HP E4214B Enhanced UNI Signalling Test Software

The E4214B B-ISDN UNI Signalling Test Software is HP's new and enhanced solution for testing the critical User-Network Interface (UNI) signalling protocol, through which terminal or endpoint equipment dynamically establishes, maintains, and clears connections across public or private ATM networks.

Designed for the HP Broadband Series Test System (BSTS), this version supports testing of signalling capabilities defined by both the ATM Forum (UNI Version 4.0) and the ITU-T (Q.2931, Q.2971 and Capability Set 2.1). The ATM Forum's UNI Version 4.0 adds a number of new features, such as ABR (Available Bit Rate) and expanded point-to-multipoint capabilities, including LIJ (Leaf Initiated Join), and supports the ITU-T's Capability Set (CS) 2.1, which defines supplementary services, such as Direct Dialing In (DDI, Q.2951)

Similarly, product capabilities related to the ITU-T's Q.2931 UNI signalling specification have been enhanced to support Capability Set 2.1 and point to multipoint signalling defined in Q.2971.

Network equipment and CPE manufacturers can use the E4214B to verify implementation of these latest UNI signalling protocols in their equipment. The software is also useful for network operators seeking to verify the interoperability of UNI products from different vendors. This product complements the comprehensive family of available BSTS ATM signalling applications and conformance test suites.

[ Features ]

Emulation support for ATM Forum UNI version 3.0/3.1/4.0 and ITU-T Q.2931, Q.2971 and Capability Set 2.1
Includes Point-to Multipoint and Leaf Initiated Join Emulation
Abbreviated display option highlights key signalling data, including called/calling numbers and VPI/VCI's
Supports up to 4096 simultaneous calls with full control over all PDU field contents
Supplementary Service support including DDI and subaddressing
Build and store custom information elements for network and vendor specific services

[ Specifications ]

Monitoring Features

Multiport Monitoring          
Single- or dual-port capability

Synchronized timestamps correlates events from two physical ports

Merged live protocol viewer, or playback of captured data, shows
activity from both ports integrated into one display

Large 8 MB capture buffer

Decode Displays               
Summary mode; displays a single line description of each PDU

Detailed mode; displays a multi-line description of each event with 
field-by-field decoding; includes header/trailer and payload options

Hex mode; displays the entire PDU in hexadecimal

Timestamps; toggle on/off the display of timestamps

Port identifier; toggle on/off the display of the VXI slot number of
the Cell Protocol Processor and line interface module from which
the data was captured; also indicates whether the captured data was 
transmitted or received

Summary Display Contents      
UNI Signalling: displays message type, call reference value and call 
reference flag
SSCOP: PDU types and N(S)
AAL-5: length
AAL-3/4 CPC: length
AAL-3/4 SAR: MID, segment type, and sequence number
ATM: VPI and VCI

UNI Signalling Decode Errors  
Missing expected octet
Illegal repeated items
Message or IE length too short
Message or IE length too long
Unnecessary IE or format present
Mandatory IE or format missing
Invalid field value

UNI Signalling Filters        
Filtered message type/s
Call reference value
Call reference flag
Any of the above decode errors

SSCOP Decode Errors           
PDU too short
Unknown PDU type
PDU alignment error
PDU length error
Non-zero reserved field
Information field too long
SSCOP-UU field too long

SSCOP PDU Data Filters        
Filtered PDU type/s
Any of the above decode errors

AAL-5 PDU Data Filter        
Invalid CRC-32
Length field not equal to received length
Frame length larger than maximum
Frame length smaller than minimum
Incorrect pad length

AAL-5 PDU Data Filters        
Filtered field/s
Any of the above decode errors

ATM Cell Data Decode Errors   
Incorrect header error control (HEC)
Zero VCI but non-zero VPI
Invalid OAM

ATM Cell Data Filters         
Filtered cell type/s
Filtered cell field/s
Generic flow control value
Virtual path identifier (VPI)
Virtual channel identifier (VCI)
Payload type
Cell loss priority
Invalid cell type
Any of the above decode errors

Bit String Filters            
Filter pattern editor allows you to select octets which you wish to
match, and enter individual data patterns for each selected octets


