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To temporarily store packets during bursty network traffic, administrators create a memory space, also called packet buffer using the web-based management console of the HP Procurve switch. The packet buffer can be utilized during the packet transmission delays or retransmitting a request. The target switch uses the packet buffer when the switch encounters high transmission latency and packet loss. Insufficient buffer memory can cause packet loss, delays and processing overheads, which in turn degrades the reliability and performance of the target switch. To avoid such eventualities, buffer memory allocation to the switch should be closely monitored at regular intervals. This can be easily done using the Packet Buffer Statistics test!

This test reveals the size of the packet buffer allocated to the switch. In the process, this test also reports how many times the switch failed to access the buffer and how many times the corrupted buffer was deleted. With the help of these statistics, administrators can decide whether they need to add additional resources to the buffer or repair the buffer.

Outputs of the test : One set of results for the HP Procurve switch that is being monitored.

Measurement	Description	Measurement Unit	Interpretation
Packetbuf_size	Indicates the current size of the packet buffer.	KB	A high value is desired for this measure. A sudden decrease in the value of this measure indicates that the packet buffer memory is depleting rapidly, and administrators need to allocate the additional memory to the buffer to avoid packet loss and delay.
Missing_pktbuffer	Indicates the number of times the switch failed to access the packet buffer..	Number	A low value is desired for this measure.
Corrupt_pktbuffer	Indicates the number of times the corrupted buffer was deleted.	Number