Calnex SNE Multi-Port, Multi-User Network Emulator (1GbE / 10GbE / 25GbE)

Multi-port, multi-user Ethernet network emulator with 1GbE, 10GbE and 25GbE interfaces, 55+ impairments and a RESTful API for automation.

Number of ports per card: 4
Number of ports per card: 2
Maximum number of ports per SNE (4 full slots): 16
Maximum number of ports per SNE (4 full slots): 8

Datasheet

Overview

The Calnex SNE is a network emulator and simulator for testing applications and infrastructure under real-world network conditions in the lab. It reproduces conditions such as delay, jitter, limited bandwidth, packet loss, corruption, reordering, duplication and outages so that behaviour can be assessed before deployment.

The SNE accepts interface cards in four slots, with 1GbE (RJ45), 10GbE (SFP+) and 25GbE (SFP28) cards that can be mixed. All ports can exchange traffic with each other ("Any Port to Any Port"), and ports and emulation maps can be assigned to individual users or teams so that several isolated test sessions run concurrently.

Web UI and automation

Emulation scenarios are built in a browser-based Web UI by dragging impairments onto a network "map" and linking them to control the flow of packets. A dashboard shows port configuration, link status and port assignments, and lets users run or stop selected maps. A timeline feature schedules impairment changes without scripting, and a RESTful API provides remote control of maps and impairment settings for CI/CD pipelines and custom automation frameworks.

5G transport network model

The SNE includes a 5G dataset modelled from data collected by major carriers, allowing applications to be tested against common real-world 5G transport conditions across backhaul, midhaul and fronthaul.

Key Features

25GbE, 10GbE and 1GbE interfaces supported
Up to 8 ports 25GbE or 10GbE, up to 16 ports 1GbE per chassis
Mix and match interface cards: SFP28, SFP+ or RJ-45
Any port to any port packet flow without limitations
Multi-user operation with ports and maps assigned to individual users
Web-based drag-and-drop user interface
RESTful API for remote control in automation environments
Timeline feature for automation via the Web UI without scripting
Delay emulation up to 30 seconds
55+ impairments and tools
Audio and video MPEG (H.264 and H.265) modification and corruption
Packet fragmentation and reordering
Generic full packet inspection and filtering
Packet modification of any bits or bytes of any packet
Load generators including UDP background traffic, TCP generation and PCAP replay
Non-volatile capture and replay
Link flapping
Markov random packet drop
20 Mbyte bandwidth throttle buffer for video applications
Automated 5G network model
Wireshark integration
Jumbo frame support up to 9219 bytes
Personalised user annotations on maps

Specifications

Physical

Number of ports per card 1G	4
Number of ports per card 10G, 25G	2
Maximum number of ports per SNE (4 full slots) 1G	16
Maximum number of ports per SNE (4 full slots) 10G, 25G	8 Key features text elsewhere states up to 16 ports 10GbE/1GbE; the specification table gives 8 for 10G
Supported rates 1G	10 Mbit/s, 100 Mbit/s, 1 Gbit/s
Supported rates 10G	1 Gbit/s, 10 Gbit/s
Supported rates 25G	1 Gbit/s, 10 Gbit/s, 25 Gbit/s Web page mentions 1GbE to 100GbE; datasheet lists interfaces up to 25GbE
Interface 1G	RJ45 (GbE Copper)
Interface 10G	SFP+
Interface 25G	SFP28
Max packet rate per port (Bi-Directional) 1G	2.96 million packets
Max packet rate per port (Bi-Directional) 10G	29.6 million packets
Max packet rate per port (Bi-Directional) 25G	74.4 million packets
Form factor	2u Rack

General

Dimensions (WxDxH)	445x365x89 mm To fit 2u Rack
Intrinsic Latency (Single Direction)	<10µs
Timing Precision	10µs
Maximum Frame Size – Non-Jumbo Frame Mode	1542 bytes
Maximum Frame Size – Jumbo Frame Mode	9219 bytes
Any Port to Any Port	Packets can be sent between any port
Multi-user support	Unlimited users, share maps, assign ports to individual users
Live Changes	Real-time modification of any impairment setting
Bi-directional, Independent Emulations	Supported
Link Flap	Ports can be cycled on/off to simulate Link Flapping
Disable FCS recalculation 1G, 10G	Generate CRC errors by disabling recalculation of Frame Check Sequence on egress Not supported on 25G
Hardware NTP Time Stamping	Lock hardware and packet timings to accurate internal / external clocks

Delay

Delay Modes	Constant, Gaussian, Ramp, Range, Sinusoidal
Maximum Delay Emulation (Non-Jumbo Frame Mode) 1G	1250ms at 1G
Maximum Delay Emulation (Non-Jumbo Frame Mode) 10G	500ms at 10G
Maximum Delay Emulation (Non-Jumbo Frame Mode) 25G	500ms at 25G
Maximum Delay Emulation (Jumbo Frame Mode) 1G	1250ms at 1GbE
Maximum Delay Emulation (Jumbo Frame Mode) 10G	500ms at 10GbE
Maximum Delay Emulation (Jumbo Frame Mode) 25G	1250ms at 25GbE
Maximum Extended Delay Emulation (Non-Jumbo Frame Mode) 1G	30000ms at 1GbE
Maximum Extended Delay Emulation (Non-Jumbo Frame Mode) 10G	4071ms at 10GbE
Maximum Extended Delay Emulation (Non-Jumbo Frame Mode) 25G	4071ms at 25GbE
Maximum Extended Delay Emulation (Jumbo Frame Mode) 1G	7250ms at 1GbE
Maximum Extended Delay Emulation (Jumbo Frame Mode) 10G	725ms at 10GbE
Maximum Extended Delay Emulation (Jumbo Frame Mode) 25G	725ms at 25GbE

Bandwidth Limit

Bandwidth Limit Threshold	8 bit/s to 25 Gbit/s
Bandwidth Limit Modes	Constant Throttle, Random Range

Packet Drop, Reorder and Jitter

Packet Drop – Standard	Drop x packets in y received
Packet Drop – Percentage	Drop 1% to 100% (in increments of 1%)
Packet Drop – Markov	2 state random packet drop (as per ITU-T G.1050 Appendix II - Gilbert-Elliott model)
Packet Reorder – Packet Distance	Min/max distance of 0 to 10000 packets
Packet Reorder – Time	Min/max displacement of 0 to 500ms
Jitter range	0.01 to 100 ms

Packet Modification and Corruption

Generic Packet Modifier	Modify any 1 to 4 bytes in packets and set to a specific value
Bit Error Rate – Error Range	Corrupt x bits in every y bits/kbits/Mbits
Packet Corruption – Overwrite Modes	Bitflips, Byte overwrite
Packet Corruption – Corruption Level	0.1 to 100% of packet
Packet Corruption – Corruption Range	All contents of each packet, Start and end point within each packet
Packet Duplication – Duplicator Modes	Complex – multiple, timed duplication; Simple – 1:1 duplication of all packets; Duplication every x seconds
Burst Packet – Burst Modes	N Packets; Timeout; N Packets OR Timeout; Packets AND Timeout N Packets accumulates N packets before sending a burst; Timeout accumulates packets until the specified time has elapsed
Packet Fragmentor – Maximum MTU Range	68 to 9000 bytes

MPEG Video Corrupter

IDR Frame Corruption	For every x frames, corrupt y frames, affecting z% of the frame. Optionally drop n frames
Non-IDR Frame Corruption	Corrupt I, B and/or P frame
Checksum Correction	Fix IP Header Checksum; Fix IP UDP Header Checksum
Decoder Notifications	Non RTP/MPEG packet received; Frame with forbidden flag received; Unsupported NAL frame received

Filters

Maximum Number of Filters Per Map	Unlimited – Connect multiple filters in any way to create complex filter rules
Filter Types	IPv4/IPv6 Address, MAC Address, IP Protocol, VLAN, UDP, TCP, RTP, RoCEv2 (IPv4/IPv6, OpCode, Queue Pair), MPLS (Label, QOS value, TTL value), Counting, Diff Serv (DSCP AF Type or TOS value), Payload, Generic

Packet Generation

UDP Background Traffic	Constant or range; Up to 10 Gbit/s; Optionally send packets to broadcast address
TCP Server Generator	Specify TCP source/destination MAC and IP address; Up to 10 Gbit/s; Generate multiple streams
Traffic Replay	Replay from PCAP file; Single replay or loop

Analysis

Bandwidth Graph	Show data rate over time; Up to 1 hour sliding window; Export as CSV file
Inter-Packet Gap Graph	Show average and/or min/max interpacket gap over time; Up to 1 hour sliding window; Export as CSV file
Packet Count Graph	Show number of packets per second over time; Up to 1 hour sliding window; Export as CSV file
Traffic Capture	Capture traffic as PCAP; Total storage: 20GB volatile (RAM) or 1TB non-volatile (SSD); Capture file maximum size: RAM – 20GB, SSD – 524GB Up to 12 minutes of storage for wire-rate recording at 10Gbps
Wireshark	Capture traffic directly to Wireshark; Max traffic capture rate 1 Gbit/s

Remote Control

RESTful API	Easy remote control of impairments in an automation environment
Timeline	Schedule changes to impairments with no manual intervention required
Timing Constraints	Specify start and duration of individual impairments activity

Specifications are taken from the manufacturer's documentation. See the datasheet for complete and current values.