When present on equipment this manual pertains to, the statement "This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
rules" specifies the equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commission [FCC] Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is
operated in a commercial environment.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will
be required to correct the interference at their own expense.
Extra Components and Materials
The product that this manual pertains to may include extra components and materials that are not essential to its
basic operation, but are necessary to ensure compliance to the product standards required by the United States
Federal Communications Commission, and the European EMC Directive. Modification or removal of these
components and/or materials, is liable to cause non compliance to these standards, and in doing so invalidate the
user’s right to operate this equipment in a Class A industrial environment.
Disclaimer
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, neither Endace Technology Limited nor any employee of
the company, shall be liable on any ground whatsoever to any party in respect of decisions or actions they may
make as a result of using this information.
Endace Technology Limited has taken great effort to verify the accuracy of this manual, but nothing herein should
be construed as a warranty and Endace shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained
herein.
In accordance with the Endace Technology Limited policy of continuing development, the information contained
herein is subject to change without notice.
Website
http://www.endace.com
Copyright 2008 Endace Technology Ltd. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
Endace Technology Limited.
Endace, the Endace logo, Endace Accelerated, DAG, NinjaBox and NinjaProbe are trademarks or registered
trademarks in New Zealand, or other countries, of Endace Technology Limited. Applied Watch and the Applied
Watch logo are registered trademarks of Applied Watch Technologies LLC in the USA. All other product or
service names are the property of their respective owners. Product and company names used are for identification
purposes only and such use does not imply any agreement between 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).
Card Features .............................................................................................................................................................. 1
Purpose of this User Guide ....................................................................................................................................... 2
System Requirements................................................................................................................................................. 2
General ................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Operating System ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Other Systems........................................................................................................................................................ 2
Line Types ................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Supported Line Types .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Data Stream Management ................................................................................................................................... 6
DAG Software package ............................................................................................................................................. 9
Inserting the DAG Card ............................................................................................................................................ 9
Port connector ........................................................................................................................................................... 10
Power Input ......................................................................................................................................................... 13
Before configuring the DAG card ..................................................................................................................... 15
Setting up the FPGA ................................................................................................................................................ 16
Selecting the firmware image to boot .............................................................................................................. 16
Loading new firmware images onto a DAG Card ......................................................................................... 17
Preparing the DAG card for use ............................................................................................................................. 19
Configuring the DAG card ...................................................................................................................................... 20
Display Current Configuration ......................................................................................................................... 20
Viewing the DAG card status ................................................................................................................................. 29
Interface Status .................................................................................................................................................... 29
Basic data capture ..................................................................................................................................................... 31
Starting a capture session .................................................................................................................................. 31
Capturing data at high speed ............................................................................................................................ 33
Viewing captured data ............................................................................................................................................ 34
Converting captured data ....................................................................................................................................... 36
Using third party applications ............................................................................................................................... 38
Transmitting captured data .................................................................................................................................... 38
Common Synchronization ...................................................................................................................................... 41
Network Time Protocol ........................................................................................................................................... 42
Example ............................................................................................................................................................... 43
Card with Reference ................................................................................................................................................ 48
Pulse Signal from External Source ................................................................................................................... 48
Connecting the Time Distribution Server ....................................................................................................... 48
Testing the Signal ............................................................................................................................................... 48
Single Card No Reference ....................................................................................................................................... 49
Two Cards No Reference ........................................................................................................................................ 50
Synchronizing with Each Other ....................................................................................................................... 50
Synchronizing with Host ................................................................................................................................... 51
The Endace DAG 7.5G4 card provides the means to transfer data at the full speed from 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. The full attention of the CPU remains focused on
the analysis of incoming data without a constant stream of interrupts as new packets arrive
from the network. For a busy network link, this feature has a turbo-charging effect similar to
that of adding a second CPU to the system.
The DAG 7.5G4 card provides independent four port Ethernet network monitoring at Gigabit
speeds and supports header only or variable length capture. It is capable of transmitting and
receiving on each channel simultaneously allowing a single card to operate inline,
monitoring and transmitting in both directions on a full duplex link.
The DAG 7.5G4 card is a four port, PCIe card that allows capture and transmission of data. It
a multi-speed card, capable of speeds of 10/100/1000 Mbps. The speed of both ends must
match. The card auto negotiates the correct speed.
Half Duplex is not supported by this DAG card.
Card Features
The following features are available on this DAG card. Note: Different firmware images
may be required. Not all features are available on each firmware image. For further
information on which feature is available in what firmware image, see
15
(page ).
• 10/100/1000 MB Ethernet (copper) and 1000 MB Ethernet (optical).
The DAG 7.5G4 card provides four optical or copper Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. It is capable
of full line rate (1,000Mbps) capture and transmission of Ethernet traffic. Full packet capture
at line rate allows recording of all header information and/or payload with a high precision
timestamp.
The key features of the card are:
•Four SFP ports for 1000Base-SX or 1000Base-LX optical Ethernet or 10/100/1000Base-
T copper Ethernet,
• Header only or variable length capture,
• Full line rate transmit,
• 100% capture into host memory at full line rate for IP packets from 48 to 9600 bytes
• Conditioned clock with PPS input and local synchronization capability.
• PCIe x4 Gen 1.0a, 8 Gigabits per second (Raw). Actual performance of PCIe will
depend on the motherboard and other factors in the system architecture.
•Bit level masks applied to the first 64 bytes of each packet can be used to classify
packets and make drop/capture decisions.
Battery removal – don’t do it!
Removing the battery from a DAG card voids your warranty.
Removing the battery from a DAG card will cause the loss of encryption key used to decode
the DAG card's firmware. Once the encryption key is lost the DAG card must be returned to
Endace for reprogramming.
The battery in this product is expected to last a minimum of 10 years.
Caution
Risk of explosion if the battery is replaced by an incorrect type.
Dispose of used batteries carefully.
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 7.5G4
card will not function as expected.
There are various Ethernet line speeds and corresponding protocols which are identified
using the IEEE naming convention. Each line speed has a set of requirements associated with
it relating to the type of cable, maximum allowable distance, etc.
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.
Supported Line Types
The line characteristics supported by the DAG 7.5G4 card are described below.
Type Description
10Base-T 10 Mbps over two pairs of twisted telephone cable.
100Base-TX 100 Mbps over two pairs of shielded or unshielded twisted Cat 5 copper
cable.
1000Base-T 1000Mbps over four pairs of balanced Cat5 or Cat6 copper cable.
1000Base-LX 1000Mbps over single mode or multi mode fiber optic cable with long
wavelength laser driver (1310nm)
1000Base-SX 1000Mbps over single mode or multi mode fiber optic cable with short
wavelength laser driver (850nm)
Note: For more detailed information regarding Ethernet line types and speeds, please refer
to IEEE Standard 802.3 available from the IEEE website at
The Timed Release TERF (TR-TERF) module is a option that enables you to transmit an ERF
stream while reproducing the timestamps of the packets within that stream. It is able to
transmit on all channels.
The DAG 7.5G4 card operates on an 4 lane PCIe bus and can be installed in any free 4 lane
PCIe slot.
The PCIe bus allows multiple DAG cards to be installed without affecting the bandwidth
used by each DAG 7.5G4 card.
DAG Software package
The latest DAG Software package must be installed before you install the DAG 7.5G4 card
itself. See EDM04-01 DAG Software Installation Guide, which is included on the CD shipped
with the DAG 7.5G4 card.
Inserting the DAG Card
Caution:
It is very important to protect both the computer and the DAG 7.5G4 card from
damage by electro-static discharge (ESD). Failure to do so could cause damage to
components and subsequently cause the card to partially or completely fail.
1. Turn power to the computer OFF.
2. Remove the PCIe bus slot screw and cover.
3. Using an approved ESD protection device attach the end with the strap to your wrist
and pull or clip firmly so there is firm contact with your wrist.
4. Securely attach the clip on the other end of the strap to a solid metal area on the
computer chassis as shown below.
5. Insert the DAG 7.5G4 card into PCIe bus slot ensuring it is firmly seated.
6. If this DAG card requires an external power supply, complete the following steps:
a. Connect the supplied (or equivalent) power cable to the external power connector
on the DAG card.
b. Connect the cable to the appropriate power connector on your server's power
supply unit.
7. Check the free end of the card fits securely into the card-end bracket that supports the
weight of the card.
