Method And Apparatus For Analyzing And Verifying Functionality Of Multiple Network Devices

Abstract

A network device test station (“TS”) is capable of simultaneously testing and verifying a group of routers and / or switches at the same time. The TS includes a user interface (“UI”), a test bed engine, and a TS manager. The UI facilitates interactive communication between TS and user via an interactive graphical representations showing, for example, test configurations and test results. The test bed engine uses a set of test beds to conduct tests on attached devices or routers which are also known as device under tests (“DUTs”) or unit under tests (“UUTs”). The TS manager is configured to provide a test environment with one or more emulated communication networks for verifying functionalities of every DUT.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to the field of communication networks, in particular to a method and device for analyzing and checking the functionality of multiple network devices. Background technique [0002] As the availability of the Internet and the need for more data grows, communication networks and / or infrastructure are continually improved and / or upgraded. High-speed communication networks typically include hundreds of network devices, such as access switches, routers, and bridges, to facilitate the rapid transfer of packets and / or data communications from source devices to destination devices. The challenge of maintaining and / or repairing such high-speed communication networks is that when errors or failures are detected, network providers, operators and / or administrators need to quickly test and / or debug bulky network equipment to reduce network downtime. [0003] A problem associated with supporting and / or maintaining communication network...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0003] A problem associated with supporting and / or maintaining communication networks is that when faults or errors are found associated with a portion of a network comprising multiple network devices such as routers and switches, it is often difficult to verify whether these network devices contain software errors, hardware errors, and / or no errors

For example, some routers or switches have slow response time under a newly upgraded network, this is due to some routers may need new software patches and other routers may have hardware defects

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