As more customers turn to Ethernet, service providers are faced with new opportunities and threats. Ethernet service is becoming a commodity. As more services providers offer the same service, prices continue to decline. But, there are opportunities, as well. By offering differentiated services, providers can extract additional revenues. And, keeping customers is much easier if you provide excellent service when things go wrong.
The MetroScope Service Provider Assistant test set from Fluke Networks can help you in this evolving landscape, with advanced features to help you offer differentiated services and increase customer satisfaction, all while reducing both Capex and Opex costs.
ProVision™ Test Suite - Designed to be Compatible with SLA’s and MEF Specifications
Service Providers have typically used BERT or RFC 2544 tests to characterize Ethernet circuit performance. Given that both approaches were developed before the advent of Ethernet services it’s no surprise that neither provide a complete solution for testing and troubleshooting these services.
Fluke Networks developed the ProVision™ test suite by taking the best of both test approaches, adopting them to MEF specifications and typical SLA’s and adding customer requested features. The result is one test that characterizes even the most complex of circuits but displays the results on a single display. ProVision measures all four parameters (throughput, loss, delay, and jitter) in parallel for faster, more accurate test results. Document performance with detailed reports at the touch of a button, or use trending graphs of performance up to 24 hours to troubleshoot difficult problems.
Offer differentiated services
Ethernet provides the flexibility to offer package services and maximize revenues. With the MetroScope test set, you can define custom tests to match your service offerings. High-accuracy jitter measurements let you offer SLAs for VoIP and IPTV. If you are moving into advanced services such as DNS or email, the MetroScope test set can provide tests to demonstrate SLA compliance for response time for these applications and many more. It can even generate custom reports with your logo as proof of your services to your customer.
Increase customer satisfaction
Taking too long to resolve customer issues not only wastes time and money, it can result in the loss of clients and future revenues. The new MetroScope test set takes advantage of more than a decade of Fluke Networks IP expertise to put unmatched troubleshooting power behind a deceptively simple user interface. Advanced capabilities such as VLAN discovery and monitoring can be accessed with just a screen touch. Use SNMP to query switches and routers, find overloaded ports and pinpoint offending devices. The full video graphics array (VGA) display shows you details which most handheld test sets cannot.
Keep costs down
Fluke Networks MetroScope test set’s advanced design helps you save money when you buy it and when you use it. A unique, low cost, gigabit LinkReflector remote tester included with the MetroScope Service Provider Assistant kit lets you perform complete SLA testing without purchasing a second unit. Test as many as seven links for the cost of testing one using alternative solutions. The MetroScope test set is designed with web-based remote control. A technician at the customer site can consult with remote experts within your organization to resolve complex problems. Not only does that save time and money, it means the technician learns more, and, most importantly, the customer’s problem is solved that much faster.
Features
ProVision is the first test designed to be compatible with Carrier Ethernet SLA’s and MEF specifications. Like RFC 2544, it measures the critical parameters of throughput, loss, delay, and jitter. But it goes beyond this to offer easier set-up and operation, more complete testing, easy-to-understand results, and powerful troubleshooting.
One Test for Easier Set Up and Faster Results
ProVision performs the critical measurements of throughput, loss, delay and jitter in a single process. This means that it can run at least four times as fast as an RFC 2544 test. Since all parameters are measured together, you can be sure that you didn’t miss degradation in one parameter while measuring another.
A single test also means simplified test set-up.
Faster, More Relevant Throughput Testing
ProVision measures loss and throughput together, similar to most SLA’s and MEF specifications. This is significantly different than RFC 2544 tests which measure throughput using a “lossless” approach, which tests at progressively lower rates until no frames are lost. While appropriate for bench testing a switch, this approach is ill-suited to a real-world circuit where a small amount of loss is tolerable. For example, the RFC-2544 “lossless” test on a 100MBps link with 0.01% loss will result in a throughput measurement of less than 2.5MBps – certainly not the result the carrier or the customer expects.
In this example, ProVison would provide a more appropriate result of 99.99MBps and 0.01% loss. And since ProVision doesn’t keep trying to find the “lossless” rate, it would provide the result at least five times faster than RFC 2544.
Tests Asymmetric Links
According to RFC2544, “test series should be run with the same data rate being offered from each direction”. This is inappropriate for technologies where there are different rates for upstream and downstream. ProVision lets you set separate throughput test rates for upstream and downstream testing. This lets you test the performance of links based, for example, on DSL technologies.
MultiStream Testing
ProVision lets you configure multiple streams to test data flows to different sites, different VLANs and different classes of service in parallel. A total of eight streams may be measured simultaneously using from one to four MetroScope devices or four streams using from one to four reflectors. Individual limits on throughput, loss, delay, and jitter may be set for each stream. This not only allows for testing complex SLA’s and circuits, but also reduces test time.
One Results Display
MetroScope’s full VGA display shows the set up and all four measurements for up to three streams on one screen. More than three streams can be compared by using a simple scroll bar on the bottom of the display. And with color coding of pass/fail results, you can see at-a-glance which tests are passing and which are failing. No more scrolling through screen after screen to examine results.
Trending Up to 24 Hours
ProVision can also solve problems by measuring performance of throughput, loss, delay, and jitter over time. This allows you to see not only if the circuit performance degraded, but how much and when. Compare results between parameters, VLANs, priorities and different sites. Loss results also display a bit-error-rate as well as errored-intervals and severely-errored-intervals to help quickly determine the scope of the problem.
MetroScope Service Provider Assistant performs the RFC 2544 automated test suite at full line rate with recommended frame sizes. Complete support is included for Throughput, Latency, Loss, and Back-to-back modes. The test suite can be performed using a variety of peer, reflector, and loopback schemes. All performance tests may be run with RFC sizes or user-selected sizes including jumbo frames and with complete control of VLAN ID and Class of Service.
Setup / customized tests
Easy-to-configure performance test scripting allows control of what is tested and how long it takes. Test to a single or numerous endpoints for testing multipoint services. Configurable pass/fail thresholds mean repeatable results with less training. Specify a specific bandwidth or hunt for lossless throughput rates using the fastest convergence algorithms in the industry.
Jitter testing
Delay-sensitive applications such as VoIP and IP-TV require low packet jitter for acceptable operation. While RFC 2544 testing does not include jitter, with Fluke Networks MetroScope Service Provider Assistant, you can test jitter with accuracy in the microseconds.
MetroScope’s SIP phone allows you to make calls, and measure key performance parameters. Make live calls to any SIP phone or play back .WAV files continuously. MetroScope is fully configurable, including call manager, NAT, and RTP settings. You can also set up the MetroScope to automatically answer incoming calls and play a calibrated WAV test file or make an active person to person call.
Call performance is measured in real time, including MOS, R-Factor, jitter, and dropped frames. RTCP performance metrics are collected for monitoring upstream call quality. Results can be trended on the display for the duration of the call. Performance reports can be generated at the touch of a button. You can even stress the network by running the traffic generator while making calls.
MetroScope supports testing of VLANs, Q-in-Q applications and priority preservation (ToS or DSCP). You get complete flexibility in configuring service provider (S-VLAN) and customer (C-VLAN) settings. Set priority using ToS or DSCP for the overall instrument or for each stream in the Provision tests. Ensure that VLAN and priority settings are preserved by providing immediate visual indication if received QoS values are different from those set in the transmit stream. When monitoring network traffic, MetroScope automatically provides an indication if Q-in-Q frames are detected and displays S-VALN and C-VLAN identifiers as well as counting the number of such frames and the last time they were received.
Devices that support the 802.3ah protocol can be used as loopbacks for layer 1 testing with MetroScope. This allows you to test Ethernet links using ProVision, RFC 2544 or the traffic generator without connecting an additional device such as a second MetroScope or LinkRunner Reflector to the far end of the link. The MetroScope acts as the Active OAM client performing remote device discovery, determining their capabilities, and sustaining an OAM session with just a few screen touches. MetroScope keeps the link with the remote device during a Loopback session until the “Loop Down” command is sent and the client session is “Stopped”.
