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Mu Dynamics and SBC Vendors Define Industry-First VoIP and SBC Test Methodology

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TMCnews Featured Article


June 23, 2009

Mu Dynamics and SBC Vendors Define Industry-First VoIP and SBC Test Methodology

By Tim Gray, TMCnet Web Editor


VoIP testing outfit Mu Dynamics has published a comprehensive cooperative detailing its VoIP testing methodologies, including best practices for product quality testing of Session Border Controllers (SBCs) throughout the software development life cycle. 

 
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Mu Dynamics predicts that by incorporating the methodology, along with the newly announced Mu Studio custom and proprietary test module, SBC vendors can improve the quality of their products and lower total development and test times by identifying and eliminating problems earlier in the development process.
 
One such vendor, Veraz Networks (News - Alert), has employed Mu on several fronts of testing and is already reaping the benefits of using network application testing for converged services.
 
“Utilizing Mu’s Test Suite enables our engineering team to improve our reliability and quality of our SBC products through thorough “stress testing” well in advance of commercial shipment,” said Yair Hevdeli, vice president of engineering for Veraz Networks.
 
By using the best practices described in the test methodology along with the Mu Test Suite – including the Mu Studio test module – both service providers and SBC vendor suppliers can quickly build customized test cases tailored to emerging next-generation IP-based service rollouts for IPTV, IMS, LTE.
 
All of these feature complex, multi-protocol interactions that are specific to the deployments of given network operators. 
 
Mu Dynamics is a pioneer in helping vendors eliminate NGN service downtime through proactive service assurance. The company’s analyzer is designed to support integration with a wide variety of test lab environments including load generation, functional testing, open and proprietary standards.
 
As TMCnet recently reported, with growing demand for increased coverage in the mobile space, there's a need to test LTE (News - Alert) as defined by 3GPP Release 8, as the transition between 3G and 4G, has emerged.
 
Brian Partridge, a senior analyst at The Yankee Group (News - Alert), said that fixed and mobile operators are more and more these days demanding the highest possible quality VoIP and real-time media products in an effort to provide reliable service offerings in an increasingly competitive market. "There is a growing need for service providers and vendors to proactively test nearly every facet of networked applications for unexpected weaknesses," he said.
 
As network operators design, deploy and operate their LTE infrastructures, in concert with their existing mobile infrastructure, they must be prepared to manage the unexpected. And vendors too must be ready for the unexpected as they design and develop innovative LTE hardware and software solutions.
 
According to the company, the Mu Test Suite accelerates the discovery, documentation and reduction of potential product quality issues before product release. It works identifying and resolving software weaknesses early in the development process, the Mu Test Suite ensures quality is achieved at the lowest possible cost, while maximizing the productivity of the QA and Engineering teams.
 
In order to develop, analyze and test processes using dynamically generated and unexpected service level traffic variations, systems vendors can use the new Mu Studio test module to capture an important service-enabling traffic exchange and test it thoroughly. 
 
The VoIP and SBC testing methodology details scripts for QA, Development, Engineering and Support groups to statefully apply millions of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network traffic variations that allow precise measurement of real-time product performance under “perfect storm” conditions. This repeatable and automated process ensures optimal product performance, as well as robustness.
 
As a result, the test suite including Mu Studio, are helping SBC vendors perform accurate and automated regression, trending and negative testing. The pragmatic integration of the Mu Test Suite is showcased on the Mu web site’s Test Methodologies page.

Tim Gray is a Web Editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To read more of Tim’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Michael Dinan








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