NeTracker Overview

The Perfect Protocol Analyzer for Wireline Network
Operators and Network Equipment Manufacturers

NeTracker® is a highly integrated, scalable analyzer for troubleshooting and maintaining complex multi-protocol/multi-interface wireline networks. It is an ideal tool for solving abnormal release failures, conducting ongoing network optimizations and verifying quality of service (QoS) at the network and service levels.

Based on a powerful hardware architecture, NeTracker simultaneously monitors signaling protocols and network traffic, performing the in-depth analysis necessary to unmask difficult network and equipment problems often hidden by Internetworking issues.

Its unique, distributed-monitoring capabilities allow multiple units in different locations to monitor and simulate calls moving across the network, collecting and correlating performance data with a simple PC-based application. Once configured, NeTracker can be easily operated by moderately skilled personnel. It also provides support for multiple simultaneous users on different tiers.

Highlights

• Traffic and network usage analysis for wireline and converged network operators
• Protocol analysis and troubleshooting
• Intuitive user interface
• Subscriber activity monitoring
• Network performance statistics

NeTracker Features

• Advanced simulation and monitoring capabilities through an intuitive graphical user interface
• Runs simultaneous monitoring and/or simulation tests
• Supports up to 8 different protocol stacks with each test
• Single-user, multi-user or distributed platform control
  for 8 simultaneous users

NeTracker Benefits

• Ease of operation
  
• Scalability
  
• Multiple users
  
• Remote access
  
• Field-proven technology

Advanced Protocol and Interface Analysis

The NeTracker is the only integrated tool that can fully verify, monitor, and troubleshoot the signaling and services deployed over PCM, ATM and LAN networks over a variety of popular protocols. Multi-interface correlation provides an end-to-end view of all calls and transactions on the network. NetTracker was also designed to perform both intrusive and non-intrusive QoS measurements.

Tightly-Coupled Monitoring and Simulation

NeTracker’s monitoring functions are tightly integrated with simulation capabilities for full-visibility testing. Automatic call generation further simplifies test configuration.

Run Multiple Tests With Multiple Protocol Stacks

NeTracker runs up to three simultaneous tests with up to 8 different protocol stacks per test. It actively monitors several interfaces at the same time, while stressing the critical functionality that network equipment under test should provide. Test configurations and results are saved in libraries allowing network and equipment performance to be measured consistently over time, ensuring that revisions in hardware, firmware or software do not impact network performance. In addition, basic sets of tests can be defined and then performed each time a component changes.

Applications for NEMs and Network Operator Equipment Labs

Network Equipment Manufacturers and Network Operator Equipment Labs can use the NeTracker to simulate protocols to ensure optimal network performance. Functional tests can be performed to guarantee that the devices being designed or manufactured work properly. The NeTracker’s script-based simulators can be used to define call flow message parameters. In this way, the device is not simply tested alone, it is instead evaluated in the context of how it works with devices from other vendors.

The NeTracker performs automatic call generation in order to stress network devices. This sort of simple testing does not require a detailed knowledge of messages and call flows. By setting some basic parameters, such as call duration, and how many simultaneous calls to perform, a predefined script is launched, and the test runs with minimum set-up configuration.

The NeTracker can be used to perform:

• Commissioning tests (validation)
• Acceptance tests (trials with customers)
• Field service monitoring and troubleshooting

Applications for Network Operators

Network Operators can benefit from NeTracker’s test and simulation capabilities:

• Software Release Testing–Verify software revisions from network equipment manufactures in the lab before deploying in the live network
• Network Operation and Maintenance–NeTracker’s ability to store test routines, combined with its ease-of-use and remote operations capabilities, makes it a preferred choice of operators worldwide
• Back Office Application Testing–Process large amounts of data for the analysis of complex scenarios and service tuning
• QoS Testing–Perform intrusive QoS measurement, generating end-to-end calls. The NeTracker also performs non-intrusive measurements, monitoring actual calls and assigning voice scores.

The NeTracker provides the tools to extrapolate Key Performance Indicators (KPI) from huge amounts of stored data, to optimize network resources, maximize service quality and to simulate and test service strategies before they are offered. NeTracker applications and features are described in the following table.

Example of Statistical and Graphical Test Results.

This figure shows a list of all signaling errors that occurred during monitoring, sorted from most-to-least common.

The pie chart provides at-a-glance network status:

Scalability

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

1. A basic NeTracker is purchased for a specific monitoring or simulation application, configured with only the required options.
2. Monitoring or simulation capabilities are enhanced by adding software packages or expansion cards.
3. A distributed solution is created by purchasing additional NeTrackers to remotely monitor several locations at the same time. Accanto Systems also provides a PC software application to manage these additional units and correlate the data. In this capacity, they can trace calls across the network while testing is in progress.
4. 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 NeTrackers as distributed probes. The combined NeTracker/TAMS system can analyze 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 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.

Ease of Operation

NeTracker incorporates an easy-to-use graphical interface that supports up to 8 users simultaneously through a TCP/IP network. NeTracker also allows users to independently customize the trace, apply filters, perform statistical analysis, decode messages, analyze Call Detail Records (CDR) and correlate events through multiple protocols and interfaces. A built-in security administration system prevents unauthorized usage.

For each available protocol, NeTracker offers:

• Physical layer status and statistics
• Call Detail Records
• Customizable Protocol Trace
• Arrowed diagrams for Trace and CDR
• Display Filters for Trace and CDR and text search filter
• Statistics on all the main protocol events
• Call statistics
• Disconnection statistics
• CDR-to-frames correlation
• Frame-to-CDR function
• CDR forwarding to external systems
• Multi-interface and multi-protocol CDR correlation
• CDR-to-frames correlation
• Frame-to-CDR function
• CDR forwarding to external systems
• Multi-interface and multi-protocol CDR correlation

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