2. OPNFV VSPERF Developer Guide

2.1. Introduction

VSPERF is an OPNFV testing project.

VSPERF provides an automated test-framework and comprehensive test suite based on Industry Test Specifications for measuring NFVI data-plane performance. The data-path includes switching technologies with physical and virtual network interfaces. The VSPERF architecture is switch and traffic generator agnostic and test cases can be easily customized. VSPERF was designed to be independent of OpenStack therefore OPNFV installer scenarios are not required. VSPERF can source, configure and deploy the device-under-test using specified software versions and network topology. VSPERF is used as a development tool for optimizing switching technologies, qualification of packet processing functions and for evaluation of data-path performance.

The Euphrates release adds new features and improvements that will help advance high performance packet processing on Telco NFV platforms. This includes new test cases, flexibility in customizing test-cases, new results display options, improved tool resiliency, additional traffic generator support and VPP support.

VSPERF provides a framework where the entire NFV Industry can learn about NFVI data-plane performance and try-out new techniques together. A new IETF benchmarking specification (RFC8204) is based on VSPERF work contributed since 2015. VSPERF is also contributing to development of ETSI NFV test specifications through the Test and Open Source Working Group.

2.3. IETF RFC 8204

The IETF Benchmarking Methodology Working Group (BMWG) was re-chartered in 2014 to include benchmarking for Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) and their infrastructure. A version of the VSPERF test specification was summarized in an Internet Draft … Benchmarking Virtual Switches in OPNFV and contributed to the BMWG. In June 2017 the Internet Engineering Steering Group of the IETF approved the most recent version of the draft for publication as a new test specification (RFC 8204).

2.4. VSPERF CI Test Cases

CI Test cases run daily on the VSPERF Pharos POD for master and stable branches.