8. Secure the card with the bus slot cover screw.
9. Turn power to the computer ON.
10. Ensure the blue (FPGA successfully programmed) LED on the DAG card illuminates.
The DAG 7.5G4 card has 4 x Small Form Factor (SFP) socket connectors. Each connector
consists of an optical fiber or copper transmitter and receiver.
Note: The DAG 7.5G4 supports both optical and copper transceivers.
The DAG 7.5G4G4 has an 8-pin RJ45 socket located below the optical port connectors on the
card bracket. This socket is available for connection to an external time synchronization
source.
Caution:
Never connect anything other than a PPS input to the time synchronization sockets.
The DAG 7.5G4 card supports industry standard Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) optical
transceivers.
The transceivers consist of two parts:
• Mechanical chassis attached to the circuit board
• Transceiver unit which may be inserted into the chassis
Note: You must select the correct transceiver type to match the optical parameters of the
network to which you want to connect. Configuring the card with the wrong
transceiver type may damage the card.
You can connect the transceiver to the network via LC-style optical connectors.
For further information on pluggable optical transceivers please refer to the Endace website
http://www.endace.com
at
Optical modules
The optical power range depends on the particular SFP module that is fitted to the DAG
4.5Z2/4.5Z8 card. Optics modules are supplied in either Single or Multi mode. See the
following table for details.
.
Optical power is measured in dBm. This is decibels relative to 1 mW where 10 dB is
equivalent to a factor of 10 in power. A negative optical power value indicates power that is
less than 1 mW. The most sensitive devices can work at power levels down as low as -30dBm
or 1µW.
The DAG 4.5Z2/4.5Z8 card optics power module specification is shown below:
Note: The optical power input to the DAG card must be within the receiver’s dynamic
range. See the previous table for details. If it is slightly outside of this range it will
cause an increased bit error rate. If it is significantly outside of this range the system
will not be able to lock onto the signal.
When power is above the upper limit the optical receiver saturates and fails to function.
When power is below the lower limit the bit error rate increases until the device is unable to
obtain lock and fails. In extreme cases, excess power can damage the receiver.
When you set up the DAG card you should measure the optical power at the receiver and
ensure that it is within the specified power range. If it is not, adjust the input power as
follows:
• Insert an optical attenuator if power is too high, or
• Change the splitter ratio if power is too high or too low.
Splitter Losses
Splitters have the insertion losses either marked on their packaging or described in their
accompanying documentation. General guidelines are:
• A 50:50 splitter will have an insertion loss of between 3 dB and 4 dB on each output
• 90:10 splitter will have losses of about 10 dB in the high loss output, and <2 dB in the
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. However a multi mode input connected to a single mode
fiber will likely have large and unpredictable losses.
Pluggable Copper Transceivers
The DAG 7.5G4 card supports industry standard Small Form-factor pluggable (SFP) copper
transceivers.
The transceivers consist of two parts:
• Mechanical chassis attached to the circuit board
• Transceiver unit which may be inserted into the chassis
Endace recommends that you use Cat6 copper cable. The DAG 4.5Z2/4.5Z8 card copper
module specification is shown below:
All DAG cards have at least one Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The FPGA
contains the firmware for the installed DAG card. The firmware defines how the DAG card
operates when capturing data and contains the specific configuration.
For the FPGA on the DAG 7.5G4 there are up to four firmware images stored in the ROM:
•The factory image - contains fixed basic functionality for operating the DAG card. It
cannot be overwritten by the user.
•The user images 1 to 3 - User image #1 is programmed at the factory. Other images
may or may not be pre-programmed. User images can be updated by the user either
to update to a new release, or to load an image with different functionality than that
originally shipped from the factory.
By default, the DAG 7.5G4 card boots user image #1, unless the Force factory jumper is
fitted. For more details on the Force factory jumper, see
Booting from the factory image is normally only required if the DAG card cannot boot from
any of the user images because of a ROM programming error when updating the user
images.
Selecting the firmware image to boot
Use the following command to select the firmware image from which to boot. on the DAG
7.5G4 the are up to four images from which to select.
dagconfig -d0 -p x
Boot jumper settings11 (page ).
x Image loaded
0 Factory image
1 User image 1
2 User image 2
3 User image 3
where "0" is the device number of the DAG card you wish to capture data from.
Note:The old options described below are only work for the factory and user image 1.
The options are described below.
To boot the DAG card with the factory image, type the following command:
dagreset –d0
To boot the DAG card with the user image, type the following command: