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Endace and any named company, or any sponsorship or endorsement by any named company. Use of the Endace products described in this document is subject to the Endace Terms of Trade and the Endace End User License Agreement (EULA).
Introduction Overview The Endace DAG 3.8S card provides the means to transfer data at the full speed of the network into the memory of the host computer, with zero packet loss, in even worst-case conditions. Further, unlike a Network Interface Card (NIC), Endace products actively manage the movement of network data into memory while only consuming a minimal amount of the host computer's resources.
EDM01-09v15 DAG_3.8S_Card_User_Guide Purpose of this User Guide The purpose of this User Guide is to provide you with an understanding of the DAG 3.8S card architecture, functionality and to guide you through the following: Installing the card and associated software and firmware •...
The DAG 3.8S card is also capable of transmitting packets at 100% line rate on both ports while simultaneously receiving packets at 100% line rate on both ports.
EDM01-09v15 DAG_3.8S_Card_User_Guide Line Types It is important that you understand the physical characteristics of the network to which you want to connect. If your configuration settings do not match your network, the DAG 3.8S card will not function as expected. Note: If you are unsure about which of the options listed below to apply to your network, please contact your Network Administrator for further information.
EDM01-09v15 DAG_3.8S_Card_User_Guide Extended Functions Co-Processor The DAG 3.8S card is equipped with a Co-Processor connector which can be used with the optional Endace DAG Co-Processor as a data processing tool. The specifications for the Co-Processor IP filtering/packet classification are: •...
Installation Introduction The DAG 3.8S card can be installed in any free PCIx slot. It operates at 66MHz in PCIx mode but will not operate in 32-bit or 64-bit PCI slots. Although the DAG driver supports up to sixteen DAG cards in one system, the DAG card makes heavy use of PCIx bus data transfer resources.
The upper connector of each pair is used for the transmit signal and the bottom connector of each pair is used for the received signal. The DAG 3.8S also has an 8-pin RJ45 PPS input socket located below the optical port connectors on the card bracket. This is available for connection to an external time synchronization source.
EDM01-09v15 DAG_3.8S_Card_User_Guide Fixed Optical Transceivers Fixed optical transceiver versions (pre Rev G) of the DAG 3.8S are shipped with the 1x9 optics module fitted. If you wish to use a different module you must specify this at the time of ordering.
EDM01-09v15 DAG_3.8S_Card_User_Guide Pluggable Optical Transceivers Overview Pluggable optical transceiver versions (Rev G onwards) of the DAG 3.8S card support industry standard Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) optical transceivers. The transceivers consists of two parts: • Mechanical chassis attached to the circuit board •...
• low loss output Note: Endace recommends that you do not use a combination of single mode and multi mode fibers and optics modules on the same link, as the quality of the received signal cannot be guaranteed. If you have no choice but to mix single mode and multi mode you should be aware that a single mode input connected to a multi mode fiber will have some attenuation but may still be acceptable.
EDM01-09v15 DAG_3.8S_Card_User_Guide Configuring the DAG card Introduction Configuring the DAG 3.8S card ready for capturing data requires the following steps: Setting up the FPGA (page • Preparing the DAG card for use (page • Configuring the DAG Card (page •...
EDM01-09v15 DAG_3.8S_Card_User_Guide dagrom is a software utility that enables you to configure the FPGA on Endace DAG cards. dagrom The following is a list of options available in dagrom Option Description Use alternate (stable) half. [Default is current half.] Factory / User.
Before configuring the DAG 3.8S card you must run the following command to set dagconfig the default parameters in the DAG card. This ensures the DAG 3.8S card functions correctly once you begin capturing data. Note: Ensure you run this command each time the FPGA is reprogrammed.
For Ethernet only. The DAG 3.8S card operates in either ” mode. “auto_neg” “noauto_neg mode you must connect the DAG 3.8S card directly to a Ethernet switch or card auto_neg with a full-duplex cable, in which case the DAG 3.8S card will perform Ethernet auto- negotiation.
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Alternatively if you want to ensure you capture the whole packet you can set the length to a larger value. Example Setting up a DAG 3.8S card with a snap length of 200 bytes: dagconfig -d0 slen=200 Note: The ERF header is not included in the value.
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Example dagconfig txonly Note: This option is only applicable on firmware images containing TX. varlen/novarlen The DAG 3.8S card is able to capture packets in two ways. They are: Variable length capture ( • varlen Fixed length capture ( ) - (not support on some firmware images) •...
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EDM01-09v15 DAG_3.8S_Card_User_Guide For the DAG 3.8S two additional dagconfig sub-options have been added. There are 12 available counters (see list below) however only two can be in use at any one time. These two counters mimic the dagthree options. --counters <c1,c2>...
EDM01-09v15 DAG_3.8S_Card_User_Guide Capturing data at high speed As the DAG 3.8S card captures packets from the network link, it writes a record for each packet into a large buffer in the host computer’s main memory. To avoid packet loss, the user application reading the record, such as...
(page dagbits Note: decodes and displays ERF header fields and packet contents are displayed dagbits as a Hex dump only. To decode higher level protocols, Endace recommends using a third party application, see Using third party applications (page Examples Test live traffic on dag0, stream 0 for 60 seconds running the lctr, flags and fcs tests:...
Wireshark can also read ERF formatted data. Note: Transmitting captured data Configuration The DAG 3.8S card is able to transmit as well as receive packets and can capture received traffic while transmitting. This allows you to use capture tools such as dagsnap dagconvert while is sending packets.
If you do not have any ERF trace files available, you can use to generate trace files daggen containing simple traffic patterns. This allows the DAG 3.8S card to be used as a test traffic generator. For further information on using...
Common synchronization sources include GPS or CDMA (cellular telephone) time receivers. Endace also provides the TDS 2 Time Distribution Server modules and TDS 6 expansion units that enable you to connect multiple DAG cards to a single GPS or CDMA unit.
In this way the interpretation of the timestamp does not need to change when higher resolution clock hardware is available. The DAG 3.8S implements the 26 most significant bits which provides a time resolution of 14.9 nanoseconds.
This is derived directly from an external reference source or distributed through the Endace TDS 2 (Time Distribution Server) module which allows two DAG cards to use a single receiver. It is also possible for more than two DAG cards to use a single receiver by “daisy-chaining”...
EDM01-09v15 DAG_3.8S_Card_User_Guide Troubleshooting Reporting Problems If you have problems with a DAG 3.8S card or Endace supplied software which you are unable to resolve, please contact Endace Customer Support at support@endace.com Supplying as much information as possible enables Endace Customer Support to be more effective in their response to you.
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