SW-008 RFC 2544 Test Report
This page presents the RFC 2544 benchmark test results for the Brainboxes SW-008 8-port unmanaged Fast Ethernet switch. RFC 2544 defines a standardised methodology for benchmarking network interconnect devices, covering throughput, latency, frame loss rate, and back-to-back frame handling.
Testing was performed using the Xena2544 v2.97 automated test suite on 16 March 2026, with a total test duration of 2 hours 55 minutes. All tests used IEEE default frame sizes (64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 1280, and 1518 bytes) in a full-mesh, bidirectional topology across all 8 ports at 100 Mbps.
The SW-008 passed all RFC 2544 tests at full line rate across all frame sizes and all port combinations. A minor frame loss of 901 frames (0.02%) was observed at 1518-byte frames at 100% rate in the frame loss test only.
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Throughput | Pass — 100% line rate, all frame sizes |
| Latency & Jitter | Pass — at 95% and 100% rates |
| Frame Loss Rate | Pass — 0% loss at 95% rate; 0.02% at 1518 bytes at 100% rate |
| Back-to-Back | Pass — at 95% and 100% rates |
Test Configuration
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Topology | Mesh |
| Direction | Bidirectional |
| Frame Size Type | IEEE Default |
| Frame Sizes | 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 1280, 1518 bytes |
| Port Count | 8 |
| Port Speed | 100 Mbps (Auto-negotiated) |
| Test Tool | Xena2544 v2.97 |
| Test Chassis | Abyssinian (S/N 2343912) |
| Modules | Odin-1G-3S-6P (S/N 870628), Odin-1G-3S-6P (S/N 870728) |
Port Configuration
| Port ID | Interface Type | Module | Speed | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-0-0-0 | SFP-E 10/100/1000M | M-0-0 | Auto | 100 Mbps |
| P-0-0-1 | SFP-E 10/100/1000M | M-0-0 | Auto | 100 Mbps |
| P-0-0-2 | SFP-E 10/100/1000M | M-0-0 | Auto | 100 Mbps |
| P-0-0-3 | SFP-E 10/100/1000M | M-0-0 | Auto | 100 Mbps |
| P-0-0-4 | SFP-E 10/100/1000M | M-0-0 | Auto | 100 Mbps |
| P-0-0-5 | SFP-E 10/100/1000M | M-0-0 | Auto | 100 Mbps |
| P-0-2-0 | SFP-E 10/100/1000M | M-0-2 | Auto | 100 Mbps |
| P-0-2-1 | SFP-E 10/100/1000M | M-0-2 | Auto | 100 Mbps |
Throughput Test
The throughput test determines the maximum rate at which none of the offered frames are dropped by the device. Each frame size was tested for 60 seconds over 3 iterations, with a binary search from 95–100% line rate and 0% acceptable loss.
The SW-008 achieved 100% throughput at line rate for all frame sizes with zero frame loss.
| Frame Size (bytes) | Offered Rate | Tx Rate (L1) | Tx Rate (L2) | Tx (Frames) | Rx (Frames) | Loss | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 100% | 799.98 Mbps | 609.51 Mbps | 71,426,880 | 71,426,880 | 0 | Pass |
| 128 | 100% | 799.96 Mbps | 691.86 Mbps | 40,538,400 | 40,538,400 | 0 | Pass |
| 256 | 100% | 799.88 Mbps | 741.92 Mbps | 21,735,840 | 21,735,840 | 0 | Pass |
| 512 | 100% | 799.86 Mbps | 769.79 Mbps | 11,276,160 | 11,276,160 | 0 | Pass |
| 1024 | 100% | 799.79 Mbps | 784.47 Mbps | 5,745,600 | 5,745,600 | 0 | Pass |
| 1280 | 100% | 799.64 Mbps | 787.33 Mbps | 4,613,280 | 4,613,280 | 0 | Pass |
| 1518 | 100% | 799.96 Mbps | 789.55 Mbps | 3,900,960 | 3,900,960 | 0 | Pass |
All 56 bidirectional port-to-port flows showed identical throughput with zero loss at every frame size.
Per-Port Throughput Results
Each port transmitted and received equally across all 7 destination ports. All 8 ports operated at full line rate with zero loss. Data shown is for port P-0-0-0; all other ports produced identical results.
Port P-0-0-0
| Frame Size (bytes) | Tx (Frames) | Tx Rate (L1) | Tx Rate (L2) | Tx Rate (fps) | Rx (Frames) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 8,928,360 | 100 Mbps | 76.19 Mbps | 148,806 | 8,928,360 |
| 128 | 5,067,300 | 100 Mbps | 86.48 Mbps | 84,455 | 5,067,300 |
| 256 | 2,716,980 | 99.98 Mbps | 92.74 Mbps | 45,283 | 2,716,980 |
| 512 | 1,409,520 | 99.98 Mbps | 96.22 Mbps | 23,492 | 1,409,520 |
| 1024 | 718,200 | 99.97 Mbps | 98.06 Mbps | 11,970 | 718,200 |
| 1280 | 576,660 | 99.95 Mbps | 98.42 Mbps | 9,611 | 576,660 |
| 1518 | 487,620 | 99.99 Mbps | 98.69 Mbps | 8,127 | 487,620 |
Ports P-0-0-1 through P-0-2-1 — identical results
All remaining 7 ports (P-0-0-1, P-0-0-2, P-0-0-3, P-0-0-4, P-0-0-5, P-0-2-0, P-0-2-1) produced the same throughput, frame counts, and zero loss as P-0-0-0 above.
Latency and Jitter Test
The latency and jitter test measures forwarding delay and its variation across frame sizes. Tests were run for 60 seconds over 3 iterations using last-to-last latency mode, relative to the throughput test results. Testing was performed at both 95% and 100% of line rate.
Results at 95% Rate
| Frame Size (bytes) | Avg Latency (us) | Min Latency (us) | Max Latency (us) | Avg Jitter (us) | Max Jitter (us) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 13.43 | 7.087 | 37.893 | 0.437 | 19.989 | Pass |
| 128 | 23.51 | 12.235 | 66.173 | 0.622 | 43.996 | Pass |
| 256 | 43.87 | 22.482 | 112.591 | 0.958 | 82.988 | Pass |
| 512 | 105.46 | 43.025 | 287.878 | 1.911 | 177.187 | Pass |
| 1024 | 148.62 | 84.086 | 426.458 | 3.738 | 334.144 | Pass |
| 1280 | 177.58 | 104.605 | 455.788 | 3.789 | 239.368 | Pass |
| 1518 | 220.07 | 123.769 | 496.088 | 4.531 | 328.636 | Pass |
Per-Port Latency and Jitter at 95% Rate
Values vary slightly between ports (within ±15%). Representative data for ports P-0-0-0 and P-0-0-2 is shown below.
Port P-0-0-0
| Frame Size (bytes) | Avg Latency (us) | Min Latency (us) | Max Latency (us) | Avg Jitter (us) | Max Jitter (us) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 13.358 | 7.103 | 34.726 | 0.423 | 19.989 |
| 128 | 25.131 | 12.243 | 59.438 | 0.655 | 43.996 |
| 256 | 46.122 | 22.482 | 109.247 | 1.062 | 82.988 |
| 512 | 112.393 | 43.025 | 287.878 | 1.920 | 177.187 |
| 1024 | 151.798 | 84.086 | 426.458 | 3.738 | 334.144 |
| 1280 | 171.015 | 104.605 | 369.480 | 3.789 | 225.008 |
| 1518 | 203.878 | 123.769 | 488.551 | 4.531 | 328.636 |
Port P-0-0-2
| Frame Size (bytes) | Avg Latency (us) | Min Latency (us) | Max Latency (us) | Avg Jitter (us) | Max Jitter (us) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 13.664 | 7.087 | 36.554 | 0.433 | 19.267 |
| 128 | 23.769 | 12.243 | 62.445 | 0.635 | 39.257 |
| 256 | 44.199 | 22.506 | 111.292 | 0.982 | 64.033 |
| 512 | 100.460 | 43.033 | 249.495 | 1.825 | 134.466 |
| 1024 | 145.439 | 84.086 | 372.808 | 3.647 | 274.320 |
| 1280 | 184.137 | 104.613 | 455.788 | 3.789 | 239.368 |
| 1518 | 236.252 | 123.769 | 496.088 | 4.352 | 226.595 |
Ports P-0-0-1, P-0-0-3, P-0-0-4, P-0-0-5, P-0-2-0, P-0-2-1
All remaining ports showed latency and jitter values within the same range as P-0-0-0 and P-0-0-2 above, with average latency varying by less than ±15% across all 8 ports.
Results at 100% Rate
| Frame Size (bytes) | Avg Latency (us) | Min Latency (us) | Max Latency (us) | Avg Jitter (us) | Max Jitter (us) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 20.05 | 7.111 | 41.654 | 0.41 | 26.917 | Pass |
| 128 | 34.28 | 12.243 | 71.890 | 0.45 | 35.601 | Pass |
| 256 | 64.89 | 22.506 | 152.634 | 0.70 | 87.006 | Pass |
| 512 | 128.35 | 43.033 | 283.821 | 1.20 | 166.218 | Pass |
| 1024 | 256.42 | 84.086 | 557.741 | 2.55 | 334.144 | Pass |
| 1280 | 319.97 | 104.613 | 521.642 | 2.80 | 208.097 | Pass |
| 1518 | 402.29 | 123.793 | 838.764 | 4.23 | 492.256 | Pass |
Per-Port Latency and Jitter at 100% Rate
At full line rate, latency values are higher due to increased queuing across all 8 ports. Values shown are for port P-0-0-0.
