Testing Routers and Switches for Triple Play

Networks responsible for delivering triple play services are growing in both scale and complexity.  Service-aware edge and access networks comprised of BNGs (BRASs), BSRs, BSAs and other forwarding devices must serve potentially tens of thousands of subscribers on a single GbE port, where each subscriber may be purchasing voice, video and data services.  Enforcing quality of service and ensuring high quality of experience (QoE) is critical for meeting customer expectations. Video services present the greatest scalability challenges for network devices; for example, channel zapping stresses access protocols such as DHCP, IGMP and MLD. Aggressive data services, such as peer-to-peer file-sharing applications, consume bandwidth and threaten the delivery of real-time services and business VPNs.  Agilent’s N2X solution enables realistic triple play testing with simultaneous voice, video, and hardware-based stateful TCP data on the same physical port, controlled through a single software application.

The scalability of the Agilent N2X is pivotal in evaluating the performance of comprehensive triple play network architectures. N2X equips us with the ability to quickly emulate a very large number of triple play subscribers with different profiles and multi-class traffic representing a realistic test environment. We’re very impressed by the usability of the system. The intuitive GUI makes it easy to perform complex tests and analyze traffic forwarding, quality of service prioritization and MDI QoE measurements.” - Rajiv Papneja, Director, Isocore Corporation

Real-world testing in the lab

The Agilent N2X provides the ultimate solution for validating the ability of IP/MPLS core, service-aware edge and broadband access devices to forward video, voice and high-speed data services. Powerful emulation and conformance test software create real-world network traffic conditions that can be dynamically changed to verify equipment interoperability, performance and scalability limits, and gain insights into end-user Quality of Experience. As a comprehensive multi-services test solution, the N2X features a flexible hardware configuration including purpose-built, industry-leading hardware test cards:

• Generation of real-world test scenarios to validate video, voice and data service delivery over MPLS/IP core, service-aware edge, and broadband access infrastructures.
• Integrated layer 2-7 traffic generation and protocol emulation up to and including application protocols.
• Conformance testing and protocol emulation of IP, MPLS, Carrier Ethernet, Multicast, VPNs, OAM, and access protocols.
• Interfaces for all major LAN and WAN technologies from 10/100/1000 Mb/s Ethernet to 40 Gb/s and EPON.

N2X: Industry-leading solutions

Agilent continues to lead the industry with innovative and industry-first solutions for cutting edge technologies. The N2X continues to address complex network infrastructure test challenges for today and tomorrow, including Layer 2/3 MPLS VPNs, BFD and CFM conformance test suites through to EPON, hardware-based TCP and scaled IPTV QoE testing.

Complimentary Products

Agilent’s strengths in the triple play world are: its unique ability to generate realistic test scenarios that support the design, test, manufacture, installation and operation of complex networks, network equipment and services; and the troubleshooting tools that help isolate and resolve problems in the field quickly, easily and reliably.