Huawei OLT Jumbo Frame Solution

In 1998, Alteon Networks proposed to increase the maximum data that can be transmitted over the Data Link Layer from 1500 bytes to 9000 bytes (aka. Jumbo frame).

This proposal was not agreed upon by the IEEE 802.3 Working Group; but as time progresses, now most equipment vendors have supported it in order to improve the efficiency of networks.

 

In the jumbo frame environment, there is a very important parameter called MTU:

MTU, which is the maximum allowed packet/frame size on a connection. As we know, the CPUs of switches and routes process information on a frame basis, and they can only process one frame at a time. By putting a larger payload into each frame, the CPUs have fewer frames to process. In return, this can reduce the amount of heat the network devices generate.

 

Commonly, jumbo frames can carry up to 9000 bytes of payload, and improve data transmission efficiency by sending a bigger frame of data instead of the standard one.

If you wish to use the jumbo frame, need to make sure every device in this chain must support it and configured it the same MTU.

Any part that fails to support the same MTU, would become a network bottleneck for the entire system – the barrel principle, where the slowest ring determines the overall speed. The performance will decrease as incompatible devices drop frames or fragment them, the latter of which can task the CPU with higher processing requirements.

So, whether it is a PC, ONU, switch, or OLT, you must ensure that the jumbo frame function is supported and configured in the same MTU.

 

Here, we would like to give an example of enabling the jumbo frame on the Huawei MA5800 X7.

1. First need to ensure the MA5800 X7 configuration you are using supports jumbo frame:

Main control board:

Board Name	Maximum Frame Size
H901MPLA	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H902MPLA	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H903MPLA	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H901MPLB	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H902MPLB	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H903MPLB	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H901MPSC	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H901MPSA	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)

 

Service board:

Board Name	Maximum Frame Size
H901GPHF	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H902GPHF	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H901GPUF	2052 bytes
H902GPUF	2052 bytes
H901GPSF	2052 bytes
H902GPSF	2052 bytes
H901GPLF	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H902GPLF	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H901XGHD	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H901XGLD	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H901XGSF	2052 bytes
H901XGLF	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H901CGHF	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)
H901CGUF	2052 bytes
H901CSHF	2052 bytes 9216 bytes (jumbo frame enabled)

 

2. The jumbo frame function on Huawei MA5800 X7 is disabled by default.

To enable jumbo frames, do as follows:

huawei(config-if-gpon-0/2)#jumbo-frame  

{ portid<U><0,3> }:0

{ disable<K>|enable<K> }:enable                                                 

                                                                                

  Command:                                                                      

          jumbo-frame 0 enable 

 

To disable jumbo frames, do as follows:

huawei(config-if-gpon-0/2)#jumbo-frame

{ portid<U><0,3> }:0

{ disable<K>|enable<K> }:disable

 

  Command:

          jumbo-frame 0 disable

 

After jumbo frames are enabled, the Ethernet frames with a size between 2052 bytes and 9216 bytes are transparently transmitted; after jumbo frames are disabled, the Ethernet frames with a size over 2052 bytes will be deleted.

After the jumbo frame function is enabled, the corresponding board can transparently transmit the Ethernet frame with a maximum of 9216 bytes.

 

3. Using the command ‘display port info’ query the jumbo frame status of ONT

Enable: enables the jumbo frame function.

Disable: disables the jumbo frame function.

Not support: indicates that the board does not support the jumbo frame function.

 

4. If using Huawei switch can follow the below steps to enable jumbo frame function:

Run:

system-view

The system view is displayed.

 

Run:

interface interface-type interface-number

The Ethernet interface view is displayed.

 

Run:

jumboframe enable [ value ]

 

By default, the maximum frame length allowed on an interface is 9216 bytes.

If you run the jumboframe enable command on an Ethernet interface without specifying the value parameter, the maximum jumbo frame length allowed on the interface is 9216 bytes.

 

Understanding your applications is key to knowing if enabling Jumbo Frames will improve your performance. In most situations and for most modern Gigabit networks, enabling Jumbo Frames will help reduce the load on your switches infrastructure.

 

If you looking for devices that support jumbo frames, feel free to contact us at [email protected]