Network Performance Toolkit NPToolkit A Knoppix LiveCD

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Network Performance Toolkit(NPToolkit)A Knoppix
Live-CD

• Rich Carlson
• Tools Tutorial
• 12/4/06

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Internet2 E2E Tools

• Multiple tools currently being deployed
• BWCTL active throughput tests via NLANRs Iperf
• NDT End host diagnostic and analysis
• OWAMP One way delay measurement
• Thrulay active throughput tests

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Network Performance Workshops

• Hands-on workshop to deploy E2E tools in campus
  and GigaPoP networks
• Currently focused on building and deploying tools
• Major difficulty is getting prerequisite Web100
  enhanced kernel built and deployed

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Knoppix Live-CD

• A bootable Debian Linux OS
• Uses RAM disk to hold working image
• Can access system HW including network, disk
  drives, and other peripherals
• Configuration management to save/restore
  customization information
• Allows simple start-up for novice user

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NPToolkit

• A specialized Knoppix Live-CD to support the
  Internet2 E2e Tools
• Web100 enhanced Linux 2.6.17.7 kernel
• Includes all Internet2 E2E tools
• Includes PSCs NPAD tool
• All server processes start automatically at boot
  time, using generic configuration files

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NPToolkit Knoppix Disk
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Obtaining the CD

• Download it from the Internet2 E2E web page
• Ask us for a pre-burned CD

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The Download Process

• Start at the main E2E toolkit web page
• http//e2epi.internet2.edu/network-performance-too
  lkit.html
• Download the NPToolkit ISO image from the
  Internet2 web site
• http//e2epi.internet2.edu/network-performance-too
  lkit/network-performance-toolkit.iso
• Optionally download the CD Label
• http//e2epi.internet2.edu/network-performance-too
  lkit/network-performance-toolkit-cd-label.bmp

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The ISO Burn Process

• Insert a blank CD into a drive and burn the ISO
  using your favorite program
• Identify a drive to hold customization files
• USB Thumb Drive
• Internal harddrive

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System Startup

• Insert the CD into the system tray
• Insert the USB thumb drive into an open port
• Power on the system

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First time steps

• The system will boot and start all 4 tools using
  generic, but usable, configuration files
• The last step in the boot process is to prompt
  the user for customization information
• Follow the on-screen prompts to create customized
  configs

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Customization Options

• Obtain IP address via DHCP or manually
  configuration
• Customize NDT and NPAD web pages
• Set BWCTL and OWAMP limits
• Setup USB thumb drive

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Setup USB Drive

• Searches for any USB drives connected to the
  system
• Copies /usr/local/etc/knoppix.sh file to USB
  drive
• Knoppix searches for and executes this file at
  boot time
• File contains instructions to copy files from USB
  drive to system space before daemons star

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Static or DHCP addressing

• Controls how IP address is configured
• Prompts for
• IP address
• Netmask
• Interface ID
• Gateway
• Automatically saves/restores information during
  reboots

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BWCTL Customization

• Default config
• Allows 30 sec TCP tests from anyone
• Denies UDP tests from everyone
• Customization can
• Enable access via AES authentication
• Enable different limits for trusted and
  untrusted users

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NDT Customization

• Allows setting of admin email address
• Specifies NDT server location
• Specifies NDT network connection

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NPAD Customization

• Allows admin to set email address
• Specifies server location

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OWAMP Customization

• Default config
• Allows up to 1 Mbps of traffic
• Allows up to 100 MB of disk space
• Customization can
• Enable access via AES authentication
• Enable different limits for trusted and
  untrusted users

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NPToolkit Operation

• After system customization is completed, login
  prompt appears
• Login with userid knoppix
• No password

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Remote Administration

• Admin should set password for knoppix and root
  accounts
• Start ssh daemon /sbin/service ssh
• Startup process automatically generates new keys
• Manually save/restore /etc/passwd, /etc/group and
  /etc/shadow files on thumb drive

May automate this process in future customization
scripts
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Future Directions

• Continue to update Customization scripts
• Upgrade tools
• Upgrade Linux Kernel
• Develop new class, focusing on how to understand
  the tool results

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• Questions???