Getting started with network performance measurements

Download Test Agents

In this step we will download, install, and configure Test Agents. Since network performance measurements are made between Test Agents, you need to download and install two of them. Test Agents include active traffic generators for generating traffic within your network.

  • Under Test Agents in the Paragon Active Assurance user interface, click the Download button.

  • Download the desired type of Test Agent.

  • Follow the installation instructions for Test Agents given here.

By default, once connected and powered up, all Test Agents will communicate directly with the Paragon Active Assurance server over an encrypted connection:

  • In the cloud server case, to https://login.paa.juniper.net using:

    • Test Agent Appliance: TCP port 443

    • Test Agent Application: TCP port 6800

  • In the on-premise server case, to the host IP using TCP port 6000 (default, configurable).

Connect the Test Agents to your network and start your first test

Once you have downloaded and installed two Test Agents and registered them to your Paragon Active Assurance account, you are ready to start testing. The Test Agents should appear in the Test Agents view.

Follow the instructions below to start a simple TCP throughput test.

  1. Log in to your account in the Paragon Active Assurance user interface.

  2. On the left-side bar, click the Tests button and select New Test Sequence.

  3. Select the TCP/UDP performance task category.

  4. Select the TCP test.

  5. Under Server, select one of the Test Agents you have installed.

  6. Under Clients, select the other Test Agent.

  7. Give the test a name, and click Start.

You should see measurement results within just a few seconds.

Note

The connection will be initiated from the Test Agent you selected as client to the Test Agent selected as server. Therefore, if one agent is placed behind a NAT router, make sure you select that one as client.

To learn more, read the page Introduction to tests and monitors.

A full treatment of network performance testing is found on the following pages: