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Library: Test Plans

IxChariot for Wireless

Testing Packet Switched Network Performance of Mobile Wireless Networks

Introduction
3G networks are being deployed to provide significant improvements in the data bandwidth for end user services over mobile networks. These are expected to drive adoption of 3G services by offering video streaming and "broadband like" data services. The importance of meeting customers' expectations will be critical to the success of any 3G service.

IxChariot from Ixia is a powerful tool that enables network operators to understand the real end-to-end performance of their packet switched network. In this example, IxChariot performance endpoints are installed at multiple points in the IP core network with a further IxChariot endpoint installed on the 3G handset, or laptop connected to the handset. Performance tests can be run between any of the endpoints. IxChariot contains scripts to simulate application traffic such as video, HTTP, email, instant messenger, and P2P. IxChariot also provides performance metrics such as throughput, latency and jitter. These tests and statistics provide you with a method for benchmarking the performance of your network from an end users perspective.



Testing Available Bandwidth

Objective and Setup
The first test to be run establishes the amount of raw bandwidth between the handset and the points in the core IP network. This enables us to understand the capacity for end user services.

Add an Endpoint Pair from the main GUI and enter the IP address of the handset and the point in the core IP network that you wish to test between. The tests are uni-directional and run from end point E1 to E2. Select the "high performance throughput" script.



Results
The script passes a data file between the endpoints and records the results. This allows you to determine the real throughput the link is capable of passing.



Testing Video Streaming

Objective and Setup
IxChariot emulates video streams through use of scripts within the Streaming script file directory. These streams will be used to simulate the behavior of video traffic through the network. Delay, jitter and throughput will be measured as part of the test.

Add a video Endpoint Pair and select the IP addresses of the server in the core network where the endpoint resides (E1) and the IP address of the handset where the tests are being run to (E2). Modify the video parameters to suit your set up.



Results
IxChariot returns results of the network latency, jitter, throughput and Media Delivery Index (MDI) for the video stream.



Testing HTTP Performance

Objective and Setup
IxChariot emulates web sessions through use of scripts within the Internet script file directory. This script enables testing the performance of the network in delivering web traffic to the handset and simulating a real HTTP session from the user perspective.



Results
The test simulates the exchanges required for E1 to request an HTTP page from E2 and measures the performance. Results are returned indicating the network throughput as well as the transaction time and response time.





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