[c-nsp] Testing big routers

[Joost greene]

Hello,

A new networking vendor came up to me and says that there router can do
1.6Mpps and i would like to test that, in general: its performance overall,
any suggestions?

I tested interoperability with my network by placing it as PE, configuring
IGP, MPBGP, BGP, LDP,VRFs, 6PE, QoS, AToM... all running fine, but i'm just
curious how professionals test routers before purchasing them.

For PPS testing, is that possible with software traffic generators or do i
have to get hardware ones?

For Backplane testing, how can this be done? (Make sure the datasheet
numbers are correct)

Is there like a book/article about testing?

If i understand correctly IPerf will place the device under test between the
server and client, i wonder if i will be able to pull something out of this
with normal PCs?

Thanks,
Kim