Core IP Router

High-capacity core routers process large amounts of traffic and routing information in the core of service-provider networks. They are often situated at Internet Point-of-Presence (POP) locations and may connect to other carrier networks.

Key pain points

•Scalability: Ensure the router can handle huge traffic and routing loads over many high-speed interfaces

•High Availability: Verify that the router can maintain 99.999% availability during periods of network instability

Edge/Access router, BNG / B-RAS

An Edge/Access or Multi-Service router, Broadband Network Gateway (BNG), or Broadband Remote Access Server (B-RAS) manages subscriber services, applies policies, and can act as a PPP or DHCP server.

Key pain points

•Multiple Services: Validate IPTV, VoIP, data applications / TCP, multicast, and business VPN deployment scenarios

•Access Protocols: Measure DHCP, DHCPv6, PPPoX, and ANCP performance and scalability

•QoS: Verify per-flow Quality of Service and prioritization

Ethernet Aggregation (layer-2) Switch

The Ethernet Aggregation (or Ethernet Services)Switch cost-effectively aggregates traffic, and is optimized for Ethernet services.

Key pain points

•Scalability: Verify Ethernet and/or MPLS switching from many GbE interfaces to a few high-speed 10GbE interfaces

•Layer-2 Protocols: Test conformance and performance of Ethernet OAM Fault Management, Spanning Tree (xSTP), Link Aggregation (LACP), BFD, Provider Backbone Bridging, Mac-in-Mac (PBB/MiM)

•Carrier Ethernet Services: Validate E-Line/E-LAN services shaping & policing

Access Node / IP DSLAM / OLT

Access Nodes are also known as Access Concentrator, DSL Access Multiplexer or Optical Line Terminator (OLT). They terminate DSL or Passive Optical Network (PON) lines, aggregate subscribers, and assist IPTV multicast services.

Key pain points

•Traffic: Analyze forwarding performance (latency, loss, throughput)

•Multicast: Verify IGMP/MLD snooping (which accelerates IPTV channel zapping) and multicast performance

•Access Protocols: Gauge DHCP relay agent and PPPoE performance & scalability