Changes in |csit-release|
-------------------------
-#. **VPP performance tests**
-
- - *MRR tests* - Maximum Receive Rate tests measure the packet forwarding rate
- under the maximum load offered by traffic generator over a set trial
- duration, regardless of packet loss. MRR tests are used for continuous
- performance trending and for comparison between releases.
-
- - *MLR tests* - NDR and PDR tests measure the packet forwarding rate using
- MLRsearch library by traffic generator. All tests that previously used
- binary search were converted to MLRsearch.
-
- - *L2patch tests* - Tests measure performance of L2patch, cross linking
- RX and TX of two physical interfaces.
-
- - *2-node tests* - Baseline set of 2-node tests covering base ip4, ip4,
- l2patch, l2bd, l2xc.
-
- - *Generated tests* - Simplified and unified test structure,
- semi-autogenerated by generator script. Test generator is currently able
- to create test combinations with various frame size and cores combinations.
- All existing test cases were converted to new format.
-
- - *Simultaneous multithreading* - SMT-aware automatic detection and
- resource configuration including thread affinity, number of rx queues and
- DPDK I/O mbufs. Tests are automatically tagged during execution indicating
- configuration.
-
- - *Intel Skylake* - Topologies consisting of 2-node and 3-node using
- SuperMirco servers each equipped with two Intel Xeon Skylake Platinum
- processors.
-
-#. **Presentation and Analytics Layer**
-
- - *Performance trending* - Added continuous performance trending and
- analysis. New Performance Trending and Performance Analysis jobs
- executed regular throughput tests, with results being subsequently
- analysed and trend and anomalies summarized and presented in VPP
- Performance Dashboard and trendline graphs.
-
-#. **Test Framework Optimizations**
-
- - *Performance tests efficiency* - Qemu build/install optimizations,
- warmup phase handling, vpp restart handling. Resulted in improved
- stability and reduced total execution time by 30% for single pkt
- size e.g. 64B/78B.
-
- - *General code housekeeping* - ongoing RF keywords optimizations,
- removal of redundant RF keywords.
-
-Performance Changes
--------------------
-
-Relative performance changes in measured packet throughput in |csit-release|
-are calculated against the results from |csit-release-1|
-report. Listed mean and standard deviation values are computed based on
-a series of the same tests executed against respective VPP releases to
-verify test results repeatability, with percentage change calculated for
-mean values. Note that the standard deviation is quite high for a small
-number of packet throughput tests, what indicates poor test results
-repeatability and makes the relative change of mean throughput value not
-fully representative for these tests. The root causes behind poor
-results repeatability vary between the test cases.
-
-NDR Changes
-~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-NDR throughput changes between releases are available in a
-CSV and pretty ASCII formats:
-
- - `csv format for 1t1c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-1t1c-ndr.csv>`_,
- - `csv format for 2t2c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-2t2c-ndr.csv>`_,
- - `pretty ASCII format for 1t1c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-1t1c-ndr.txt>`_,
- - `pretty ASCII format for 2t2c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-2t2c-ndr.txt>`_.
-
-.. note::
-
- Test results have been generated by
- `FD.io test executor vpp performance job 3n-hsw`_,
- with Robot Framework result
- files csit-vpp-perf-|srelease|-\*.zip
- `archived here <../_static/archive/>`_.
-
-PDR Changes
-~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-PDR throughput changes between releases are available in a
-CSV and pretty ASCII formats:
-
- - `csv format for 1t1c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-1t1c-pdr.csv>`_,
- - `csv format for 2t2c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-2t2c-pdr.csv>`_,
- - `pretty ASCII format for 1t1c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-1t1c-pdr.txt>`_,
- - `pretty ASCII format for 2t2c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-2t2c-pdr.txt>`_.
-
-.. note::
-
- Test results have been generated by
- `FD.io test executor vpp performance job 3n-hsw`_,
- with Robot Framework result
- files csit-vpp-perf-|srelease|-\*.zip
- `archived here <../_static/archive/>`_.
