New Scenario Driven Maxwell Network Emulator

Users can now "point and click" to select real-world network scenarios

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (June 2, 2008) - InterWorking Labs, developers of network test and emulation products to improve the quality and operation of voice/video/data networks, today announced a new version of Maxwell, the Intelligent Network Emulator. Developers, IT managers, and test engineers use Maxwell to emulate a variety of adverse network conditions.

Real world, Point and Click Scenarios

Maxwell now provides more than a dozen preset scenarios - examples include transatlantic ATM link emulation, geosynchronous satellite link emulation, low Earth orbit link emulation, TCP/IP test suite impairments, SIP test suite impairments, intermittent congestion emulation, and others. Point and click to start a scenario.

Customize Scenarios

Users can modify, rename, save and restore scenarios for specific requirements. This can be done on complete or partial configurations on a single flow or multi-flow impairment. Editable scenario descriptions include setup instructions, embedded figures or images as an aid to self-documentation.

Automated Network Emulations

The mechanism for varying impairment values over time ("automation") has been generalized to allow arbitrary variations over time using simple pulse models, more complex equations, or user-defined curves using line segments.

For example:

Users can emulate a mobile device passing by a base station by setting packet loss to vary logarithmically with time.

Users can emulate sudden congestion onset by setting delay using a square pulse.

A graph of the function with time displays the progression of the varying values in real time, for immediate visual feedback.

Redesigned On-screen Help and Documentation

Immediately visible on-screen help provides guidance for using the more advanced features, yielding greater user productivity by eliminating document searches. In addition, extensively revised and updated documentation facilitates more effective use of remote API commands, scripts and programmatic interfaces.

More Engine Control from GUI

The GUI now provides improved control of the impairment engine. Even unusual configuration changes may be accomplished from the graphical user interface; there is no requirement for command line changes. Major engine restarts are completely transparent and immediate.

The new version of Maxwell is available now from InterWorking Labs as an upgrade for current customers.

"Many developers and IT managers want to see how a product performs before they deploy it," explained Karl Auerbach, Chief Technical Officer at InterWorking Labs. "However, they do not know how to create a model to emulate certain network characteristics. Not everyone has the background to create their own geosync satellite emulation, but they might have to make sure their client server application works properly over that type of connection. With our new version of Maxwell, we have removed the guesswork and confusion by providing our customers with a preset scenario that creates the conditions they wish to test."

About InterWorking Labs

InterWorking Labs has its offices at:
303 Potrero Street, Suite 52
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-2760
Voice: +1.831.460.7010
Fax: +1.831.401.2320
www.iwl.com
 
New Support for ITU Model for testing Multimedia over IP

Multimedia equipment suppliers can now use Maxwell with the ITU-T G.1050 tests to provide performance data to carriers

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (July 25, 2008) - InterWorking Labs, developers of network test and emulation products to improve the quality and operation of voice/video/data networks, today announced support of the ITU-T Recommendation G.1050 - Network model for evaluating multimedia transmission performance over the Internet Protocol.

The Maxwell Network Emulator now supports all 1,512 test cases specified in the ITU-T G.1050.

Networked Multimedia Testing Model

Each one of the tests in the G.1050 introduces a specific network anomaly or impairment that is likely to occur on today’s internet. The multimedia device under test, such as a voice over IP phone, or a video stream, must continue to operate correctly in the face of each network anomaly. The device must not crash or fail in any way.

These new multimedia devices containing voice or video streams are far more sensitive to network anomalies than traditional network devices, such as switches, servers or routers. When faced with routine network anomalies, the multimedia devices can suffer performance degradation or stop functioning.

The G.1050 provides a standardized model that all device manufacturers can utilize to test a range of known, deployed, network configurations containing network anomalies. In this way, the device manufacturer can test a multimedia product for each condition, and be certain that a product will perform reliably on today’s internet.

Additional New Media Tests

In addition to the G.1050 network model tests, Maxwell also includes:

• SIP protocol impairment tests that check the robustness of SIP implementations to vulnerabilities and attacks

• A set of Rate Limitation Scenarios to determine how well the new multimedia device performs under bandwidth limited conditions

• Alternative network models that allow the user to go beyond the 189 rate combinations and eight severity levels of the ITU G.1050 and define a specific network anomaly to test a specific situation

The ITU-T G.1050 tests are available now from InterWorking Labs. More information about the tests may be found at Maxwell ITU Tests

The ITU-T G.1050 specification May be obtained from the ITU

About InterWorking Labs

InterWorking Labs has its offices at:
303 Potrero Street, Suite 52
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-2760
Voice: +1.831.460.7010
Fax: +1.831.401.2320
www.iwl.com
 
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