Testing a network using randomly distributed commands

• US 8,707,100 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keysight Technologies Singapore (Holdings) Pte. Limited. (Keysight Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ixia (Keysight Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Saha, Soumyajit, Naskar, Rudrarup, Cazacu, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): BONZO, BRYCE P
• Application Number:
  US13/324,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 714/26, 714/37, 714/33
• US Class Current: 714/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

Methods and test systems for testing a network. A test system may emulate a plurality of users, each emulated user executing a user activity. Each emulated user activity may include one or more commands. At least some emulated user activities may include a command randomly selected from a predefined command pool in accordance with an associated probability distribution. The test system may report a result of emulating the plurality of users.

Claims

1. A method for testing a network, comprising:

defining a command pool and an associated probability distribution, the command pool comprising a list of executable commands

a test system coupled to the network emulating a plurality of users, each emulated user (EU) executing an EU activity, wherein

each EU activity comprises one or more commands

at least some EU activities include at least one command randomly selected from the command pool in accordance with the associated probability distribution

emulating each of the plurality of users comprises the test system transmitting and receiving traffic via the network

the test system reporting a result of emulating the plurality of users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the probability distribution consists of a respective probability of selection associated with each command in the command pool.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the test system providing a first graphical user interface

the test system receiving a definition of the command pool and the associated probability distribution from a user via the first graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

the test system providing a second graphical user interface

the test system receiving a definition of each EU activity from a user via the second graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising

defining an EU community comprising a plurality of EUs, each of the plurality of EUs performing one of the defined EU activities.

6. A test system, comprising:

one or more port units coupled to a network under test

a test administrator computing device coupled to the one or more port units

the test administrator computing device and the one or more port units comprising hardware and software for

defining a command pool and an associated probability distribution, the command pool comprising a list of executable commands

emulating a plurality of users, each emulated user (EU) executing an EU activity, wherein

each EU activity comprises one or more commands

at least some EU activities include at least one command randomly selected from the command pool in accordance with the associated probability distribution

emulating each of the plurality of users comprises the test system transmitting and receiving traffic via the network

reporting a result of emulating the plurality of EUs.

7. The test system of claim 6, wherein the probability distribution consists of a respective probability of selection associated with each command in the command pool.

8. The test system of claim 6, the hardware and software further for:

providing a first graphical user interface

receiving a definition of the command pool and the associated probability distribution from a user via the first graphical user interface.

9. The test system of claim 8, the hardware and software further for:

providing a second graphical user interface

receiving a definition of each EU activity from a user via the second graphical user interface.

10. The test system of claim 9, the hardware and software further for:

defining an EU community comprising a plurality of EUs, each of the plurality of EUs performing one of the defined EU activities.