Layers Toolbox

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 to see more or less data.

The Topology Graph Layers is organized into the following sections:

• Links and Nodes

  • Links

    • Streams

    • SLP

    • SwXtch Connections

    • Ping Connections

  • Nodes

    • General Info

    • Interfaces

    • HA Stats

    • Sticky Sockets

Below is the Layers Toolbox:

Links and Nodes

The Layers Toolbox enables users to change the appearance of their topology graph and display information important to them. The toolbox is organized into two categories: Links and Nodes.

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.

Links are broken into 4 categories, 2 of which can be expanded for more options: Streams and SLP.

• Streams

• SLP

• SwXtch Connections

• Ping Connections

Streams

The streams layer can be expanded; once expanded, the user can choose to hide/show data as shown.

By default, the stream links are animated to illustrate the direction of the stream. Below shows the data for the options:

• Animation: This will illustrate via animation the direction of the steam.

• MC Groups: This will display the IP and Port of the Multicast Group.

• Aliases: 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.

• Channels: This will show the channel or channels the stream is part of.

• Protocol Stats: This will display Missing and Out-of-Order (OoO) packet statistics.

• Frag. Stats: This will display how many packets were fragmented in the stream.

SLP

The SLP layer can be expanded; once expanded, the user can choose to hide/show data as shown. SLP data is supported for the cloudSwXtch and swXtch Bridge, and for xNIC Type 3 (SLP  in Type 1 and 2 xNIC Types is not supported).

• RX RTT: This will display the Round Trip Time to Receive Packets.

• RX RTT Var: This will display the variance between Round Trip times to Receive Packets.

• RX Data Pkts: This will display the data packets for Received Packets.

• RX Retr Pkts: This will display the number of retries for Received Packets.

• RX Lost Pkts: This will display the number of lost Received Packets.

• TX RTT: This will show the Round Trip Time for Transmitted Packets.

• TX RTT VAR: This will display the variance between Round Trip times to Transmitted Packets.

• TX Data Pkts: This will display the data packets for Transmitted Packets.

• TX Retr Pkts: This will display the number of retries for Transmitted Packets.

• TX Retr Drops: This will display the number of drops after retries for Transmitted Packets.

swXtch Connections

The Clusters layer will show relationships between cloudSwXtches, swXtchBridges, and xNICs.

Ping Connections

Ping Connections will show dataplane connectivity in each direction.

Nodes

Nodes are the circle icons in the topology graph. They can represent cloudSwXtches, cloudSwXtch Bridges, and endpoints (with or without xNICs).

General Info

Selecting this option will display the names of the nodes.  Clouds will show the cloud the cloudSwXtch is running in.

• Names: This will display the Names of the components over the top of the component.

• Tags: This will display the color of the tags around the component(s) which have tags associated with them.  For more information on Tags, see the Tags page.

• Clouds: This will display the clouds associated to the cloudSwXtch componentes.

• Regions:  This will show a window of the region each component.

• Instances:  This will show a window of the Instance information for each component.

• OS: This will show a window of the Operating System information for each component. (not pictured)

• Version:  This will show a window of the swXtch version information for each component.

• Type: This will show the Instance Type information for each component.  (not pictured)

Interfaces

Toggling this on will display the interfaces the components are using the send or receive traffic.

Note that you may need to Zoom in on the graphto see the interfaces.  Above shows mose cases are using ens5, ens6, Eth3.

HA Stats

When activated, information about data flow in an HA configuration at the node will be displayed.

Sticky Sockets

• If it's enabled, you'll se that the sockets will stick automatically to the node according to their sibling position.

• If it's not, they will remain in their current position even if you move their parent node. This is usefull when you have lots of sockets and the stats are not easy to read, you can move them around and their position will endure