# Testing and validation

## Objectives

The objective for the testing and validation phase of a PoC can be summarized as:

* Manage and control traffic across all networks (subnets/locations) to distribute software efficiently, reduce bandwidth usage, and avoid large server infrastructure – without impacting business operations
* Verify that peer-to-peer traffic functions correctly and offloads the network as intended, including proper integration with BITS/BranchCache, Delivery Optimization, and LEDBAT.
* Gain real-time visibility into network traffic to identify bottlenecks and ensure software distribution is controlled and reconfigurable.

### Lab testing <a href="#toc30142820" id="toc30142820"></a>

To complete a StifleR PoC in a lab environment, requirements vary based on whether Intune and/or Configuration Manager is used:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Intune" %}

* A functioning Intune instance with several applications that can be used for testing purposes. Ideally no less than 500 MB in size (1 GB recommended).
* Choose 2-3 subnets with 3 or more client PCs each that are registered with Intune:
  * Ideally two of the subnets should be in the same location with good connectivity to one another.
  * It is recommended that some clients should reside on a subnet that has slower connectivity to an Internet gateway.
    {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Configuration Manager" %}

* Microsoft Configuration Manager Primary Site server:
  * This server will provide all of the CM Roles such as a Management Point, Distribution Point, etc. on a single server.
* Configure 2-3 subnets with 3 or more client PCs each that are Configuration Manager clients.
  * Ideally two of the subnets should be in the same location which have good connectivity with one another.
  * It is recommended that some clients should reside on a subnet which has slower connectivity to a distribution point. In a lab environment, this can be achieved by installing a virtual appliance such as a pfSense router, which supports bandwidth limiting.&#x20;
* Choose several applications that can be used for testing purposes. Ideally no less than 500 MB in size (1 GB recommended).
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

### Production environment testing <a href="#toc30142821" id="toc30142821"></a>

To complete a StifleR PoC in a production environment, requirements vary based on whether Intune and/or Configuration Manager is used::

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Intune" %}

* A functioning Intune instance with several applications that can be used for testing purposes. Ideally no less than 500 MB in size (1 GB recommended).
* Choose 2-3 subnets with 3 or more client PCs each that are registered with Intune:
  * Ideally two of the subnets should be in the same location with good connectivity to one another.
  * It is recommended that some clients should reside on a subnet that has slower connectivity to an Internet gateway.
    {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Configuration Manager" %}

* Choose 2–3 subnets with 3 or more client PCs each that are Configuration Manager clients.
  * Ideally two of the subnets should be in the same location with good connectivity to one another.
  * It is recommended that some clients should reside on a subnet that has slower connectivity to a distribution point.
* Choose several applications that can be used for testing purposes. Ideally no less than 500 MB in size (1 GB recommended).
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

## StifleR Server

### Implementing bandwidth-limiting server components

| Name                                                                     | Description                                                                                                                                                                                    | Requirement / Benefit                                       |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Limits the number of concurrent downloads to a certain subnet (location) | Maximizes the efficiency of built-in Microsoft peer-to-peer tech. Ensures a single download of content per location. Further leverages Microsoft Data Deduplication to reduce data transferred | Limit content transfers to the absolute minimum required    |
| Limits the download speed to a fixed set of Kb/s per location            | Ensures that business bandwidth is protected by allocating a set amount of bandwidth to content download traffic                                                                               | Protect business bandwidth usage at all locations           |
| Slow down, increase, pause, restart or kill all BITS download jobs       | At busy times, or during emergencies – provides complete and instant control over all in-flight transfers                                                                                      | Flexible, reactive ability to control all content transfers |

### Manage Microsoft peer-to-peer technologies: Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and Delivery Optimization (DO)

| Name                                                                      | Description                                                                                                                                         | Requirement / Benefit                                                                            |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Single Site Download                                                      | Enhances Microsoft BranchCache to enable multi-subnet/multi-VLAN transfers                                                                          | Limit content transfers to the absolute minimum required                                         |
| Windows Store (WSfB)                                                      | Manage Windows Store and/or Windows Store For Business Downloads                                                                                    | Manage Delivery Optimization transfers regardless of source – while maintaining bandwidth limits |
| Microsoft Intune                                                          | Manage content downloads from Intune                                                                                                                | Limit content transfers to the absolute minimum required                                         |
| Windows Update / WUfB                                                     | Manage content downloads from Windows Update / Windows Update for Business                                                                          | Limit content transfers to the absolute minimum required                                         |
| Integrate with and manage new Microsoft bandwidth management technologies | Microsoft is implementing LEDBAT and CUBIC congestion control methods within Windows to facilitate bandwidth management within the operating system | Use built-in technologies at no further cost where possible                                      |

### Reporting and visualization

| Name                          | Description                                                                                                                 | Requirement / Benefit                                                        |
| ----------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Real-time visibility          | Dashboards provide real-time tracking of all the above content transfers. Provide efficiency stats and highlight any issues | Single location to track and manage all types of downloads                   |
| Long-term trend analysis      | Recording all data to a DB for analysis/data visualization/reporting/trending (optional)                                    | Long-term tracking of data transfers – can reduce cloud storage/egress costs |
| Scripting Interface           | Allow for customizations using an API or interface to automate items.                                                       | Complex scenarios                                                            |
| Deduplicated cache management | Store a copy of Windows Enterprise N media as well as Windows Enterprise media with minimum additional storage footprint    | Reduced cache footprint                                                      |
| Pre-caching                   | Pre-cache content for future deployments                                                                                    | Build and/or deploy faster                                                   |

### Network Requirements

<table><thead><tr><th width="249">Name</th><th>Use case</th><th>Benefit</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Network topology</td><td>Ability to dynamically build the network topology</td><td>The systems management team can see the full network dynamically without interaction with the network group</td></tr><tr><td>VLANs</td><td>Network teams add VLANs without notifying the endpoint management team resulting in inefficient content distribution causing outages</td><td>Auto-generation of networks</td></tr><tr><td>Auto network group creation</td><td>Automatically create a new subnet / office location which may be unknown</td><td>The ability to create auto network groups within the dedicated tooling and not rely on external infrastructure or manual creation​</td></tr></tbody></table>

## StifleR Dashboard

To view the activities of the StifleR Clients, open the StifleR Dashboard on the StifleR Server by visiting the dashboard URL: <https://StifleR.company.com/StifleRDashboard/>

There won’t be much in the way of traffic data yet, but you should be able to see the clients that were added in the previous steps. Drill down the [Clients](/stifler/operations-and-features/overview-and-navigation/devices/clients.md) section of the dashboard to see the clients that have checked in. Confirm that the clients have connected to the dashboard before proceeding.

### Deploy an application or Intune App to a single client PC and monitor the download <a href="#toc30142852" id="toc30142852"></a>

In this step you will deploy and monitor, in real time, a deployment to a single client:

* Target a single client system only with the required deployment created in the previous step. You can use an ‘As soon as possible’ deployment schedule.
* On the targeted test client perform a Client Policy Refresh to speed up the deployment.
* Review the content transfer in the StifleR Dashboard.

### Deploy the same application or Intune App to peers

In this step you will deploy and monitor a deployment to peers:

* Target two or more clients on the same subnet with the same application or Intune App deployment.&#x20;
* Target other clients on a separate subnet with the same application or Intune App deployment.
* Review the content transfers in the StifleR Dashboard.


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