Once the test is completed, a thorough report is created including a record of the test environment. The performance of the link – including throughput, latency, loss, back to back, and jitter – is displayed in both a tabular format for precision and a graphical format for quick interpretation. Flexible XML reports can be saved and viewed locally or remotely via a built-in web server. Reports can be transferred to a host system where reporting tools or Microsoft® Excel can be used to create customer reports. Saved reports can include your logo and technician job comments.
The Service Performance Tool verifies the existence and measures the responsiveness of key network services. Select from among six network services: DHCP, DNS, e-mail, file, WINS and web or provision a “User Defined” service with a specific TCP port. Add pass/fail thresholds for each service. Pass/fail assessment makes it easy for everyone to interpret the test results. Save the test configuration as a script for future testing or to share with team members. Configure the test and then click the start button to launch an automated series of service performance tests. View the results in tabular and graphical formats. Save the results for documentation and as an element of a LAN validation report.
Complete physical layer testing is provided for both copper and fiber. Optical measurements allow monitoring of optical output power, optical input power, as well as temperature, laser bias current, and transceiver supply voltage. UTP Cable Diagnostics include built in TDR fault location, wire mapping and digital or analog toning. Dark fiber may be qualified for deployment using the built in FrameBERT™ feature or the LOSS/BERT test within ProVision to assure an error free physical layer.
Active and passive VLAN features allow discovery, monitoring and troubleshooting of this critical service delivery mechanism. MetroScope shows VLAN utilization and frame counts to understand the VLAN traffic. Quickly find errors in VLAN configuration of switches or devices in the network. Filter on a VLAN to identify suspicious traffic. See VLAN participants, detect QinQ and investigate top talkers, protocols, and network health. Trending can be used to understand the traffic type on the VLAN over minutes, or hours, broken down by Unicast, Multicast, Broadcasts and Errors to catch sporadic misuse such as a broadcast storm. MetroScope automatically provides an indication if Q-in-Q frames are detected and displays S-VALN and C-VLAN identifiers as well as counting the number of such frames and the last time they were received.
Note: Some of these features are not available in the MetroScope-LT
MetroScope supports IP Video testing with the ability to enable IP Video streams using both RTSP for Video on Demand or IGMP for broadcast video. The IPTV client application lets you join multicast groups or send RTSP requests and measures the stream latency (zap time). Additionally MetroScope can generate traffic such as multicast IP/UDP packet types with addresses from 224.0.0.0 - 239.255.255.255 at frame sizes up to 2024 bytes.
The MetroScope test set provides extensive active analysis that shows what is happening at both ends of the network and in between – without breaking the link. SNMP is used to query switches, routers and other elements, gathering information about what is connected, ongoing traffic levels, instances of errors and discards. Switch Scan allows active monitoring of two switches allowing direct comparison of the border router port and demarcation port, or near and far end equipment. Network discovery organizes devices by IP subnet and domain. Enterprise bottlenecks, congestion points and connections are uncovered using Switch TraceRoute™ to any element. Any device identified exhibiting unexpected behavior can be viewed in detail, including MAC and IP address, domain, and advertised services, as well as located logically using active troubleshooting tools such as the Switch TraceRoute.
Note: Active troubleshooting features are not available in the MetroScope-LT
Utilization history provides trending and statistics to show steady and bursty traffic broken down by traffic or error type, on a single or multiple VLANs. Protocol Statistics hierarchically displays the presence and percentage of traffic by protocol type. By expanding TCP, then selecting HTTP, a list of all devices using HTTP on the VLAN is displayed. Top talkers and broadcasters, overall, or by protocol, show who and what is using the bandwidth.
Measure RF Signals
Continuously scans 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies providing visibility into wireless LAN coverage and performance. Choose the measurement you wish to view using drop down menus that include signal strength, signal to noise ratio, utilization, and several other useful measurements.
Discover Wireless LANs
Quickly identifies all wireless network access points and discovers all associated clients. Visibility into wireless network utilization helps you make better decisions about access point placement and expansion to support actual usage patterns.
