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	In this Issue: WHAT’S THE BUZZ ... Testing Applications IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Testing Goes To The Core Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) Testing Surrounded WHAT’S NEW…. Catapult's New Way To Serve Up Protocols-- Software Release Server What’s New in DCT2000® What’s New in MGTS® TECHNICAL TIPS DCT2000 Technical Tip MGTS Technical Tip			February 16, 2006 Catapult News is issued periodically by Catapult Communications. Covering a variety of test topics, we hope that you find this e-newsletter to be informative and helpful. What's the Buzz…. Testing Applications IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Testing Goes To The Core --- IMS is making a big splash in the industry, being positioned as a key enabler for the merging of the Internet with the wireless world. IMS is a natural evolution of both wireless and Voice over IP networks; promising easy access to a wide range of advanced features. IMS was defined in 3GPP with the SIP based multimedia domain being added to NGN networks. With requirements now defined and user demand increasing, the market is well groomed for IMS deployment. IMS testing is vital to ensure its successful introduction. Given the complexity that IMS brings to the network, there are new challenges. For example, there is a need to fully stress network components while also verifying their proper interworking. IMS testing spans the various network layers including the: Application, Service Control and Transport layers. Within these layers are several subsystems associated with the IMS architecture including: Call Session Control Functions (CSCF) Inter-working Elements (i.e. Media Gateways) Subcriber Services Databases (i.e. HSS) Catapult provides a cost effective, flexible platform for functional and load testing consistent with the emerging standards to test across the subsystems mentioned above. Catapult supports a variety of testing configurations and protocols. Below are a few test scenarios and their corresponding supported protocols: I-CSCF Testing. In this example, Catapult test systems are used to simulate a S-CSCF for load testing an I-CSCF network element. Home Subscriber Server/Subscription Locator Function (HSS/SLF). This scenario verifies functionality of the HSS/SLF through the simulation of an Application Server by running MAP and Diameter protocols. Media Gateway testing application has the potential for a variety of configurations. Using Catapult's IMS test application, developers and carriers can test real-time media streams transported over IP trunks. With an emphasis on full-stack validation, Catapult provides confidence to the IMS manufacturers that their application will smoothly integrate into new networks. This is a unique approach to testing by providing real world load traffic solutions over both bearer and signaling channels. One specific customer implementation runs high load to verify the MGCF under test. Catapult IMS functional and load test also simulates these entities: MRFC BGCF I-CSCF P-CSCF S-CSCF App Servers HSS SLF Other IMS/IP Elements For specific information on IMS functionality and performance levels, supported specifications and variants, please contact your Catapult Representative. Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) Testing Surrounded MMS is supported by the two main 3G technologies (UMTS and cdma2000) and makes it possible for users to send and receive multimedia messages including text, images, audio and video. MMS is viewed as an advanced Short Message Service (SMS). However, the implementation of MMS and SMS are different. SMS uses existing interfaces, while MMS involves more protocols and introduces MMS specific interfaces (MM1 through MM8). MMS continues to evolve with enhancements specified in MMS Stage 1 (Release 4), MMS Stage 2 (Release 5) and MMS Stage 3 (Release 6). Catapult offers test systems that provide users with an arsenal of functionality that stresses and verifies the network implementation of MMS components, and confirms the integrity of the network. Catapult's MMS test application can be used to simulate various MMS network nodes such as the WAP Gateway and the MMS Relay/Server. Comprehensive sets of protocols (SMTP, HTTP, PAP, UCP and MAP) are available for testing the MM1, MM3, MM4, and MM7 interfaces. Large binary objects such as jpeg images and xml scripts, which are commonly found in MMS messages, are supported. Catapult’s MGTS MMS test application supports: An example of how MMS may be tested with Catapult products is illustrated below: For specific information regarding functionality and performance levels, please contact your Catapult Representative. What’s New … Catapult's New Way To Serve Up Protocols -- Software Release Server Catapult has introduced a new Product Server to provide customers access to software releases prior to the CD version being available for shipment. You will need to sign up to access this new server. To register for this capability please contact your local AE with the MGTS or DCT ID, the contact name and email address of the person that will be downloading the software. The web address of the new product server is www.catapult-international.com. When new software releases are available we will notify you that they are ready for you to download. What’s New on DCT2000® Releases 10.0 - 10.4 Updates to the following Protocols have been incorporated to further enhance existing Release 6 testing capabilities to include: FP - Now supports 3GPP standards December 2005 RANAP - Now supports 3GPP standards September 2005 GTP - Now supports 3GPP standards September 2005 RNSAP - Now supports 3GPP standards September 2005 IuUP - Now supports 3GPP standards September 2005 RRC - Now supports 3GPP standards September 2005 RLC - Now supports 3GPP standards September 2005 MAC - Now supports 3GPP standards June2005 NBAP- Now supports 3GPP standards September 2005 Updates to the following Protocols have been incorporated to further enhance existing Release 5 testing capabilities to include: MAP - Now supports 3GPP standards June 2004 GTP - Now supports 3GPP standards March 2005 GMM/SM - Now supports 3GPP standards June 2004 BSSGP - Now supports 3GPP standards June 2004 LLC - Now supports 3GPP March 2002 SNDCP - Now supports 3GPP September 2004 Other Updates: Updated SIP protocol support to include SIP REFER method based on RFC3515 April 03 H.248 Protocol has been upgraded to support ITU-T H.248.12 July 2001 and ITU-T H.248.20 November 2002 MMS-MM7 SOAP(1.1 or later) over HTTP MMS-MM1 over HTTP For details on variants and technical specifications supported please consult with your Catapult representative. What's New on MGTS® Releases 13.4 and 13.5 UMA RR Stage 3 Protocol - includes circuit switch signaling functionality and load testing developed in accordance with UMA Stage 3 specifications 3GPP Release 5 December 2004. Gn, Gb and IuPS over IP on p-series hardware platforms 3GPP Release 6 March 2003 – IuCS over ATM 3GPP MAP (Gr, Gs, Gd and Lg interfaces) based on TS29.002 Release 6.7.0 and MAP Release 5 December 2004 3GPP Release 5 June 03 BSSAP 2G/3G Inter System Handover with data transfer on m500 hardware platform. This procedure works in both directions (2G to 3G and 3G to 2G) and is supported between the Iu interface and Gb interface Multiple signaling links (VCCs) on a single board for SS7 Over ATM Multiple links in the same linkset over multiple physical ATM links PESQ for IuCS calls. This introduces the ability to inject a WAV file in the sending end and to retrieve the processed WAV file on the receiving end. The PESQ algorithm analyzes the level of distortion and provides feedback Technical Tips DCT2000 Technical Tip Getting to the root of the problem faster: How to get the version information for the DCT2000 device drivers. The following commands can be used to extract the driver revision information for boards running in DCT2000 Linux system. This information is important for a customer to collect when characterizing an issue to get a baseline of the system for the Catapult Regional Application Engineers. Different drivers are associated with different board types. The PowerPCI board has a separate driver for the base and mezzanine boards: dct2000_base and dct2000_mezz respectively. The catt_mcm driver is used with the mCI and the mPI boards; it also used for the J1/E1/T1 PowerPCI mezzanine card (SA-9011). Additional information about the DCT2000 Device Drivers is available in section 12 of install_10.x.pdf available in DCT2000PATH/doc/installation. dct2000_base sue:Linux:zorro:/Staff/sue> grep -i revision /proc/driver/dct2000_base V4.3_Linux 2.6 $Revision: #4 $ V4.3_Linux 2.6 $Revision: #3 $ V4.3_Linux 2.6 $Revision: #2 $ ^^^^ Driver revision is V4.3 dct2000_mezz sue:Linux:zorro:/Staff/sue> grep -i revision /proc/driver/dct2000_mezz V4.3_Linux 2.6 $Revision: #4 $ V4.3_Linux 2.6 $Revision: #3 $ V4.3_Linux 2.6 $Revision: #2 $ ^^^^ Driver revision is V4.3 catt_mcm sue:Linux:zorro:/Staff/sue> grep -i "linux driver" /proc/driver/catt_mcm Linux Driver Version: V1.6 Linux_2.6 Built on: Aug 30 2005 at 13:03:02 Linux Driver Version: V1.6 Linux_2.6 gcc 3.3 ^^^^ Driver revision is V1.6 Note: Files dct2000_base, dct2000_mezz and catt_mcm are only present in /proc/driver if the associated board type is installed in the system. For example, on an m500 system /proc/driver/dct2000_base will only exist if a cBC card is installed in the chassis. MGTS Technical Tip Surfing into the MGTS: For those who prefer a Web interface rather than command line, there is a Web interface to the p-series shelf. You just enter the shelf IP address for the URL in your Web browser. From there you get a screen displaying the installations that are available on the shelf. After selecting a link a new page appears which gives you the Release, Build, and Date information. Further links are provided at the bottom of the page allowing you to access Shelf Configuration, File Manager, Admin, Connections, Ethernet Configuration, and/or Support Tools. Catapult Communications is a leading provider of advanced digital telecom test systems to global equipment manufacturers and service providers. Catapult delivers test systems for over 700 of protocols and protocol variants in the following telecommunication standards: 3G UMTS, cdma2000, VoIP, IMS, GPRS, SS7, and Intelligent Network and more. For more information about Catapult products, please contact your local Catapult office or visit our website at http://www.catapult.com Sincerely, Catapult Communications ®2006 Catapult Communications DCT2000, MGTS are registered trademarks of Catapult Communications. If you do not want to receive Catapult News, please reply to this message with “REMOVE” in the subject line.