Test Applications | Backhaul | Services over Ethernet and IP Networks.

The High-speed Ethernet-based networks links are widely found in the local area, the metropolitan area, and the wide area networks, as it provides a cost-effective and less complex Ethernet solution to aggregate and manage data between different networks. However, unlike the TDM based circuits, the performance of Ethernet-based networks cannot be evaluated based only on the bit-error-rate (BER) and loopback testing. To fully validate network performance of Ethernet / IP network, the network operators need to perform RFC 2544 tests, Stacked VLAN and MPLS tests, traffic emulation, and multi-stream testing.

Testing the voice, video, and data performance over the high-speed Ethernet links is extremely challenging and requires specialized test tools. GL offers test tools for testing high-speed Ethernet links of up to 10 Gbps which allow you to monitor, test, and troubleshoot performance issues.

GL's PacketExpert™ is a hardware based test instrument suited for the installation, troubleshooting, and comprehensive testing of Ethernet/IP networks. PacketExpert™ can be used as a comprehensive Ethernet-IP Tester and perform all the network validation tests over electrical and optical interfaces, or used as an advanced WAN Emulator by emulating a WAN (wide area network) link between two local networks to test end-point devices and applications.

PacketExpert™ WAN Emulator can emulate a single link per board with varying capacities from 10Mbps to 1 Gbps interfaces. Multiple emulation engines are possible with High-Density PacketExpert™ boards. Available in 4, 12, and 24 port versions.

GL's PacketCheck™ is a software based Ethernet / IP test tool with BERT, multi-stream, throughput, delay, impairments, traffic generation features. Like Packetexpert™, it can perform testing at all protocol layers - from raw Ethernet frames to VLAN, MPLS, IP, and UDP packets.

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Applications

• Service-level agreement (SLA) validation
• Automated remote and testing
• Emulate network behaviour to test End-point devices such as routers, switches, and IP services
• QoS testing of Triple-play services
• Pinpoint the cause of application failure and validate solutions without disrupting the production network
• Validate network that suits your company requirements before deployment
• Evaluate performance of enterprise-level, and bandwidth-sensitive applications prior to deployment
• Test Audio, and Video quality on IP networks
• Estimate bandwidth and QoS requirements

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Test Solutions

Tests to verify the performance of an Ethernet / IP networks include the following -

• BERT
  PacketExpert™ supports Wire speed BERT(full duplex) on all the ports simultaneously over Layer1, Framed Ethernet (Layer2), Stacked MPLS (Layer2.5), Stacked VLAN (Q-in-Q), IP and UDP layers.
  
• RFC 2544
  PacketExpert™ supports all RFC 2544 tests for the performance benchmarking of individual network elements. These include Throughput, Latency, Frame Loss, and Back-to-Back tests. Similar to BERT, RFC 2544 can be done over Framed Ethernet (Layer2), Stacked VLAN (Q-in-Q), Stacked MPLS, IP and UDP.
  
• WAN Link Emulation for 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps (Single Stream)
  GL's IPLinkSim™ and IPNetSim™ products support WAN emulation. These tools can operate in pass-through mode, and pass all frames across to the other port acting as a transparent bidirectional Ethernet link or a simple Ethernet bridge between 2 Ethernet end points. These products are capable of emulating a WAN link, and introducing typical WAN impairments like Bandwidth Throttling, Latency, Jitter, Packet Loss, Packet Reordering, Packet Duplication, Packet Corruption, Congestion emulation etc. Both the products act as a transparent Ethernet bridge and can be connected between two LANs easily emulating a WAN link in the lab.

• Multi Stream IP WAN Emulator for 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps
  IPNetSim™ emulates WAN conditions separately and independently on each direction (16 streams on 1 Gbps ports and 4 streams on 10 Gbps ports). ”Stream Definition” feature to classify the traffic on each port into separate streams. WAN Emulation includes various real world impairments such as Bandwidth, Latency, Packet-Loss, Error Insertion, Reordering, and Duplication, to check the performance of end equipment to real world impairments.
  
• Wirespeed Ethernet Packet Capture and Playback
  Wirespeed Capture and Playback testing is an optional application within PacketExpert™ 1G and 10G platforms. Record Playback module is a Wirespeed Ethernet Tap, which works as a High-Precision Wirespeed Traffic Generator in optical interfaces supporting up to 10Gb/s.  It supports all the features of high-end taps in a portable unit providing Wirespeed Packet Capture, Filter, Drop (for real-time analysis) & Storage (for offline analysis) over both 10G and 1G ports.

• PacketBroker – Passive Ethernet Tap
  The PacketBroker is another optional application within PacketExpert™ 1G and 10G platforms, that allows the Ethernet test tool to be used as a highly precise non-intrusive Wirespeed Ethernet Tap with all the necessary features packaged within to capture real world traffic, define multiple filters for drilling-down to traffic of interest, generate triggers based on packet filters, both direction traffic aggregated on to a single port, modify packets to convey useful information like Timestamp, Filter number etc. inband and output filtered/aggregated/modified packets for deep-packet data analysis.

• ExpertSAM™ (ITU-T Y.1564)
  ExpertSAM™ multi-stream ITU-T Y.1564 standard compliant test is supported on PacketExpert™ 1G and 10G platforms. ExpertSAM™ is a single test conducted to validate SLAs as per ITU-T Y.1564 standard. The ITU-T Y.1564 is built around two key subtests, the Service Configuration Test and the Service Performance Test. ExpertSAM™ is a set of procedures that test the ability of Ethernet-based services to carry a variety of traffic (voice, data, and video) at defined performance levels. 

• High-Density Ethernet Network Testing (1 Gbps)
  HD-PacketExpert™ offers higher densities from 12/24 Ethernet Ports form factor solution for testing GigE switches, routers and network conditions. The chassis comprises of both electrical and optical (fiber) interfaces.
• Ethernet Multi-stream testing (1 Gbps)
  GL's PacketCheck™ supports Ethernet multi-stream option to test Ethernet at all layers (VLAN, MPLS, IP, and UDP) with BERT, multi-stream, throughput, delay, impairments, traffic generation features. This allows the users to test a congested networks ability to transport high priority traffic rather than lower priority traffic to ensure good quality.