Session

The session is the overall collection of test information fields, including the test parameters, measurement intervals, and mapping to configured storage models. The container defines the attributes of the session. The fields are as follows:

• session type

  The impetus of the test, which is either proactive (default) or on-demand. Individual test timing parameters are influenced by this setting. A proactive session starts immediately following the execution of a no shutdown command for the test. A proactive test continues to execute until a manual shutdown stops the individual test. On-demand tests also start immediately following the no shutdown command. However, the operator can override the no test-duration default and configure a fixed amount of time that the test executes, up to 24 hours (86 400 seconds).

  If an on-demand test is configured with a test duration, it is important to shut down tests when they are completed. In the event of a high availability event causing the backup CPM or CPIOM to become the active CPM or CPIOM, all on-demand tests that have a test duration statement restart and run for the configured amount of time regardless of their progress on the previously active CPM or CPIOM.

• test family

  The main branch of testing that addresses a specific technology. The available tests for the session are based on the test family. The destination, source, and priority are common to all tests under the session and are defined separately from the individual test parameters.

• test parameters

  The parameters included in individual tests, as well as the associated parameters including start and stop times and the ability to activate and deactivate the individual test.

• measurement interval

  The assignment of collection windows to the session with the appropriate configuration parameters and accounting policy for that specific session.

The session can be viewed as the single container that brings all aspects of individual tests and the various OAM-PM components together. If any aspects of the session are incomplete, the individual test cannot be activated with a no shutdown command, and an ‟Invalid Ethernet session parameters” error occurs.