![](http://datasheet.mmic.net.cn/110000/GT-48212_datasheet_3491736/GT-48212_51.png)
GT-482xx Switched Ethernet Controllers for 10+10/100 BaseX
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12.
PACKET SAMPLING TECHNOLOGY (HP-EASE)
The GT-482xx supports a packet sampling technology developed by Hewlett-Packard called the Embedded
Advanced Sampling Environment (HP EASE). This packet sampling technology can be use to implement many of
the management functions that RMON provides, but at a greatly reduced implementation cost. With the GT-482xx
device, the switch OEM has the freedom to implement “true” RMON, sampled RMON, EASE, or any of the above.
NOTE: Customers wishing to use the packet sampling technology to implement a true HP-EASE agent should
contact Galileo directly for additional information and MIB specifications.
12.1
Packet Sampling Overview
HP EASE sampling requires a counter for each network segment. This counter indicates the number of packets to
be skipped before a sample is taken. When the counter reaches zero, the next packet on the network segment is
captured by the network device. Software then truncates the sampled packet, to some small fixed length, and
appends a snapshot of specific MIB counters for that segment. The counter snapshot does not have to be taken
simultaneously with the sample. Software may introduce a delay of some milliseconds after the packet is sampled
by hardware, however minimizing this delay makes EASE more accurate. The newly created datagram is sent off
to the network management station as an SNMP trap. The network management station records the sample and
counters in a database, and uses the information to obtain traffic load estimates, top talker matrices, high-level
protocol flows, and other useful sets of information. After the sample has been taken, the CPU loads the count-
down counter with the next skip count to capture the next sampled packet. The skip count is a random value
loaded by software.
EASE software in the network device must keep track of the last receive error sources and the associated error
conditions. The network device keeps track of errors associated with received packets and informs the CPU of the
source address (SA) of these error packets.
12.2
EASE Functionality on the GT-482xx
Support for EASE sampling is directly integrated in the GT-482xx chip, but requires the presence of a CPU in
order to function, for enabling the EASE support as well as the sample packet processing. Each GT-482xx device
supports 14 network segments (one per port) as well as the CPU system bus. Sampling will occur only on the net-
work segments, and sampled packets will be sent to the CPU. Sampling is not performed on the CPU bus. It may,
however, be performed on packets received from the CPU, but only as a function of the counters for the destina-
tion ports (i.e. packets entering the GT-482xx via the CPU bus and being transmitted through one or more ports).
There is no counter for the CPU interface itself. Only good packets of valid length are sampled. All other packets
are not sampled and do not affect the skip count. All counters and registers implemented in the GT-482xx chip in
order to support EASE functionality, may be accessed by the CPU.
12.3
Ease Register
A register is defined for each external port supported on the GT-482xx device. This register is used by the CPU to
load the internal count down counter, described above, with a random skip count. The count-down counter is 20
bits in length and is used to actually determine when a sample is to be made. The GT-482xx implements a
shadow register for each of the Ease registers. The shadow register address is the same address as the
Ease_Register address. After a value has been written to the Ease register it is transferred to an internal 1 word
deep FIFO (the shadow register) or directly to the actual count-down counter if that counter is currently idle and
empty. If the value can not be transferred to the count-down counter, the value will be held in the Ease_Register
shadow register until space becomes available (i.e. a sample has been taken). If the Ease_Register shadow reg-
ister was written and the CPU does attempt to write a new value, the new value will silently replace the existing
value. If the Ease_Register is empty at the time a new value needs to be loaded into the internal counter or the
shadow register, the GT-482xx will load the previous value. EASE is effectively disabled on that port.