Method and apparatus for utilizing a network processor as part of a test system

• US 20020016937A1
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Empirix Incorporated (Empirix Holdings I, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Empirix Incorporated (Empirix Holdings I, Inc.)
• Inventors: Houh, Henry
• Application Number:
  US09/920,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20020016937A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/142 using statistical or mathematical methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2227 Quality of service monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/244 for multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/323 for the arrangements providing the connection (test connection, test call, call simulation)
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

The present invention utilizes a network processor as part of a test system for testing network environments and devices, and particularly VOIP networks and devices. The network processor is used as part of the test system and is precisely controlled by software to provide a variety of functions in order to test a network environment and devices. The test system incorporating the network processor may be programmed to process packets, create packets, receive packets and analyze packets. The test system thus provides simulation of network conditions using high bandwidth interfaces, a sniffing functionality with packet to flow correlation on high bandwidth interfaces, the capture and/or creation of network profiles, and the capture and analysis of network packets.

Claims

1. A test system for testing network environments and devices comprising:

a network processor;

storage associated with said network processor;

an interface coupling an output of said network processor to a communications network; and

instructions and data within said storage, said instructions and data directing said network processor to provide at least one function.

2. The test system of claim 1 wherein said at least one function is selected from the group consisting of a network emulator, a network profile generator, a network profile capture tool, a packet generation tool, an application traffic generation tool, a real-time packet analysis tool, and a network packet capture and analysis tool.

3. The test system of claim 1 wherein said test system is utilized with a variety of different protocols.

4. The test system of claim 3 wherein said protocols are selected from the group consisting of TCP, TCP/IP, MPLS, SCTP, UDP, and RTP.

5. The test system of claim 1 wherein said test system is utilized with a variety of different interfaces.

6. The test system of claim 5 wherein said interfaces are selected from the group consisting of 10Mbit Ethernet, 100Mbit Ethernet, 1 gigabit Ethernet, 1.0625 Gigabit Fibrechannel, OC-3c, OC-12, OC-12c, T1/E1, and T3/E3.

7. The test system of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional network processor.

8. The test system of claim 7 where at least one additional network processor is in communication with said network processor.

9. The test system of claim 1 further comprising a Central Processing Unit (CPU), said CPU in communication with said network processor.

10. The test system of claim 7 wherein said network processor is utilized as an accelerator to analyze data at line rates.

11. The test system of claim 9 wherein said network processor provides data to said CPU for analysis.

12. The test system of claim 9 wherein said CPU has a feedback loop to said network processor.

13. The test system of claim 1 wherein said test system changes from providing a first function to providing a second function by changing the instructions and data in said storage.

14. The test system of claim 1 wherein said test system provides additional functions simultaneously to the network processor by loading multiple sets of instructions in said storage.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein said instructions for causing said network processor to provide at least one test function provide a function selected from the group consisting of a network emulator, a network profile generator, a network profile capture tool, a packet generation tool, an application traffic generation tool, a real-time packet analysis tool, and a network packet capture and analysis tool.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising instructions for causing said network processor to utilize a variety of different protocols.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein said instructions for causing said network processor to utilize a variety of protocols comprise instructions for using a protocol selected from the group consisting of TCP, TCP/IP, MPLS, SCTP, UDP, and RTP.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising instructions for causing said network processor to utilize a variety of different network interfaces.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein said instructions for causing said network processor to utilize a variety of different network interfaces comprises instructions for causing said network processor to utilize a network interface selected from the group consisting of 10Mbit Ethernet, 100Mbit Ethernet, 1 gigabit Ethernet, 1.0625 Gigabit Fibrechannel, OC-3c, OC-12, OC-12c, T1/E1, and T3/E3.

21. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising instructions for causing at least one additional network processor to provide said at least one test function for testing network environments or devices.

22. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising instructions for causing at least one CPU to communicate with said network processor.

23. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising instructions for causing said network processor to be utilized as an accelerator to analyze data at line rates.

24. The computer program product of claim 22 further comprising instructions for causing said network processor to provide data to said CPU for analysis.

25. The computer program product of claim 22 further comprising instructions for causing said CPU to operate in a feedback loop with said network processor.

27. The method claim 26 wherein said step of directing comprises directing said network processor to provide at least one function selected from the group consisting of a network emulator, a network profile generator, a network profile capture tool, a packet generation tool, an application traffic generation tool, a real-time packet analysis tool, and a network packet capture and analysis tool.

28. The method claim 26 further comprising the step of utilizing a variety of different protocols.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of utilizing comprises utilizing a protocol selected from the group consisting of TCP, TCP/IP, MPLS, SCTP, UDP, and RTP.

30. The method claim 26 wherein said step of coupling is performed with a variety of different interfaces.

31. The method claim 30 wherein said interfaces are selected from the group consisting of 10Mbit Ethernet, 100Mbit Ethernet, 1 gigabit Ethernet, 1.0625 Gigabit Fibrechannel, OC-3c, OC-12, OC-12c, T1/E1, and T3/E3.

32. The method claim 26 further comprising the step of providing at least one additional network processor.

33. The method claim 32 where at least one additional network processor is in communication with said network processor.

34. The method claim 26 further comprising the step of providing a Central Processing Unit (CPU), said CPU in communication with said network processor.

35. The method claim 32 further comprising the step of using said network processor as an accelerator to analyze data at line rates.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of using said network processor to provide data to said CPU for analysis.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of providing a feedback loop between said network processor and said CPU.

38. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of changing from directing said network processor to provide a first function to directing said network processor to provide a second function.

39. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of directing said network processor to provide more than one function simultaneously on the same said network processor.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code thereon, including program code comprising:

instructions for causing a network processor to provide at least one test function for testing network environments or devices.

26. A method of testing network environments and devices comprising:

providing a network processor;

coupling said network processor to a communications network; and

directing said network processor to provide at least one function.