The Spirent L3 is a Layer 3 network testing platform built on the Spirent TestCenter architecture for comprehensive performance validation and troubleshooting of complex networks. It generates and analyzes traffic across a wide speed range, emulates multiple routing and switching protocols, and delivers granular statistical measurement and real-time diagnostics. The system serves network equipment manufacturers, service providers, and enterprise laboratories that require precise Layer 2 and Layer 3 validation.
Technical Specifications
Traffic generation spans from 800 Gbps down to 10 Mbps across multiple Ethernet speed modes. The platform supports billions of flows with up to 32,767 streams per port using 2000 Series modules. Mixed-protocol traffic generation can emulate up to 1000 end-user devices per multilayer card. Advanced scheduling modes simulate constant and bursty sources for voice, video, and data applications with 32 priority levels for service differentiation.
RFC 2544 and RFC 2889 benchmarking test packages automate performance testing of Layer 2 and Layer 3 devices. RFC 8239 data center benchmarking evaluates devices under congestion scenarios, buffer analysis, microbursts, and head-of-line blocking conditions.
Protocol support includes the complete TCP/IP suite with IPv4, IPv6, tunneled, and dual-stack configurations. Routing protocol emulation covers OSPF, BGP, IS-IS, RIP, and PIM. Additional protocol support encompasses Spanning Tree, Multiple Spanning Tree, VLAN, DHCP, IGMP, PPP, MPLS, and QoS. The platform emulates EVPN per RFC 7432 integrated with BGP, MPLS, and VXLAN. VXLAN emulation tests VTEP capacity and traffic convergence with Layer 2 and Layer 3 encapsulation. Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) generation supports mixed TSN and non-TSN traffic with precision timing and synchronization measurement.
Router emulation capabilities configure thousands of emulated routers with direct control over routing parameters. Advanced performance analysis measures throughput, latency, frame loss rate, and back-to-back frame processing.
– Key Features
• Wire-rate and beyond traffic generation and analysis
• Layer 2, Layer 3, and Layer 4+ header creation
• IP layer emulation including ARP, ND, Ping, and IGMP
• Thousands of emulated routers with granular routing control
• Precise timing and synchronization for TSN scenarios
– Typical Applications
Validation of network equipment performance, service provider network testing, enterprise network benchmarking, data center traffic emulation, and protocol convergence analysis.
– Compatibility & Integration
Built on the Spirent TestCenter platform architecture.