-
-MRR Changes
-~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-MRR small packet throughput changes between releases are available in a
-CSV and pretty ASCII formats:
-
- - `csv format for 1t1c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-1t1c-mrr.csv>`_,
- - `csv format for 2t2c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-2t2c-mrr.csv>`_,
- - `csv format for 4t4c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-4t4c-mrr.csv>`_,
- - `pretty ASCII format for 1t1c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-1t1c-mrr.txt>`_,
- - `pretty ASCII format for 2t2c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-2t2c-mrr.txt>`_,
- - `pretty ASCII format for 4t4c <../_static/vpp/performance-changes-4t4c-mrr.txt>`_.
-
-.. note::
-
- Test results have been generated by
- `FD.io test executor vpp mrr jobs <https://jenkins.fd.io/view/csit/job/csit-vpp-perf-mrr-daily-master/>`_
- with Robot Framework result files csit-vpp-perf-mrr-daily-master__*__output.xml.gz
- `archived here <https://docs.fd.io/csit/master/trending/_static/archive/>`_.
-
-Comparison Across Testbeds
---------------------------
-
-Relative performance changes in measured packet throughputon 3-Node Skx testbed
-are calculated against the results measured on 3-Node Hsw testbed.
-
-NDR Changes
-~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-NDR changes between testbeds are available in a
-CSV and pretty ASCII formats:
-
- - `csv format for ndr <../_static/vpp/performance-compare-testbeds-3n-hsw-3n-skx-ndr.csv>`_,
- - `pretty ASCII format for ndr <../_static/vpp/performance-compare-testbeds-3n-hsw-3n-skx-ndr.txt>`_.
-
-.. note::
-
- Test results have been generated by
- `FD.io test executor vpp performance job 3n-hsw`_ and
- `FD.io test executor vpp performance job 3n-skx`_
- with Robot Framework result
- files csit-vpp-perf-|srelease|-\*.zip
- `archived here <../_static/archive/>`_.
-
-PDR Changes
-~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-PDR throughput changes between testbeds are available in a
-CSV and pretty ASCII formats:
-
- - `csv format for pdr <../_static/vpp/performance-compare-testbeds-3n-hsw-3n-skx-pdr.csv>`_,
- - `pretty ASCII format for pdr <../_static/vpp/performance-compare-testbeds-3n-hsw-3n-skx-pdr.txt>`_.
-
-.. note::
-
- Test results have been generated by
- `FD.io test executor vpp performance job 3n-hsw`_ and
- `FD.io test executor vpp performance job 3n-skx`_
- with Robot Framework result
- files csit-vpp-perf-|srelease|-\*.zip
- `archived here <../_static/archive/>`_.
-
-Throughput Trending
--------------------
-
-In addition to reporting throughput changes between VPP releases, CSIT
-provides continuous performance trending for VPP master branch:
-
-#. `VPP Performance Dashboard <https://docs.fd.io/csit/master/trending/introduction/index.html>`_
- - per VPP test case throughput trend, trend compliance and summary of
- detected anomalies.
-
-#. `Trending Methodology <https://docs.fd.io/csit/master/trending/methodology/index.html>`_
- - throughput test metrics, trend calculations and anomaly
- classification (progression, regression, outlier).
-
-#. `Trendline Graphs <https://docs.fd.io/csit/master/trending/trending/index.html>`_
- - per VPP build MRR throughput measurements against the trendline
- with anomaly highlights, with associated CSIT test jobs.
+#. VPP PERFORMANCE TESTS
+
+ - **Intel Xeon 2n-skx, 3n-skx and 2n-clx testbeds**: VPP performance
+ test data is not included in this report version. This is due to
+ the lower performance and behaviour inconsistency of these
+ systems following the upgrade of processor microcode packages
+ (skx ucode 0x2000064, clx ucode 0x500002c), done as part of
+ updating Ubuntu 18.04 LTS kernel version. Tested VPP and DPDK
+ applications (L3fwd) are affected. Skx and Clx test data will be
+ added in subsequent maintenance report version(s) once the issue
+ is resolved. See :ref:`vpp_known_issues`.
+
+ - **Service density 2n-skx tests**: Added new NF density tests with
+ IPsec encryption between DUTs.