Port P-0-0-0
| Frame Size (bytes) | Avg Latency (us) | Min Latency (us) | Max Latency (us) | Avg Jitter (us) | Max Jitter (us) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 19.390 | 7.111 | 41.654 | 0.543 | 26.917 |
| 128 | 35.914 | 12.243 | 71.890 | 0.354 | 35.601 |
| 256 | 71.462 | 22.506 | 152.634 | 0.784 | 87.006 |
| 512 | 135.703 | 43.033 | 283.821 | 1.296 | 166.218 |
| 1024 | 278.435 | 84.110 | 534.343 | 2.635 | 334.144 |
| 1280 | 333.313 | 104.613 | 521.642 | 2.474 | 208.097 |
| 1518 | 496.608 | 123.793 | 838.764 | 4.621 | 492.256 |
Ports P-0-0-1 through P-0-2-1
All remaining ports showed similar latency characteristics with values within the same order of magnitude. Individual port latency varies depending on traffic distribution and queuing depth at full line rate.
Frame Loss Rate Test
The frame loss rate test measures the percentage of frames that are not forwarded by the device under steady-state conditions. Each frame size was tested for 60 seconds over 3 iterations. No pass/fail criteria were configured.
At 95% rate, the SW-008 achieved zero frame loss across all frame sizes. At 100% rate, zero loss was observed for all frame sizes from 64 to 1280 bytes. A minor loss of 901 frames (0.02%) was recorded at 1518-byte frames at 100% rate.
Results at 95% Rate
| Frame Size (bytes) | Tx (Frames) | Rx (Frames) | Tx Rate (L1) | Loss (Frames) | Loss Rate | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 67,855,200 | 67,855,200 | 759.98 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 128 | 38,512,320 | 38,512,320 | 759.98 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 256 | 20,650,560 | 20,650,560 | 759.94 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 512 | 10,711,680 | 10,711,680 | 759.82 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 1024 | 5,456,640 | 5,456,640 | 759.56 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 1280 | 4,381,440 | 4,381,440 | 759.45 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 1518 | 3,706,080 | 3,706,080 | 759.99 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
Per-Port Frame Loss at 95% Rate
All 8 ports transmitted and received equal frame counts with zero loss at 95% rate.
Port P-0-0-0
| Frame Size (bytes) | Tx (Frames) | Tx Rate (L1) | Tx Rate (fps) | Rx (Frames) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 8,481,900 | 95 Mbps | 141,365 | 8,481,900 |
| 128 | 4,814,040 | 95 Mbps | 80,234 | 4,814,040 |
| 256 | 2,581,320 | 94.99 Mbps | 43,022 | 2,581,320 |
| 512 | 1,338,960 | 94.98 Mbps | 22,316 | 1,338,960 |
| 1024 | 682,080 | 94.95 Mbps | 11,368 | 682,080 |
| 1280 | 547,680 | 94.93 Mbps | 9,128 | 547,680 |
| 1518 | 463,260 | 95.00 Mbps | 7,721 | 463,260 |
Ports P-0-0-1 through P-0-2-1 — identical results
All remaining 7 ports produced the same frame counts and zero loss as P-0-0-0 above.
Results at 100% Rate
| Frame Size (bytes) | Tx (Frames) | Rx (Frames) | Tx Rate (L1) | Loss (Frames) | Loss Rate | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 71,426,880 | 71,426,880 | 799.98 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 128 | 40,538,400 | 40,538,400 | 799.96 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 256 | 21,735,840 | 21,735,840 | 799.88 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 512 | 11,276,160 | 11,276,160 | 799.86 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 1024 | 5,745,600 | 5,745,600 | 799.79 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 1280 | 4,613,280 | 4,613,280 | 799.64 Mbps | 0 | 0% | Pass |
| 1518 | 3,900,960 | 3,900,059 | 799.96 Mbps | 901 | 0.02% | Pass |
Per-Port Frame Loss at 100% Rate
At 100% rate, all frame sizes from 64 to 1280 bytes showed zero loss across all 8 ports. At 1518 bytes, 901 frames (0.02%) were lost across all port combinations.