Protocol Simulation

Smart Message Editors         
UNI 3.0/3.1 signalling messages
Q.2931 signalling messages
Q.2110 SSCOP PDUs
Q.SAAL1 SSCOP PDUs

Signalling Messages Fields
Message set
Direction
Protocol discriminator
Call reference
Message type
Message length
Information elements and all associated content fields

Q.2110 SSCOP PDU Fields
SSCOP-UU
Information
List elements (STAT messages)
Pad
Pad length
Reserved bits
N(MR)
N(PS)
N(R)
N(S)
N(SQ)
Source

Q.SAAL1 SSCOP PDU Fields
N(UU)
Information
List elements (STAT messages)
Pad
Pad length
Reserved bits
N(MR)
N(PS)
N(R)
N(S)
N(SQ)
Source


Layer 2 Emulation

Layer 2 Response
Automatic response, or direct control of the SSCOP and SSCF state 
machines

SSCOP Services
Establish request
Establish response
Release
Send data
Resynchronize request
Resynchronize response
Recover Response

SSCF Services
Establish
Release
Send sequenced data
Send unit data

Configuration Parameters
MaxCC; specifies number of times an unacknowledged connection control 
PDU can be sent
MaxPD; specifies how many SD PDUs are sent before a POLL PDU is sent
Maximum SSCOP information field length
Maximum length of the UU field in Q.2110 SSCOP PDUs

Receive Window Size
Sets the window size of the SSCOP receiver

Protocol Behavior
Repeat USTAT; toggles on/off the optional transmission of a second
USTAT PDU when a new sequence gap is detected as per Q.SAAL1
                              
USTAT Response to Poll; toggles on/off the optional transmission of a 
USTAT PDU in response to a POLL PDU if a new sequence gap is detected 
as per Q.SAAL1
                              
Poll after retransmission; toggles on/off the optional forced expiry
of the POLL timer due to the reception of a USTAT as per Q.SAAL1

Modifiable Timers
CC; ensures that the system under test acknowledges a connection
control PDU in time; set from 1 to 9,999 sec
			     
POLL; specifies the time between POLL transmissions; set from 10 to
99,9999 msec
                              
KEEP-ALIVE; measures the time between a final POLL and the STAT
response before entering the IDLE phase; set from 1 to 9,999 sec
                              
IDLE; measures a period in the idle phase during which the tester
does not poll the system under test; set from 1 to 9,999 sec
                              
NO RESPONSE; used to detect broken layer 2 connections; set from 1 to
9,999 sec

Diagnostic Trace Statements
On state change
On timer expiry
On protocol violation
On signal trace

Signalling Emulation Performance
Two signalling virtual channels per CPP
Up to four CPPs can be cascaded to a single line interface to support
eight signalling virtual channels on a single line interface
Approximately 700 to 900 PDUs/s at the SSCOP/SSCF layer


Layer 3 Emulation

Layer 3 Response
Automatic emulation, or interactive control

Interactive Functions
Call setup
Call release
Add/drop channels to a UNI 3.0/3.1 point-to-multipoint connection
Restart channels which have been set up
Establish/release SSCOP link

Protocol Behavior
Toggle optional Q.2931 symmetric call operation on or off
Toggle optional Q.2931 SETUP message responses (CALL PROCEEDING AND 
ALERTING) on or off, and specify delay
Toggle optional STATUS ENQUIRY message each time a link is reset on 
or off (as per Q.2931 and UNI 3.1)

Call Acceptance Control
Accept all call setup requests, or only those from specified ATM
addresses or range of addresses

Specify which VPI/VCI virtual channels are assigned to SVCs (network 
side)
                             
Add a value from 0 to 65,535 ms to the Q.2931 transit delay 
information element

Modifiable Timers
T303; Tracks the time during which a Q.2931 ALERTING, CONNECT, RELEASE 
COMPLETE or CALL PROCEEDING message must be received after a SETUP 
message is sent
          
T308; tracks the time during which a RELEASE or RELEASE COMPLETE
message must be received after a RELEASE message is sent

T309; tracks the time during which the layer 2 connection must be
re-established after the SAAL connection terminates
                              
T310; tracks the time during which an ALERTING, CONNECT or RELEASE
message must be received after a CALL PROCEEDING message is received
                              
