Solver PS Suite – packet based traffic load generator in one single tool!

The demand for test solutions for load and feature testing of wireless packet switched (PS) networks has grown rapidly the past few years. To meet these needs, Polystar has developed a bundled tool supporting most PS interfaces in one single solution.

Solver PS Suite is a high-performance test solution for load and feature testing of wireless packet-switched networks. The Solver PS Suite can simulate both UTRAN and eUTRAN, and provide load to the PS core network and network elements such as the SGSN, MME and SGW.

Polystar's test and measurement tool Solver assists in the development and improvement of the business for operators and vendors of network equipment. Testing core networks, and network elements, has never been this easy and efficient. Imagine simulating heavy load and confirming feature performance with just a few clicks in a user-friendly GUI. This unique ease-of-use is what makes Solver a clear standout in the mobile networks testing market.

Solver PS simulates the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network Packet Core (E-UTRAN) and UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) with a large amount of user equipment connected, providing load and stress to the core network. Solver PS performs testing of the control and user planes with various applications and patterns.

Sessions can be configured and used alone or in parallel to simulate a normal usage of the network and analyse the behaviour of the EPC and UTRAN. Sessions in Solver are created in minutes thanks to the easy-to-use GUI. The sessions can then be started using the same GUI, or by scripts for automated tests. The results are generated and saved in a format that can be retrieved and used in other systems.

Test types supported in Solver PS Suite

Load testing – stressing the

• core network and other LTE elements to capacity and overload conditions
• core network and other UMTS elements to capacity and overload conditions

Feature testing – verifying that

• EPC elements provide desired features and functionality
• UTRAN elements provide desired features and functionality
• during handover
• the system properly handles intra and inter eNodeB calls
• the system properly handles intra and inter RNC handover scenarios

Interfaces included in the Solver PS Suite

S1 – S1 MME and S1-U
The Solver PS Suite includes the S1 interface to connect to the SUT (System Under Test). S1 is a standardised logical interface between the eNodeB and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC):

• S1-MME - for exchange of signalling messages between the eNodeB and the MME (Control Plane)
• S1-U for the transport of user datagrams between the eNodeB and the Serving Gateway (S-GW) (User Plane)

Iu-PS over IP

Solver PS Suite includes the Iu-PS over IP interface, which uses Ethernet for IP to connect to the SUT (System Under Test).