The collaboration between  Agilent Technologies and Mu Dynamics (News - Alert) to integrate Agilent’s N2X multiservices test solution with Mu’s Test Suite family, is allowing

network operators and their vendor suppliers to accelerate the design and automation of tests in order to evaluate the impact of unexpected device/systems scenarios on network performance and reliability.

 

According to VoIP testing outfit Mu Dynamics, these tests are designed to emulate real-world scale and traffic in “out-of-service” lab environments. Dave Kresse (News - Alert), chief executive officer of Mu Dynamics, said the efforts of both companies has helped to eliminate the need for operationally costly large test beds of network equipment.

 

“The combined benefits of Agilent’s (News - Alert) proven load and performance test solution and Mu’s innovative Test Suite enable operators and NEMs to clearly make critical product-purchasing and deployment decisions based on real-world reliability, availability, security, performance and quality-of-experience metrics,” said Kresse.

 

The companies coauthored a testing methodology that will enable shared customers to extend the integration to a wide variety of test scenarios

 

 “IP Services can now be built and deployed with the confidence that they will remain robust and available,” said Kresse.

 

In addition, the joint solutions focus on different challenges faced by both network equipment manufacturers and service providers. While Agilent N2X validates the functional, performance and scalability characteristics of broadband networks and next-generation network equipment, Mu Dynamic’s Test Suite focuses on identifying software weaknesses and “exception” handling capabilities of network applications and devices.

 

“In a single application, N2X validates the performance and scalability characteristics of next-generation networks for voice, video and data services,” said Toni Piwonka-Corle, general manager of Agilent’s Data Networks Operation.

 

In recent years, the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Mu Dynamics has helped vendors eliminate NGN service downtime through proactive service assurance. The company’s "Mu Analyzer" is designed to support integration with a wide variety of test lab environments including load generation, functional testing, open and proprietary standards.

 

Piwonka-Corle said each sides coauthored a testing methodology that they expect to enable shared customers to extend the integration to a wide variety of test scenarios.

The modules offer QA, developer and support teams a series of dynamically malformed or mutated packets to the application or device under test and determine which mutation negatively affects the DUT’s supported services and causes anomalous behavior in control-plane protocols. By conducting a very large number of protocol-specific tests, Mu’s Test Suite characterizes the network application reliability, overall robustness and security.

 

The real-time integration of Mu’s Test Suite concurrently with Agilent’s N2X makes it possible to evaluate the impact of an exception on overall network performance and service availability under load.