T313 (user side); Tracks the time during which a CONNECT ACKNOWLEDGE
must be received after a CONNECT message is sent
                              
T316; tracks the time during which a RESTART ACKNOWLEDGE must be
received after a RESTART message is sent
                              
T322; tracks the time during which a STATUS, RELEASE or RELEASE
COMPLETE message must be received after a STATUS ENQUIRY message has
been sent

Modifiable Point-to-Multipoint Timers & Delays
T398; tracks the time during which a DROP PARTY ACKNOWLEDGE or
RELEASE message must be received after a DROP PARTY message is sent
                              
T399; tracks the time during which an ADD PARTY ACKNOWLEDGE, ADD
PARTY REJECT or RELEASE message must be received after an ADD PARTY 
message is sent
      
Delay before sending an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or REJECT response after 
receiving an ADD PARTY message can be set from 0.0 to 99.9 seconds

Timer Controls
Set maximum number of T316 expiries
Set maximum number of T322 expiries
Retransmit SETUP on T303 expiry
Send Cause IE on T308 or T398 expiry
Toggle UNI 3.0 T309 implementation on/off

Delays                        
ADD PARTY response delay; from 0.0 to 99.9 seconds
SETUP message response delay

Diagnostic Trace Statements
On state change
On timer expiry
On protocol violation
On signal receipt

Active SVC Table
Table display shows assigned VPI/VCI, call reference, number of active 
parties in point-to-multipoint call, and call state for each channel

Message Size
Up to 4096 bytes; typical UNI signalling messages are usually well 
below 256 bytes.

Signalling Emulation Performance
Two signalling virtual channels per CPP

Up to four CPPs can be cascaded to a single line interface to support
eight signalling virtual channels on a single line interface
                              
Automatic traffic shaping of emulation responses, user-selectable 
from 16 kb/s or 38 cells/second to full line rate, or send 100% line 
rate burst of AAL-5 frames


Call Generation
The E4214's robust call generation capability allows you to load a
switch or other device to determine its signalling processing
delay, throughput, and other performance characteristics.

Call Set-Up Capacity
Up to 130 calls per second
Up to 500,000 busy hour call attempts

Call Set-Up Distributions
Continuously
Burst

Options
Number of active calls to be maintained at one time
Interval between last call release and new call set-up

Call Set-Up Sequences
Create call set-up sequences using the PDU Builder
Each sequence can contain more than 1,000 call set-up messages
Up to 256 active calls can be maintained
Set up multipoint calls to as many as 256 addresses

Statistics
Number of call attempts
Number of successful calls


Applicable Standards & Recommenations

Signalling AAL:

ITU-T Recommendation Q.2100, B-ISDN Signalling ATM 
Adaptation Layer (SAAL) Overview Description, 1994

ITU-T Recommendation Q.2110, B-ISDN ATM Adaptation Layer -
Service Specific Connection Oriented Protocol (SSCOP), 1994

ITU-T Recommendation Q.2130, B-ISDN Signalling ATM 
Adaptation Layer - Service Specific Coordination Function for 
Support of Signalling at the User Network Interface (SSFC AT UNI), 
1994

ITU-T Recommendation Q.SAAL.0, B-ISDN Signalling ATM 
Adaptation Layer Overview Description

ITU-T Recommendation Q.SAAL.1, Service Specific Connection   
Oriented Protocol (SSCOP) Specification

ITU-T Recommendation Q.SAAL.2, Service Specific Coordination
Function (SSCF) for Signalling at the User-to-Network Interface (UNI)

Layer 3 UNI Signalling:

ITU-T Q.2931, Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network 
(B-ISDN) - Digital Subscriber Signalling System No. 2 (DSS 2) -
User-Network Interface (UNI) - Layer 3 Specification for Basic
Call/Connection Control, October 1994.

ATM User-Network Interface Specification Version 3.0, The 
ATM Forum, September 1993.

ATM User-Network Interface Specification Version 3.1, The 
ATM Forum, September 1994.


Configuration
The E4214 UNI Signalling Test Software is used with a BSTS line
interface (LIF) module and an E4209 Cell Protocol Processor (CPP) 
module. The use of two LIF/CPP pairs permits the capture of both 
sides of full duplex signalling protocolexchanges across the UNI, 
or to emulate two devices. Emulating two devices is especially useful 
when testing a switch, as one emulated device can originate a call 
while the second acts as the destination.

