

[your_server@nren.com~]$bwctl -c mp1.fra.de.geant2.net -s mp1.gen.ch.geant2.net -t 20 -i 10 -A A AESKEY nrenA
Enter passphrase for host 'BOTH', identity 'nrenA': *****
bwctl: 26 seconds until test results available

RECEIVER START
3389594325.741890: iperf -B 62.40.122.10 -P 1 -s -f b -m -p 5001 -t 20 -i 10
------------------------------------------------------------
Server listening on TCP port 5001
Binding to local address 62.40.122.10
TCP window size: 12000000 Byte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
[ 14] local 62.40.122.10 port 5001 connected with 62.40.122.2 port 5001
[ 14]  0.0-10.0 sec  1133461096 Bytes  906768877 bits/sec
[ 14] 10.0-20.0 sec  1156342392 Bytes  925073914 bits/sec
[ 14]  0.0-20.1 sec  2296971264 Bytes  915991799 bits/sec
[ 14] MSS size 1448 bytes (MTU 1500 bytes, ethernet)

non-AES Test

[your_server@nren.com~]$bwctl -c mp1.fra.de.geant2.net -t 20 -i 10 
bwctl: 26 seconds until test results available

RECEIVER START
3389594325.741890: iperf -B 62.40.122.10 -P 1 -s -f b -m -p 5001 -t 20 -i 10
------------------------------------------------------------
Server listening on TCP port 5001
Binding to local address 62.40.122.10
TCP window size: 12000000 Byte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
[ 14] local 62.40.122.10 port 5001 connected with X.X.X.X port 5001
[ 14]  0.0-10.0 sec  1133461096 Bytes  906768877 bits/sec
[ 14] 10.0-20.0 sec  1156342392 Bytes  925073914 bits/sec
[ 14]  0.0-20.1 sec  2296971264 Bytes  915991799 bits/sec
[ 14] MSS size 1448 bytes (MTU 1500 bytes, ethernet)

– Main.TobyRodwell - 02 Nov 2007