Research On Coordinated Multi-Point Concurrent Testing For Subnetworks & Relay Devices And Testing Experiments

Testing of subnetworks and relay devices (routers or switches), especially for performance testing and evaluation, demands multi-point simultaneous observation to test objects in a coordinated manner. Up to date, the "Transverse test method" (TTM) defined in ISO 9646 is extended to multi-point testing in most test systems. However, TTM was defined for testing of a pair of ports of a router or switch and lacks consideration of multi-thread testing coordination and test case definition; consequently it is not directly applicable to subnetwork testing. As a result, there is a need to define a generic test method, coordination techniques, and evaluation policy for multi-point testing. Sichuan Network Communication Technology Key Laboratory (SC-Netcom Lab) has devoted its research efforts to this area since 2001. It has introduced a generic test method called CMC-TTM (Coordinated Multi-Point Concurrent - Transverse Test Method) and been developing a Distributed Coordinated Multi-point Concurrent Test System (DCMC-TS) based on this method. This is the background of the research work presented in this MSc dissertation.The DCMC-TS is a two-level test system consisting of a Multi-Point -Coordinated Concurrent Test Manager (CMC-TM) at the top and multiple Direct Test Controllers (DTCs) at the bottom. CMC-TM and DTCs are interconnected via network and coordination between them is fulfilled by way of Multi-Point Testing -Coordination Management Protocol (MPT-CMP). DTC was designed for playing two roles: as an independent tester for one or two-port testing for single relay devices, or as the direct test controller under control of CMC-TM for subnetwork testing.The DCMC-TS is a comparatively complex system, which involves both the new test method and feasibility examination. The work presented in this thesis is based on existing work at SC-Netcom Lab, but when the author joined in the development work, the experimental system for DCMC-TS had not been completed yet. The main contribution of the author includes:1) Provided an experimental Multi-Point - Coordinated Concurrent Test Manger (CMC-TM) based on existing development;2) Jointly formed a workable DCMC-TS, which enables preliminary multi-point testing;3) To demonstrate that the experimental DCMC-TS has accomplished the design goal.The work presented in the dissertation has shown that it is feasible to produce a prototype multi-point test system for testing single relay system and subnetworks, with further testing experiments and refinement.