From Analog to Packet Core

 

Intelligent Core Tester is a comprehensive, cost-effective Mobile Core network test platform based on commercially available hardware. It covers a wide range of physical interfaces: Analog, BRI, PRI, T1, E1, STM1, 1000BT. Broad protocol and interfaces coverage allows Linkbit ICT to be used to test end-to-end integrity and operations of modern Mobile Core networks.

Linkbit ICT has been deployed in MNO networks at multiple locations worldwide. Our customers are using it for mobile and fixed network IN testing, SMSC, MSC, HLR simulation and load testing, mobile 3G CS and PS testing, and 4G/LTE simulation and automated regression testing.

---

Mobile Core Networks are changing fast

 

Modern day Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are facing tremendous pressure of keeping the existing mobile services running uninterrupted while constantly upgrading their networks' hardware, patching the software and rolling out new services. In addition, there is an ongoing industry transition to EPC, and vEPC.

 

All of this requires lots of testing.

 

The majority of available test tools are not nearly flexible enough to support the complex, ever changing multi-protocol, multi-interface test environment. This presents a great challenge to MNOs and NEMs test teams and force them to spend money and man-hours on assembling and learning a diverse variety of test tools. Still, the biggest problem–future proofing the testbed–remains unsolved, as most of the available tools are geared towards checking known problems in the existing networks.

 

Better, more flexible tools are needed for Mobile Core network integrity and validation tests.

 

Linkbit Intelligent Core Tester (ICT) is developed to take full advantage of Linkbit unique software architecture. The architecture allows for fast and painless creation of test scenarios covering any and all mobile protocols and interfaces based on a variety of 3GPP/3GPP2/IETF documents.

A competitive and cost-effective product, Linkbit ICT is based on commercially available hardware. It supports communications network interfaces and protocols from legacy ASLI, BRI, PRI, SS7 to the latest LTE S1, X2, and Diameter interfaces, allowing to test the integrity and operation of the mobile core end-to-end. Support for new protocols and interfaces could be rapidly deployed through a simple software upgrade. Modern, scalable and highly programmable, Linkbit ICT cannot become obsolete, provides long term value and improves the total ROI.

 

Benefits of Linkbit ICT deployment:

 

• Reduction of operational expenses (OPEX) through multi-user, multi-interface platform sharing
• Increase of service availability through test automation
• Ongoing automated regression testing with the highest possible coverage and minimization of faults caused by introduction of upgrade packages
• Scalability and flexibility
• Scalable standard hardware resulting in reduced test tool prices using a Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) servers for functional and load testing
• The Linkbit ICT can be used in mobile networks (GSM, CDMA, GPRS, UMTS, HSPA+ and LTE) as well as in fixed and NGN networks for VoIP and multimedia applications
• Uses a simple, visual flowchart builder tool for test case creation, compilation and execution covering all protocol, functional, system, and load tests.

 

Hardware Modules:

 

Linkbit ICT consists of a number of modules, connected to a common IP control backplane. The modules are:

 

• K2CX55CM System Control Module. High-performance hardware platform. Linkbit Dashboard and Simulation Studio application software is running on this module. Hardware supports multiple IP test ports.
• System network switch. Provides a high-bandwidth data exchange backplane, through which System Control Module and Linkbit application software communicates and controls ATL Test Modules. Allows for an easy integration of a different ATL Test Modules.
• ATL Test Modules. Provide for a number and variety of test ports and interfaces. Test ports include (but are not limited to) ASLI, BRI, E1, STM1 ATM, 10/100/1000B-T IP. Additional Interfaces (like GSM/ UMTS Air ) are available.

 

System Control Module:

 

INCLUDES 4 - 12 100/1000B-T IP TEST PORTS AND 2 100/1000B-T OAM IP PORTS.

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS: dimensions: 2RU / 437mm x 450mm x 89mm / weight: 16.5 kg.
Power: 700W (1 + 1) Redundant AC-DC high-efficiency power supply w/ PFC
AC Voltage: 100 - 240V, 60-50Hz, 10 - 4 Amp

SYSTEM Specifications:

CPU: Intel Quad Core Xeon E5 3.3 GHz, memory: 2 x 16 GB DDR3 banks, HD: RAID1 2
x 1.5 TB, IP ports: 12 + 2 100/1000B-T (1G multimode fiber), System OS: Windows Server 2008 R2, RDS

 

K2X2E1S-TM ATL test module:

 

INCLUDES 4 - 8 E1/T1 TEST PORTS AND 1 - 4 STM1 ATM PORT (single or multi -mode fiber SFP)
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS: dimensions: 2RU / 437mm x 450mm x 89mm / weight: 17
kg.
Power: 700W (1 + 1) Redundant AC-DC high-efficiency power supply w/ PFC
AC Voltage: 100 - 240V, 60-50Hz, 10 - 4 Amp

SYSTEM Specifications:
CPU: 2 x Intel Dual Core Xeon 2.0 GHz, memory: 1 x 2 GB DDR3, HD: RAID1
2 x 500 GB, E1 ports: 8 / 2 x 4 ATL1307, STM1: 1 ATM port. System OS: Linux,
Application software: Linkbit Test Engine.

 

K2X2A1B-TM ATL test module:

 

INCLUDES 4 E1 TEST PORTS, 8 ASLI AND 4 BRI TEST PORTS.

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS: dimensions: 2RU / 437mm x 450mm x 89mm / weight: 17 kg
Power: 700W (1 + 1) Redundant AC-DC high-efficiency power supply w/ PFC AC Voltage: 100 - 240V, 60-50Hz, 10 - 4 Amp
SYSTEM Specifications:
CPU: 2 x Intel Dual Core Xeon 2.0 GHz, memory: 1 x 2 GB DDR3, HD: RAID1 2 x
500 GB, E1 ports: 4 / 2 x 1 ATL1307, 8 ASLI 4 x 2, 4 BRI ports. System OS: Linux.
Application software: Linkbit Test Engine

ASLI supports 4 - 32 FXO ports, Localized. Echo Cancellation and DTMF processing. Fax capabilities on all ASLI and BRI ports.

---

Additional hardware test modules are available, please contact us for additional information.