WHAT TO EXPECT
In this article, users will learn about the various options in the Layers Toolbox and how it alters the appearance of the topology graph.
Links and Nodes
The Topology Toolbox enables users to change the appearance of their topology graph and display information important to them. The toolbox is organized into three categories: links, nodes, and layers.
Links
Links are the lines that connect component nodes in the topology graph, representing the traffic that is flowing between them. This section of the Layers Toolbox will edit the appearance of those links or the information displayed.
Animate
By default, the links are animated to illustrate the direction of the stream.
Cluster
When activated, links between nodes will cluster depending on the number set in the topology graph settings. For example, if the maximum number of streams between two component nodes is set to 4, all streams will be condensed into a single link when they go over 4.
In this example, there are eight streams between swXtch-1 and xnic-5. A user may want to consolidate these into a single link, in order to tidy up the way their topology graph looks. To do this, users will select the Graph Settings button on the righthand side of the graph. This will cause a new window will open.
Users will then enter the amount of streams that would trigger a cluster. In the below example, the user selected 4 as the number of streams. This means that whenever the number of streams exceeds 4, wXcked Eye will combine those into a single link.
Now, when a user toggles Cluster on under the Links section of the Topology Toolbox, the stream cluster setting they configured will be applied to the graph.
Link Statistics
The four remaining toggles allow users to see information related to a stream link.
Streams: This will display the stream names at the center of the link.
Rates: This will display packet metrics. Rates must be selected in order to view Missing and OoO Stats under Other Stats.
Frag. Stats: This will display how many packets were fragmented in the stream.
Other Stats: This will display Missing and Out-of-Order (OoO) packet statistics.
Nodes
Nodes are the circle icons in the topology graph. They can represent cloudSwXtches, cloudSwXtch Bridges, and endpoints (with or without xNICs).
Names
Selecting this option will display the names of the nodes.
Clouds
Toggling this one will display the cloud provider for the cloudSwXtch and cloudSwXtch Bridge components.
Regions
This will display where the node is located.
Instances
When activated, this will display information about a virtual machine’s instance.
Interfaces
Toggling this on will display the interfaces the components are using the send or receive traffic.
Zooming in and out of the graph will minimize the interfaces.
HA Stats
When activated, information about data flow in an HA configuration at the node will be displayed.
SLP Stats
When activated, information about lossless data flow at the node will be displayed.
