 |
The Torrent 6100 LTE Test System is a flexible and realistic platform
that allows for testing of 4G LTE core network elements together or in various
combinations. It is a turn key solution for functional and load testing of of SGW,
PGW, MME, and AAA network elements, and allows you to verify their performance under stress
while at the same time ensuring that end-subscriber QoE requirements are met.
With many years of field proven technology inherited from it's Torrent series counterparts, the
Torrent 6100 packs numerous innovations of its own, including very highly configurable control plane
messages suitable for customizations of various kinds or for negative test case evaluation.
The Torrent 6100 emulates all network elements in real time as realistically as possible, so that
the tests you run in the lab give you confidence that your equipment is ready to go live.
It's like a debugger for your 4G LTE network that lets you set up and analyze basic call scenarios:
Then run highly complex parallel call profiles and verify end-user QoE:
With all of its flexibility and scripting capability, the Torrent 6100 doesn't sacraifice performance.
If fact, our emulated SGW and PGW are able to sustain initial attach rates in excess of 30,000 attaches/sec on
our Intel based 3U Linux servers.
As shown above, the Torrent 6100 consists of a suite of
subsystems that work together in a unified manner to provide a
realistic, high performance, lineraly-scalable LTE core network test solution which supports
both IPv4 and IPv6 for mobiles and network nodes.
Although it's not illustrated here for clarity, there is a central controller
for the system which is Linux based. This central controller, or CS-6100,
automatically configures, starts, and directs the traffic servers
in the system to run tests as directed by the user through a GUI interface.
The MTS-6100 traffic server authentically simulates 1 to 1M+ UEs and thousands
of enhanced NodeBs (eNBs) on a Linux machine.
The MME-6100 simulates the Mobility Management Entity, or alternatively can be
replaced with the MME under test. Similarly the SGW-6100 and PGW-6100 simulate
the Serving Gateway and PDN Gateways respectively, and like the
MME-6100 may be replaced with their counterparts under test as desired.
Finally, the NTS-6100 provides a convenient aggregation of network servers
(MMS, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, DHCP, PoC, WAP, etc.) as well as acting as a PCRF, CGF, and Radius Server.
Note: Note standalone MME test functionality will not be available until Jan 2012.
Key System Features
Realistic Mobile Simulation
A central feature of the system is that it is realistic,
and simulates mobiles and the application data traffic that they generate as
precisely as possible. In particualr, mobiles are stateful and have
their own network stacks built-in.
Realistic Network Simulation
Because the entire network aroud the system under test is authentically
simulated, complex call scenarios can easily be created. This kind of test bed realism has
allowed our users to recreate field issues that otherwise were not reproducible in
the lab [i.e. this has been the case with our other Torrent products which use very
similar technology].
Linux Based
All of our systems are Linux based and the Torrent 6100 is no exception. This provides
our users with a state of the art operating system, that they are almost invariably
familiar with.
High Speed Dataplane Architecture
The Torrent 6100 was designed from the ground up for very high data plane throughput.
Once the new data plane architecture is implemented (est Dec 2011) we anticipate tens of
gigabytes of throughput per system.
Highly Parallel Simulation
Parallelism is supported on numerous levels.
Typically, parallelism is created when more than one test case is
executed at the same time during a test suite of by hand.
However, parallelism can be extended down to the individual mobile
subscriber as illustrated in the following mobile script:
attach enb enb1
parallel:
http_get url http://test.mobilemetrics.net
handover enb enb2
parend
detach
Full Automation Support
Test cases may be fully automated and allow the end user to interact
with the system under test via ssh, telent, ftp, etc. through an Expect style
interface.
Linear Scalability
Any traffic profile can be scaled linearly by simply adding more computing
hardware, and this can be accomplished wihout having to rewrite or otherwise
modify test cases.
Ease of Use
The Torrent 6100 features a simple installation process and intuitive
multi-user GUI. And it does not require programming knowledge to operate.
QoE Characterization
A key aspect of the system is that it allows the end subscriber's
experience to be characterized through a number of key performance
indicators (KPIs). For each KPI, the system tracks not only the
mean and standard deviation, but a complete high resolution histogram as
shown below for MMS:
Histograms are particularly useful for studying the effect of background
traffic on interactive traffic, especially under heavy loads.
QoS You Can See and Hear
A unique feature of the system is that it allows any PC to connect to one of the
simulated mobiles and relay all of its traffic through it. In this way, the
performance of streaming media applications such as YouTube can be subjectively
evaluated under different traffic conditions.
Detailed Hierarchical Statistics
Hundreds of statistics are captured by the system on both the MTS and NTS and they
are organized in a hierarchical manner to allow both the big picture and the finer
details to be seen more clearly. These statistics may be examined in real time
by test cases, or they may be exported in build via CSV file to Excel. Additionally KPIs
may be graphed dynamically.
Full Messaging Control
All control and data messages and their associated message flows may easily be
modified by the end user using oru patent-pending filtering layer. This allows
a virtually limitless number of error scenarios or unusual messages flows to be
tested.
Network Service Assurance
While the Torrent system was originally designed for lab use, it may also be used
to perform in-service networkmonitoring. For example, network entry, handover and
data path functionality can be spot-checked periodically and an alarm raised if failures
are detected.
Extensive Dataplane Support
Dataplane functionality is seamlessly and naturally integrated into the system. Each mobile
directly supports: IP, TCP, UDP, HTTP, WAP, MMS, PTT (PoC), SIP, RTP, RTCP, FTP, SMTP, POP3,
ICMP, DHCP, and DNS.
Free Demo
To register for a free online demo click here.
Otherwise for further technical information, or specifications, please contact
Mobile Metrics sales.
|
|
LTE Interfaces Supported
- S11 - The MME to SGW Control Interface
- S1-U - The The ENB to SGW Data Interface
- S1-MME - The ENB to MME Control Interface
- Uu - The UE to E-UTRAN Interface
- S5 - The SGW to PGW Interface
- S8 - PLMN Varient of S5
- SGi - The PDN / Internet Interface
- Gx - The PGW to PCRF Interface
- Gxc - The SGW to vPCRF Interface
- Ga - The PGW to CGF Interface
- Rx - The IMS to PCRF Interface
LTE Nodes Emulated
- Mobility Management Entity (MME)
- Enhanced NodeB (ENB)
- Serving Gateway (SGW)
- PDN Gateway (PGW)
- User Equipment (UE)
- Policy Charging and Rules Function (PCRF)
- Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF)
- Charging Gateway Function (CGF)
Core Network Elements That May Be Tested
- Mobility Management Entity (MME)
- Enhanced NodeB (ENB)
- Serving Gateway (SGW)
- PDN Gateway (PGW)
- Policy Charging and Rules Function (PCRF)
- Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF)
- Charging Gateway Function (CGF)
|
