<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[SFP/Cable testing with VLANs]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto">::: spoiler motivation<br />
I got some new sfp modules today, and i wanted to validate them... I was feeling lazy to drag two machines together to plug in the sfp modules for a point to point link (plus many machines don't even have sfp slots), I was feeling lazy to daisy chain two switches together to use the sfp modules.....</p>
<p dir="auto">I do have iperf3 testing already setup on a stable host server pair in my network... so<br />
:::</p>
<p dir="auto">Setup two vlans A, B. These vlans have no dhcp, no routes, nothing - Attach a interface to each vlan, assign as static ip address on the same subnet, run iperf3 in server mode. The test comes from how you bridge the vlans: A switch with vlan A on port A, and vlan B on port B, now if you plug in SFP.A and SFP.B and bridge with a cable... iperf3 can connect.</p>
<p dir="auto">This extends your in place network path from interface A to interface B by forcing it to go over SW.PortA-&gt;SFP.A-&gt;Test Cable-&gt;SFP.B-&gt;-&gt;SW.PortB</p>
<pre><code class="language-text">Host interface A
  │
  │ VLAN A
  ▼
switch.portA ── Test SFP.A
            │
            │ test-cable
            │
switch.portB ── Test SFP.B
  ▲
  │ VLAN B
  │
Host interface B
</code></pre>
<p dir="auto">Run iperf3 in a loop, and now you can swap modules/cables and get the full benefit of a point to point cable test without having to move any machines around.  This will even work with a single machine for testing, with a interface on A and B (different namespaces), you just have to double your iperf results mentally.</p>
<p dir="auto">I realize this is fairly niche, and probably obvious to many people, but I just stumbled upon it today and thought it was pretty neat.</p>
<p dir="auto">FWIW my SFP modules ran at 9.6gbps, so I'm happy with them!</p>


<div class="row mt-3"><div class="col-12 mt-3"><img class="img-thumbnail" src="https://hackertalks.com/pictrs/image/6cb32f51-d0cb-4797-8fca-c7b141d9f522.jpeg" alt="Link Preview Image" /></div></div>]]></description><link>https://forum.ieu.app/topic/6e4d43a9-d51d-4156-b0f8-0094835c7b8b/sfp-cable-testing-with-vlans</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:34:55 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://forum.ieu.app/topic/6e4d43a9-d51d-4156-b0f8-0094835c7b8b.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 15:51:00 GMT</pubDate><ttl>60</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to SFP/Cable testing with VLANs on Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:37:31 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto">Ah, the loopback network.</p>
]]></description><link>https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/27710775</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://forum.ieu.app/post/https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/27710775</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:37:31 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>