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| Levels Lab Report # 7 Application Testing
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| Laboratory cable testing traditionally focus on esoteric electrical characteristics: crosstalk, attenuation, return loss and impedance. Even with active testing, it's sometimes difficult to understand the real impact waveforms, CRC errors and retransmissions have on network performance.
At Anixter, we also perform application testing, which allows us to see first-hand how the passive and active cabling performance characteristics impact real-world network applications.
Hardware Setup
In application testing there are two end points: a normal desktop computer and a server. These two are connected to each other via a cable channel and are controlled by another computer with simulation software. With these tests, we run application simulations and change the cabling system to see how it affects the network performance.
Windows File Transfer Results
The first application simulated was a typical Windows file transfer between two computers. In our first test, we connected a single short patchcord between the two computers to give us a baseline for our tests. With the baseline, throughput averaged approximately 73 megabits per second.
Next, in place of the patchcord, we connected the computers with a minimally compliant Category 5e channel. The channel simulated worst-case operating environments where temperature was poorly regulated. It didn't advance far before an error message appeared. This occurred because too many data packets were dropped, causing the system to time out and stop the data transfer. Throughput average was zero.
Finally, we used the same test setup with a Level 7 XP channel connecting the computers. Again, the channel simulated worst-case operating environments where temperature was poorly regulated. Our throughput performance was now approximately 71 megabits per second.
Lotus Notes Results
Another application simulated was Lotus Notes. The simulation involved opening a file attached to an e-mail message, an activity that most of us perform many times a day. Again, we had our baseline, with throughput measuring approximately 41 megabits per second.
This time, the Cat 5e channel actually showed some results. However, the graph was fluctuating, resulting in a much lower average throughput. When Level 7 XP opened the Lotus Notes attachment, the throughput graph showed an even 41 megabits per second. The Level 7 XP throughput was very close to the baseline, while the Cat 5e channel showed a much lower throughput average.
SAP Enterprise Results
Our last test involved creating a sales order, using SAP enterprise software. Because sales orders are vital, throughput during this process becomes important not just to the network but also to the business.
The baseline test showed an average of 26 megabits per second throughput. The Cat 5e channel had 19 megabits per second, while the Level 7 XP graph looked much like the baseline.
Summary
The tests we run on cabling are directly related to how: 1) a cabling system will run in real-life situations and 2) network cabling affects overall network performance.
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