October 18, 2007 -- JDSU has introduced enhanced features for its HST-3000 handheld services tester, which the company bills as a complete, all-in-one access test platform, including new features to support the rollout of IPv6. IPv6 is the standardized, next-generation IP protocol under adoption worldwide. The new features are available as a software upgrade.
Originally called "IP Next Generation" (IPng), IPv6 is expected to replace the current IP protocol (IPv4). It supports quality-of-service (QoS) parameters for real-time audio and video and is designed to fix the shortcomings of IPv4, including data security issues. The HST-3000's new IPv6 features provide the ability to test IPv6 connectivity, throughput, latency, and packet jitter, says JDSU. Tests supported include verification of stateless or stateful address auto-configuration; IPv6 ping; traffic generation; and the ability to receive, filter, and report IPv4 or IPv6 traffic.
Developed in response to customer requests for greater Ethernet test ease-of-use, the upgrade to the HST Ethernet module includes an improved graphical interface (GUI) with fewer "button pushes" that enables users with limited test experience to conduct simplified pass/fail analysis, contends the company. The upgrade also offers support for MPLS, Q-in-Q (also known as VLAN stacking), Layer 4 (TCP/UDP) throughput testing, and PPPoE. Language support is available in simplified Chinese, German, Spanish, French, and Turkish.
"The emergence of new data, voice, and video services comes at a time when service levels and reliable performance are the differentiating factors in Ethernet networks," notes Dave Holly, senior vice president and general manager of JDSU's Field Service Communications Test and Measurement group. "The HST-3000 has always provided the most advanced and cost-effective solution for the full set of test applications required by field technicians, and the features in this upgrade put additional testing power in the hands of field technicians."
The HST-3000 performs four automated tests that meet RFC-2544, a benchmarking methodology for testing Ethernet links: packet jitter, throughput, latency, burstability (back-to-back frames), and lost frames. RFC-2544 represents a baseline to verify quality of service, as defined in Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
According to the company, the JDSU HST-3000 is a handheld tester that scales to meet the full depth and breadth of test applications required by field technicians responsible for access network service installation and maintenance. JDSU reports that the all-in-one handheld tester has been adopted by telecommunications network operators worldwide. The HST-3000 is the only handheld telecommunications service tester licensed to support Nortel's UniStim VoIP protocol, providing users the ability to troubleshoot and test the features and capabilities of Nortel's IP desktop telephones, and also provides licensed test support for vendor-specific versions of IPTV such as MSTV, say JDSU representatives.
By adding ADSL2, ADSL2+, VDSL, VDSL2, VoIP, and IPTV test options, the HST-3000 provides a comprehensive portable test option for triple-play service deployments and extends its capabilities for installation and maintenance crews who are responsible for the turn-up and troubleshooting of these new services.