Identify Top AP / Clients
identify the busiest access points and the most demanding wireless clients. Drill-in to view wireless LAN metrics such as FCS errors, crosstalk, and retries. Identify suspicious activity, then identify the source and solve the problem.
WLAN Rogue Hunting
Use the wireless “Security Scan” feature to identify rogue APs and “Locate” to hunt them down. MetroScope utilizes an external, directional antenna to speed location of targeted 802.11 devices by 75% compared to a standard omni-directional antenna.Rotate the antenna 360° and note the direction of strongest signal strength on the graphical display. Follow the strongest signal strength path to locate the target device. Direct the antenna upwards and downwards to locate APs in ceilings and on floors above and below – extremely helpful in a multi-floor environment.
The handheld MetroScope is an ideal portable platform for rogue hunting. It is compact, lightweight and engineered for durability. Easily see changes in wireless signal strength on the bright, color touch-screen display.
Survey RF Sites
Use Wireless MetroScope to capture baseline RF coverage data immediately after the wireless infrastructure is installed, then compare historical data to periodic survey data over time. Use this information to make minor adjustments to wireless access point transmit power, relocate access points, or add new access points before RF environmental changes impact your user community.
Even the smartest technician with the best tool needs some help sometimes. MetroScope’s secure web remote operation lets them get it instantly from your own experts. Your expert can take control of the MetroScope remotely, view all the results and identify the problem without an expensive truck roll. It is on-the-job-training for the technician, who can follow the whole process on the MetroScope display. Best of all, the customer does not have to wait any longer to get their problem solved.
MetroScope may be controlled remotely through the copper or fiber test ports. It may also be controlled out-of-band by adding a USB NIC.
Fluke Networks’ new MetroScope Service Provider Assistant test set offers additional capabilities you won’t find in other handhelds – capabilities that can eliminate the need to bring a laptop along. Use the built-in web browser, terminal emulator or telnet to configure devices or access shared documents. Download files using the built-in FTP capability. Control all these capabilities through a touch-sensitive keyboard on the display or an optional USB keyboard. Embedded Linux® shell programming allows the automation of standard work, data collection, reporting, and support of OAM&P.
Gold Product Support
Gold Support for your MetroScope Service Provider Assistant allows you to make the most of your MetroScope purchase while ensuring a higher return on your investment. You will minimize your downtime, receive faster trouble resolution and have total access to all support resources.
What do you get with Gold Support for your MetroScope Service Provider Assistant?
Repairs and loaner equipment - If your MetroScope should fail, we'll deliver a loaner unit via next-day delivery to keep you up and running. We'll repair your MetroScope and replace defective or faulty accessories at no charge, with first on bench" priority, and return it to you - all shipping paid by Fluke Networks.
Software upgrades - Your MetroScope will never be out of date. You'll receive all software upgrades free - the only way to keep your MetroScope updated. See the latest releases.
Access to live 24 x 7 technical support - Extend the expertise of your staff. Gold Support includes direct, immediate telephone access to our world-class Technical Assistance Center (TAC), direct access only available to Gold Members. Our centers in Seattle, WA and Eindhoven, NL employ a full staff of highly trained technical experts that are on call, including weekends and through the night when most network changes are implemented, to answer complex troubleshooting questions helping you get the most out of your MetroScope and understand the results you are seeing.
Accessory Replacement - Some accessories are essential to your MetroScope. The normal warranty on accessories is 90 days, but parts and accessories including the MetroScope battery will be replaced free of charge with Gold Support once qualified as defective by our technical assistance center.
Unlimited access to our Knowledge Base - You'll have an open door to valuable proprietary information we've gathered from helping customers over the years. It also includes helpful technical articles written by our experts.
Member Only promotions - Your membership qualifies you for Members Only promotions and programs. This includes product discounts, access to reconditioned equipment at special prices and other incredible values.
Ensure that you are getting the most out of your MetroScope Service Provider Assistant with Gold Support Services.
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