Port P-0-0-0
| Frame Size (bytes) | Tx (Frames) | Tx Rate (L1) | Tx Rate (fps) | Rx (Frames) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 8,928,360 | 100 Mbps | 148,806 | 8,928,360 |
| 128 | 5,067,300 | 99.99 Mbps | 84,455 | 5,067,300 |
| 256 | 2,716,980 | 99.98 Mbps | 45,283 | 2,716,980 |
| 512 | 1,409,520 | 99.98 Mbps | 23,492 | 1,409,520 |
| 1024 | 718,200 | 99.97 Mbps | 11,970 | 718,200 |
| 1280 | 576,660 | 99.95 Mbps | 9,611 | 576,660 |
| 1518 | 487,620 | 99.99 Mbps | 8,127 | 487,527 |
Ports P-0-0-1 through P-0-2-1
All remaining ports showed the same zero-loss pattern for 64–1280 byte frames. The 901 total lost frames at 1518 bytes were distributed across multiple port combinations.
Back-to-Back Test
The back-to-back test measures the maximum number of frames that can be sent at a given rate without any frame loss. Each frame size was tested with a 60-second burst over 3 iterations.
Results at 95% Rate
| Frame Size (bytes) | Tx Burst (Frames) | Tx Burst (Bytes) | Max Offered Rate (fps) | Max Offered Rate (Mbps) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 67,857,104 | 4,342,854,656 | 1,107,740 | 744.40 | Pass |
| 128 | 38,513,496 | 4,929,727,488 | 638,819 | 756.36 | Pass |
| 256 | 20,652,128 | 5,286,944,768 | 336,998 | 744.09 | Pass |
| 512 | 10,714,256 | 5,485,699,072 | 174,871 | 744.25 | Pass |
| 1024 | 5,459,720 | 5,590,753,280 | 89,100 | 744.17 | Pass |
| 1280 | 4,384,576 | 5,612,257,280 | 72,752 | 756.62 | Pass |
| 1518 | 3,706,080 | 5,625,829,440 | 60,497 | 744.35 | Pass |
Per-Port Back-to-Back at 95% Rate
Each port sustained the full 60-second burst with zero loss. Burst frames were distributed equally across all 7 destination ports per source port.
Port P-0-0-0
| Frame Size (bytes) | Tx Burst (Frames) | Tx Burst (Bytes) |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | 8,482,138 | 542,856,832 |
| 128 | 4,814,187 | 616,215,936 |
| 256 | 2,581,516 | 660,868,096 |
| 512 | 1,339,282 | 685,712,384 |
| 1024 | 682,465 | 698,844,160 |
| 1280 | 548,072 | 701,532,160 |
| 1518 | 463,260 | 703,228,680 |
Ports P-0-0-1 through P-0-2-1 — identical results
All remaining 7 ports produced the same burst frame counts and zero loss as P-0-0-0 above.
Results at 100% Rate
| Frame Size (bytes) | Tx Burst (Frames) | Tx Burst (Bytes) | Max Offered Rate (fps) | Max Offered Rate (Mbps) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 71,428,560 | 4,571,427,840 | 1,189,500 | 799.34 | Pass |
| 128 | 40,540,528 | 5,189,187,584 | 675,204 | 799.44 | Pass |
| 256 | 21,739,088 | 5,565,206,528 | 362,069 | 799.45 | Pass |
| 512 | 11,278,176 | 5,774,426,112 | 187,832 | 799.41 | Pass |
| 1024 | 5,747,112 | 5,885,042,688 | 95,785 | 800.00 | Pass |
| 1280 | 4,615,352 | 5,907,650,560 | 76,861 | 799.35 | Pass |
| 1518 | 3,901,128 | 5,921,912,304 | 64,973 | 799.42 | Pass |
Per-Port Back-to-Back at 100% Rate
Each port sustained the full 60-second burst at line rate with zero loss.
Port P-0-0-0
| Frame Size (bytes) | Tx Burst (Frames) | Tx Burst (Bytes) |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | 8,928,570 | 571,428,480 |
| 128 | 5,067,566 | 648,648,448 |
| 256 | 2,717,386 | 695,650,816 |
| 512 | 1,409,772 | 721,803,264 |
| 1024 | 718,389 | 735,630,336 |
| 1280 | 576,919 | 738,456,320 |
| 1518 | 487,641 | 740,239,038 |
Ports P-0-0-1 through P-0-2-1 — identical results
All remaining 7 ports produced the same burst frame counts and zero loss as P-0-0-0 above.
About This Test
RFC 2544 defines a standardised benchmarking methodology for network interconnect devices. The tests cover:
- Throughput — maximum rate at which no frames are lost
- Latency — forwarding delay at various frame sizes and rates
- Frame Loss Rate — percentage of frames lost under load
- Back-to-Back — maximum burst length the device can handle without loss
Testing was performed using the Xena2544 automated test suite. Each test was run for 3 iterations and results averaged to minimise measurement variance.