[Satnews] GL Communications Inc., announces its enhanced ExpertSAM™ (Y.1564 Testing), a set of test procedures that test the ability of Ethernet-based services to carry a variety of traffic (voice, data, and video) at defined performance levels. The application is now enhanced to support testing 10 Gbps Ethernet links. 

GL’s ExpertSAM™ is an optional application with GL’s PacketExpert™, Ethernet / IP Tester that comes in 2 platform variants –

• ExpertSAM™ 1 Gbps (PXE106) – This is a quad port USB based portable unit, 2 of which can be either Electrical or Optical (Port 2, Port 3) and other 2 Electrical only (Port 1, Port 4). ExpertSAM™ multi-stream ITU-T Y.1564 standard compliant test is supported on Port2, which is capable of varying link speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps for the electrical interfaces, and 1000 Mbps for the optical interface 
• ExpertSAM™ 10 Gbps & 1 Gbps (PXG106) - This is a quad port USB based portable unit, of which 2 are 10 Gbps optical ports, and other 2 are 10/100/1000Mbps Electrical / Optical ports. ExpertSAM™ multi-stream ITU-T Y.1564 standard compliant test is supported on 10G/1G: Port 1, which is capable of 1000 Mbps (Electrical/Optical ports) and 10 Gbps (Optical only ports) link speeds. 

ExpertSAM™ is intended for multiservice testing to measure the maximum performance of the Device or the Network Under Test. ExpertSAM™ is a set of procedures that test the ability of Ethernet-based services to carry a variety of traffic (voice, data, and video) at defined performance levels. In particular, it is aimed at addressing limitations of legacy RFC 2544 test procedures, especially for Service Level Agreements (SLA).

ExpertSAM™ is a single test conducted to validate SLAs as per ITU-T Y.1564 standard. The ITU-T Y.1564 is built around two key subtests, the Service Configuration Test and the Service Performance Test.

In ITU-T Y.1564 ExpertSAM™ test procedure Bandwidth CIR (Committed Information Rate) / EIR (Excess Information Rate)/Overshoot traffic, Frame Loss, Frame Delay and Frame Delay Variation are measured and compared to the expected values for each service ensuring it is within its committed range or the threshold defined for guaranteed traffic such as CIR.

ExpertSAM™ performs round-trip measurements in combination with a remote loopback. As depicted in the above test setup, another PacketExpert™ is configured as a loopback device. In this case, the results reflect the average of both Tx and Rx test directions.

PacketExpert™ also supports Command line Interface (CLI) to access all ExpertSAM™ functionalities remotely  using TCL clients and MAPS™ CLI client/server architecture.

Speaking to the press, Mr. Jagdish Vadalia, a Senior Manager for product development of the company said, “Our ExpertSAM™ is specifically aimed at addressing limitations of legacy RFC 2544 test procedures, especially for Service Level Agreements (SLAs). It is based on ITU Y.1564 standard and and optional application available with our Next Generation Ethernet/IP Tester referred to as PacketExpert™ 10G, as well as the earlier PacketExpert™ 1G units. Now, PacketExpert™ 10G has been enhanced to support ExpertSAM™(Y.1564 Testing) functionalities for 10 Gbps as well as 1 Gbps networks. These tests are supported on each port independently.”

He added, “ExpertSAM™ is a single test conducted to validate SLAs as per ITU-T Y.1564 standard. The ITU-T Y.1564 is built around two key subtests: the Service Configuration Test (SCT) and the Service Performance Test (SPT). SCT includes sequential testing of each service validating the SLA parameters. A ramp test for each service is performed to verify the CIR, and EIR. Each service is validated within the specified time duration in seconds, which is uniform across all the services.”

 Mr. Vadalia further added, “ In ITU-T Y.1564 ExpertSAM™ test methodology, Throughput, Frame Loss, Frame Delay and Frame Delay Variation (cumulatively known as Service Acceptance Criteria, or SAC Parameters) are measured and compared to the expected values for each service ensuring it is within its committed range or the threshold defined for guaranteed traffic such as CIR. Each Service can be configured for various attributes like the Frame Size(s), Layer Header Parameters (including VLAN Tag Information), the Bandwidth Profile (CIR, EIR and Policing Rates), Color Method and SAC Parameters.”