Tunnel Statistics Test

A tunnel is a virtual point-to-point link across a multipoint-access network, such as the Internet. Tunnels help you to create secure connections between remote users and a private corporate network via the internet. In a sense, a tunnel emulates a WAN link.

When communication is initiated across the components of the Cisco SD-WAN, tunnels created over the WAN environment wraps up the data packets into another data packet and encrypts the package that is to be sent through the tunnel. At the receiver’s end, the tunneling device/protocol deciphers the package and then strips the wrapped data packet to read and access the original message and reveal the source of packet and other classified information. This way, secure communication is possible with the tunnels. If the traffic through the tunnels are too high or if a tunnel is not available, then, data transmission and reception by the tunnels will take longer than usual which will inturn affect the performance of the Cisco SD-WAN appliance. To avoid such performance degardation, administrators should constantly monitor the level of traffic flowing through the tunnels created on the target Cisco SD-WAN. The Tunnel Statistics test helps administrators in this regard!

This test auto-discovers the tunnels created on the target Cisco SD-WAN and for each tunnel, measures the level of traffic flowing through the tunnel. Using this test, administrators can be proactively alerted to the discrepancies in the data and packet transmission and reception. Administrators can also figure out the tunnel through which maximum data/packets are transmitted/received.

Target of the test : Cisco SD-WAN

Agent deploying the test : An external agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for each component:tunnel established in the target Cisco SD-WAN appliance that is being monitored.

Configurable parameters for the test

Parameter	Description
Test period	How often should the test be executed
Host	The IP address of the host for which this test is to be configured.
Port	Specify the port at which the specified Host listens to. By default, this is NULL.
Username	By default, the eG agent executes REST APIs on the target appliance to collect the required metrics. For the eG agent to execute the REST APIs, a special user with monitoring privilege is required. Specify the name of such a user in this text box.
Password	Specify the password corresponding to the user mentioned in the Username text box here.
Confirm Password	Confirm the Password by retyping it here.
REST API Port	By default, the REST API Port is set to none. This implies that by default, this test connects to the default port to execute the REST API commands and collect the required metrics. In some environments however, a different port can be used to execute the REST API commands. In such case, specify that port number against the REST API Port text box.
SSL	The eG agent collects performance metrics by executing REST APIs on the target appliance. Typically, the REST APIs can be invoked through HTTP or HTTPS mode. By default, the eG agent invokes REST APIs using the HTTPS mode. This is why, the SSL flag is set to Yes by default. If the target appliance is not SSL-enabled, then the REST APIs can be accessed through HTTP mode only. In this case, set the SSL flag to No.

Measurements made by the test

Measurement	Description	Measurement Unit	Interpretation
Data received	Indicates the rate at which data was received by this tunnel during the last measurement period.	MB/sec	Compare the value of this measure across tunnels to identify the tunnel that is receiving maximum amount of data.
Data transmitted	Indicates the rate at which data was transmitted through this tunnel during the last measurement period.	MB/sec	Compare the value of this measure across tunnels to identify the tunnel through which maximum amount of data was transmitted.
Packets received	Indicates the rate at which packets were received by this tunnel during the last measurement period.	Packets/sec	Compare the value of this measure across tunnels to identify the tunnel that is receiving maximum number of packets.
Packets transmitted	Indicates the rate at which packets were transmitted through this tunnel during the last measurement period.	Packets/sec	Compare the value of this measure across tunnels to identify the tunnel through which maximum number of packets were transmitted.