POLL; specifies thetime between POLL transmissions; set from 10 to
99,9999 msec
                              
KEEP-ALIVE; measures the time between a final POLL and the STAT
response before entering the IDLE phase; set from 1 to 9,999 sec
                              
IDLE; measures a period in the idle phase during which the tester
does not poll the system under test; set from 1 to 9,999 sec
                              
NO RESPONSE; used to detect broken layer 2 connections; set from 1 to
9,999 sec

Diagnostic Trace Statements
On state change
On timer expiry
On protocol violation
On signal trace

Signalling Emulation Performance
Two signalling virtual channels per CPP
Up to four CPPs can be cascaded to a single line interface to support
eight signalling virtual channels on a single line interface

Approximately 700 to 900 PDUs/s at the SSCOP/SSCF layer


Applicable Standards
ATM Forum:

ATM User-Network Interface (UNI) Specification, Version 3.0, The 
ATM Forum, 09/93

ATM User-Network Interface (UNI) Specification, Version 3.1, The ATM 
Forum, 09/94

ATM User-Network Interface (UNI) Signalling Specification Version 4.0, 
The ATM Forum, 07/96

ITU-T:

Q.SAAL.0,B-ISDN Signalling ATM Adaptation Layer Overview 
Description, ITU-T, 05/93

Q.SAAL.1, Service Specific Connection Oriented Protocol (SSCOP) 
Specification, ITU-T 05/93

Q.SAAL.2, Service Specific Coordination Function (SSCF) for 
Signalling at the User-to-Network Interface (UNI), ITU-T 06/93

Q.2100, B-ISDN Signalling ATM Adaptation Layer (SAAL) Overview 
Description, ITU-T, 1994

Q.2110, B-ISDN ATM Adaptation Layer - Service Specific Connection 
Oriented Protocol (SSCOP), ITU-T, 07/94

Q.2130, B-ISDN Signalling ATM Adaptation Layer - Service Specific    
Coordination Function For Support of Signalling At the User Network     
Interface (SSFC at UNI), ITU-T, 07/94

Q.2931, Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (B-ISDN) - 
Digital Subscriber Signalling System No. 2 (DSS 2) - User-Network 
Interface (UNI) Layer 3 Specification for Basic Call/Connection 
Control, ITU-T,02/95

Q.2951, Stage 3 Description for Number Identification Supplementary 
Services Using B-ISDN Digital Subscriber Signalling System No. 2 
(DSS 2) - Basic Call (clauses 1 to 6 and 8), ITU-T, 02/95

Q.2957, Stage 3 Description for Additional Information Transfer 
Supplementary Services Using B-ISDN Digital Subscriber Signalling 
System No. 2 (DSS 2) - Basic Call - Clause 1 - User-to-user 
signalling (UUS), ITU-T, 02/95

Q.2961, Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (B-ISDN) - 
Digital Subscriber Signalling System No. 2 (DSS 2) - Additional 
Traffic Parameters, ITU-T, 10/95

Q.2971, Broadband Integrated ServicesDigital Network (B-ISDN) - 
Digital Subscriber Signalling System No. 2 (DSS 2) - User- Network 
Interface (UNI) Layer 3 Specification for Point-to-Multipoint 
Call/Connection Control, ITU-T, 02/95

[ Ordering ]

HP E4214B Enhanced UNI Signalling Test Software

Requirements Base system requirement: HP E4200A/B HP Broadband Series Test System Form 7 Transportable Base or HP E4210A/B HP Broadband Series Test System Form 13 Mainframe Base Other related products for the BSTS: HP E6273B ILMI Emulation Test Software HP E7823A ATM Forum UNI 3.0 Signalling Conformance Test Suite for the Network Side HP E7833C ATM Forum UNI 3.1 Signalling Conformance Test Suite for the Network Side HP E7834A ATM Forum UNI 3.1 Signalling Conformance Test Suite for the User Side HP E7844A ATM Forum UNI 4.0 Core Signalling Conformance Test Suite for the Network Side HP E7845A ATM Forum UNI 4.0 Core Signalling Conformance Test Suite for the User Side

[ Key Literature ]