iCSA Probes (Pantera)

Protocol Analyzer Family: All-in-one Probe

Today’s converged telecom market calls for new solutions that can simultaneously do wireless network troubleshooting and monitor mobile, high-speed IP and legacy traffic. Pantera, a vital component of Accanto’s new Extreme iCSA Solution, is a real-time all-in-one probe and protocol analyzer family designed to meet the complex needs of operators trying to migrate to high-performance, converged IP networks.

The Pantera protocol analyzer builds on the success of Accanto’s acclaimed 3GMaster and NeTracker families, improving on several important elements and making it ideal for mixed-technology environments:

• Improved IP filtering capabilities for core networks
• Modular software capable of leveraging multi-core and advanced processor technologies
• Much more powerful hardware for fast, in-depth analysis and xDR generation
• Increased ability for wireless network troubleshooting

Highlights

• Support for NGN (IMS, VoIP, Sigtran), Mobile (GSM, GPRS, EDGE,UMTS, HSPA, CDMA 2000/EVDO, and Legacy (SS7, ISDN) networks
• New 10G interface cards to handle massive traffic flows across the core
• New IP filtering capabilities for converged networks
• More intelligent software architecture to take advantage of multi-processor, multi-core IT technologies

Features at a Glance

• Simultaneous use as a portable wireless network troubleshooting tool or as a distributed probe
• Runs simultaneous monitoring and/or simulation tests, with multiple protocol stacks per test
• Single-user, multi-user or distributed platform for multiple simultaneous users
• Available in field-test, portable and rack mount for factors

The Pantera Advantage

Versatile

With all-over-IP convergence, the distinction between legacy and NGN is blurring. Now, it is not uncommon to see operator networks composed of a wide variety of mobile, NGN, and legacy protocols, nodes and interfaces. Pantera’s IP analysis capabilities, coupled with its ability to support both wireless and wireline network domains, makes it a standout in terms of value and flexibility.

Intelligent

As a probe, Pantera has the ability to collect inputs from a wide array of sources to create true customer-aware xDRs for input into the monitoring system. As an analyzer, Pantera allows fast correlation and drill down to the frame level to give the operator exactly the information they need to resolve complicated issues.

Powerful

Each Pantera model features carefully selected processor and hardware elements, ensuring it performs at the highest level possible for a given application. In addition to being one of the industry’s fastest and most accurate xDR generators, Pantera can even be used for real-time traffic analysis and call monitoring. Taking performance to the extreme, the Pantera 12000, with its dual quad-core processor, 12 GB of RAM, and 10 Gb card hosting capability can even be used as a MOS scoring machine for handling many simultaneous RTP flows.

Scalable

A key benefit of Pantera lies in its modular, scalable architecture. Here is an example of the typical life of a Pantera system:

• A basic unit is purchased for a specific monitoring or simulation application, configured with only the required options
• Monitoring or simulation capabilities are enhanced by adding software packages or expansion cards
• A distributed solution is created by purchasing additional Pantera analyzers to remotely monitor several locations at the same time
• Finally, a more sophisticated network-wide analysis and reporting platform can be created by adding the centralized Telecom Traffic Analysis and Monitoring System (TAMS), using the Pantera analyzers as distributed probes
• Adding X-Ray Modules to TAMS, the combination is transformed into a full iCSA system capable of analyzing and correlating huge amounts of network data with dedicated statistics or database queries

This type of progressive investment mitigates the risk of purchasing costly system/test solutions that often do not work as promised. This modular approach also adds functionality one piece at a time as required. The result is a tailored solution with all of the capabilities and none of the risk, plus a higher degree of flexibility to change test and simulation capabilities as a network grows and evolves.

Pantera Models

Pantera 100

The Pantera 100 features and powerful hardware elements make it the new gold standard in portable analysis and probing. The Pantera 100 is tailored for service and installation groups who support networks with wireless and/or wireline elements, and is ideal for field locations, customer sites and even in the lab.

• Doubles as rapid deployment probe
• Remotely controllable through Ad-Hoc WiFi
• Modular and field upgradable

Pantera 6000/6500

The Pantera 6000/6500 are high-performance rack-mount solutions that offer additional capacity, larger HD storage and redundant power supplies. This makes the 6000/6500 ideal for active/passive monitoring and probe applications where it can analyze a huge amount of RTP flows, calls, transactions and IP sessions for QoS (voice, video and data) scores.

• Scalable rack-mount design
• Upgraded hardware, storage and memory
• Model 6500 manages 30% more CDRs compared to the 6000

Pantera 9000/9500

The Pantera 9000/9500 builds on the already powerful 6000 series, adding RAID capability for fault-tolerant applications, as well as upgraded hardware. The 9000/9500 is ideally suited for demanding applications such as simultaneous monitoring and analysis of both the control plane of the MSS and the Control and Users planes of Media Gateways.

• Scalable rack-mount design stores up to 10 Terabytes of data
• RAID capability for fault-tolerant applications
• Model 9500 manages 30% more CDRs compared to the 9000

Pantera 12000

As Accanto’s flagship probe/analyzer, the Pantera 12000 sets a new standard for high performance and scalability. The Pantera 12000 features dual quad-core processors, 12 GB of RAM and 10 Gb card hosting capability, making it an ideal solution for demanding core applications and high-throughput lab and field environments.

• 10G interface cards handle massive traffic flows across the core
• Can be used as a MOS scoring machine for handling many simultaneous RTP flows IP analysis makes it ideal for converged core applications.

Applications

Network Operation and Maintenance

Pantera’s ability to store test results, as well as its ease of use and remote operations capability makes it a preferred choice for network operations and maintenance teams.

Offline Network and Service Analysis

Pantera has the ability to process huge amounts of data for the analysis of complex scenarios.

Basic KPI Generation

Pantera offers the ability to extrapolate basic Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to optimize network resources, maximize service quality and to simulate and test service strategies before they are offered. This KPI generation can be enhanced by the TAMS system as a part of a larger network-wide distributed analysis system.

QoS Analysis

Pantera is able to perform intrusive QoS measurement generating end-to-end calls. Or, it can perform nonintrusive
measurements, monitoring actual calls and assigning voice scores.

Real-Time Service Quality Monitoring and Analysis

Using the Pantera Family as the High-Performance probes in an Accanto intelligent Customer Service Assurance (iCSA) system allows operators to monitor, capture and analyze traffic up to 10G bits/s. This traffic can be grouped, and using advanced comparison algorithms, real-time customer service quality dashboards and alerts can be generated. With the loyalty of millions of mobile subscribers at stake, moving from a reactive operations and customer care group to a proactive one can drastically affect operator revenue and market share.

Network Equipment Manufacturers (NEMs)

While operators have historically purchased individual network elements from NEMs, there is growing demand for NEMs to provide complete network solutions. In this case, the Pantera becomes a key part of the complete solution as a highly integrated network diagnostic and troubleshooting tool. Additionally, for NEMs who offer network monitoring
and management to operators, the Pantera provides all capabilities for real-time network monitoring, alarming, reporting and troubleshooting.