Test Ethernet packet errors reported by AP/SM
Log into the AP or SM and click Monitor, Performance. Click Reset Stats at the top of the page and wait until LAN RX – Total Packet Counter has reached 1 million.
If the counter does not increment or increments too slowly, because for example the ePMP system is newly installed and there is no offered Ethernet traffic, then abandon this procedure and consider using the procedure Test ping packet loss below.
Check the Ethernet Statistics - Received statistic Packet Errors statistic. The test has passed if this is less than 10.
Test Ethernet packet errors reported by managed switch or router
If the AP/SM is connected to a managed Ethernet switch or router, it may be possible to monitor the error rate of Ethernet packets. Please refer to the user guide of the managed network equipment. The test has passed if the rate of packet errors reported by the managed Ethernet switch or router is less than 10 in 1 million packets.
Test ping packet loss
Using a computer, it is possible to generate and monitor packets lost between the power supply and the AP/SM. This can be achieved by executing the Command Prompt application which is supplied as standard with Windows and Mac operating systems.
Caution
This procedure disrupts network traffic carried by the AP or SM under test.
Procedure:
- Ensure that the IP address of the computer is configured appropriately for connection to the AP or SM under test, and does not conflict with other devices connected to the network.
- If the power supply is connected to an Ethernet switch or router then connect the computer to a spare port, if available.
- If it is not possible to connect the computer to a spare port of an Ethernet switch or router, then the power supply must be disconnected from the network in order to execute this test:
- Disconnect the power supply from the network.
- Connect the computer directly to the LAN port of the power supply.
- On the computer, open the Command Prompt application.
- Send 1000 ping packets of length 1500 bytes. The process will take 1000 seconds, which is approximately 17 minutes.
If the computer is running a Windows operating system, this is achieved by typing (for an IPv6 address, use the ping6 command):
ping –n 1000 –l 1500 <ipaddress>
where <ipaddress> is the IP address of the AP or SM under test.
If the computer is running a MAC operating system, this is achieved by typing:
ping –c 1000 –s 1492 <ipaddress>
where <ipaddress> is the IP address of the AP/SM under test.
- Record how many Ping packets are lost. This is reported by Command Prompt on completion of the test.
The test has passed if the number of lost packets is less than 2.