NetHawk Releases IMS Testing Tools

NetHawk says that it has released a comprehensive solution for the testing of the IMS. The solution that includes both monitoring and load simulation, can be scaled and equipped to suit the needs of network manufacturers and operators.

The complete solution, which consists of the NetHawk M5 Analyser and the EAST load test tool, enables the customers to evaluate the IMS capable network under heavy load situations, and verify the functionality of every feature of the equipment and mobile terminals. Every message of the signalling traffic is analysed, and statistics and indicators can be created from the data with the tool.

The main part of the solution is the NetHawk M5 multi-analyser monitoring and analysis tool for all the IMS network interfaces. With the M5, the user is able to analyse the IMS procedures and sessions at the same time with protocol traffic from radio access networks and other core network domains. To help the analysis, many built-in features exist, from the intelligent call and session tracing to the KPI analysis capabilities.

The other main part of the solution is the NetHawk EAST testing platform with the IMS testing package. With the IMS testing capabilities of NetHawk EAST the customer can carry out surround testing of the all new network elements, like CSCF, introduced by the IMS. With the industry's leading load testing capabilities, a multitude of different simulated subscriber behaviours can be produced simultaneously.

The IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) is a new core networks domain in the GSM/GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA system enabling access to new IP-based services like, for example, VoIP and presence services for the mobile subscriber. IMS utilizes the open protocols defined by IETF such as SIP (Session Initialisation Protocol), Diameter and RTP (Real Time Protocol). By deploying the IMS architecture, the operators are prepared for the ongoing convergence of the IP and mobile worlds."

Posted to the site on 15th September 2006