+
+ - **AVF tests**: Full test coveraged based on code changes in CSIT
+ core layer (driver/interface awareness) and generated by suite
+ generator (Intel Fortville NICs only).
+
+ - **Hoststack tests**: Major refactor of VPP Hoststack TCP/IP
+ performance tests using WRK generator talking to the VPP HTTP
+ static server plugin measuring connections per second and
+ requests per second. Added new iperf3 with LDPreload tests,
+ iperf3/LDPreload tests with packet loss induced via the VPP NSIM
+ (Network Simulator) plugin, and QUIC/UDP/IP transport tests.
+ All of the new tests measure goodput through the VPP Hoststack
+ from client to server.
+
+ - **Latency HDRHistogram**: Added High Dynamic Range Histogram
+ latency measurements based on the new capability in TRex traffic
+ generator. HDRH latency data presented in latency packet
+ percentile graphs and in detailed results tables.
+
+ - **Mellanox CX556A-EDAT tests**: Added tests with Mellanox
+ ConnectX5-2p100GE NICs in 2n-clx testbeds using VPP native rdma
+ driver.
+
+ - **IPsec reconfiguration tests**: Added tests measuring the impact
+ of IPsec tunnels creations and removals.
+
+ - **Load Balancer tests**: Added VPP performance tests for Maglev,
+ L3DSR (Direct Server Return), Layer 4 Load Balancing NAT Mode.
+
+#. TEST FRAMEWORK
+
+ - **CSIT Python3 support**: Full migration of CSIT from Python2.7 to
+ Python3.6. This change includes library migration, PIP dependency
+ upgrade, CSIT container images, infrastructure packages
+ ugrade/installation.
+
+ - **CSIT PAPI support**: Finished conversion of CSIT VAT L1 keywords
+ to PAPI L1 KWs in CSIT using VPP Python bindings (VPP PAPI).
+ Redesign of key components of PAPI Socket Executor and PAPI
+ history. Due to issues with PAPI performance, VAT is still used
+ in CSIT for all VPP scale tests. See known issues below.
+
+ - **Test Suite Generator**: Added capability to generate suites for
+ different drivers per NIC model including DPDK, AVF, RDMA.
+ Extended coverage for all tests.
+
+ - **General Code Housekeeping**: Ongoing RF keywords optimizations,
+ removal of redundant RF keywords and aligning of suite/test
+ setup/teardowns.
+
+#. TEST ENVIRONMENT
+
+ - **TRex Fortville NIC Performance**: Received FVL fix from Intel
+ resolving TRex low throughput issue. TRex per FVL NIC throughput
+ increased from ~27 Mpps to the nominal ~37 Mpps. For detail see
+ `CSIT-1503 <https://jira.fd.io/browse/CSIT-1503>`_ and `TRex-519
+ <https://trex-tgn.cisco.com/youtrack/issue/trex-519>`_].
+
+ - **New Intel Xeon Cascadelake Testbeds**: Added performance tests
+ for 2-Node-Cascadelake (2n-clx) testbeds with x710, xxv710 and
+ cx556a-edat NIC cards.
+
+#. PRESENTATION AND ANALYTICS LAYER
+
+ - **Graphs layout improvements**: Improved performance graphs layout
+ for better readibility and maintenance: test grouping, axis
+ labels, descriptions, other informative decoration.
+
+ - **Latency graphs**: Min/Avg/Max group bar latency graphs are
+ replaced with packet latency percentile distributon at different
+ background packet loads based on TRex latency hdrhistogram
+ measurements.
+
+..
+ // Alternative Note for 1st Bullet when bad microcode Skx, Clx results are published
+ - **Intel Xeon 2n-skx, 3n-skx and 2n-clx testbeds**: VPP performance
+ test data is included in this report version, but it shows lower
+ performance and behaviour inconsistency of these systems
+ following the upgrade of processor microcode packages (skx ucode
+ 0x2000064, clx ucode 0x500002c) as part of updating Ubuntu 18.04
+ LTS kernel version. Tested VPP and DPDK applications (L3fwd) are
+ affected. Skx and Clx test data will be corrected in subsequent
+ maintenance report version(s) once the issue is resolved. See
+ :ref:`vpp_known_issues`.
+
+.. raw:: latex
+
+ \clearpage
+
+.. _vpp_known_issues:
Known Issues
------------
List of known issues in |csit-release| for VPP performance tests:
-+---+-------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
-| # | Issue | Jira ID | Description |
-+===+=================================================+============+=================================================================+
-| 1 | Sporadic (1 in 200) NDR discovery test failures | CSIT-570 | DPDK reporting rx-errors, indicating L1 issue. Suspected issue |
-| | on x520. | | with HW combination of X710-X520 in LF testbeds. Not observed |
-| | | | outside of LF testbeds. |
-+---+-------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
-| 2 | Lower than expected NDR throughput of DPDK | CSIT-571 | Suspected NIC firmware or DPDK driver issue affecting NDR and |
-| | testpmd and VPP L2 path NDR throughput with | | PDR throughput on XL710 and X710 NICs. |
-| | xl710 and x710 NICs, compared to x520 NICs. | | |
-+---+-------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
-| 3 | Tagged Ethernet dot1q and dot1ad L2 path | CSIT-1066 | Tagged Ethernet dot1q and dot1ad L2 path throughput regression: |
-| | throughput regression. | | NDR -2%..-5%, PDR -2%..-6%, MRR. Affects l2xc and l2bd |
-| | | | performance tests. |
-+---+-------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
-| 4 | IPSec (software, no QAT HW) throughput | CSIT-1064 | IPSec throughput regression: NDR -3%..-8%, PDR -2%..-8%, MRR |
-| | regression. | | -3%..-7%. Affects IPSec SW tests, QAT HW tests not affected. |
-+---+-------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
++----+-----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| # | JiraID | Issue Description |
++====+=========================================+===========================================================================================================+
+| 1 | `CSIT-570 | Sporadic (1 in 200) NDR discovery test failures on x520. DPDK reporting rx-errors, indicating L1 issue. |
+| | <https://jira.fd.io/browse/CSIT-570>`_ | Suspected issue with HW combination of X710-X520 in LF testbeds. Not observed outside of LF testbeds. |
++----+-----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 2 | `VPP-662 | 9000B packets not supported by NICs VIC1227 and VIC1387. |
+| | <https://jira.fd.io/browse/VPP-662>`_ | |
++----+-----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 3 | `CSIT-1498 | Memif tests are sporadically failing on initialization of memif connection. |
+| | <https://jira.fd.io/browse/CSIT-1498>`_ | |
++----+-----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 4 | `VPP-1677 | 9000B ip4 nat44: VPP crash + coredump. |
+| | <https://jira.fd.io/browse/VPP-1677>`_ | VPP crashes very often in case that NAT44 is configured and it has to process IP4 jumbo frames (9000B). |
++----+-----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 5 | `CSIT-1591 | All CSIT scale tests can not use PAPI due to much slower performance compared to VAT/CLI (it takes much |
+| | <https://jira.fd.io/browse/CSIT-1499>`_ | longer to program VPP). This needs to be addressed on the PAPI side. |
+| +-----------------------------------------+ |
+| | `VPP-1763 | |
+| | <https://jira.fd.io/browse/VPP-1763>`_ | |
++----+-----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 6 | `VPP-1675 | IPv4 IPSEC 9000B packet tests are failing as no packet is forwarded. |
+| | <https://jira.fd.io/browse/VPP-1675>`_ | Reason: chained buffers are not supported. |
++----+-----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 7 | `CSIT-1593 | IPv4 AVF 9000B packet tests are failing on 3n-skx while passing on 2n-skx. |
+| | <https://jira.fd.io/browse/CSIT-1593>`_ | |
++----+-----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+| 8 | `CSIT-1675 | Intel Xeon 2n-skx, 3n-skx and 2n-clx testbeds behaviour and performance became inconsistent following |
+| | <https://jira.fd.io/browse/CSIT-1675>`_ | the upgrade to the latest Ubuntu 18.04 LTS kernel version (4.15.0-72-generic) and associated microcode |
+| | | packages (skx ucode 0x2000064, clx ucode 0x500002c). VPP as well as DPDK L3fwd tests are affected. |
++----+-----------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+