VoIP Testing & Network Optimisation

- an overview or tutorial of the different test requirements for VoIP and techniques used in VoIP testing.

Voice over IP, VoIP Includes:
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IP networks carrying VoIP traffic are very complicated. They carry both voice and data traffic and this results in a variety of traffic with different requirements being carried and this presents many challenges. In order to ensure that all the requirements are met and the network operates to its maximum efficiency can present many challenges. Obviously the design must be correct, but once implemented testing of the network is needed to ensure that it is able to operate correctly when installed, and then maintained correctly ensuring that its performance is maintained or optimised to provide the performance meets the needs of the network provider and the user. For VoIP, testing is an essential element of any network. However specialised VoIP testing techniques are required.


VoIP network architecture

The structure of a VoIP network comprises many entities and this means that VoIP testing is essential to ensure that the network is operating satisfactorily. A typical VoIP network will include many different entities:

  • Signalling gateways
  • Media gateways
  • Gatekeepers
  • Class 5 switches
  • SS7 network
  • Network management system
  • Billing system

This variety of different entities within the VoIP network all communicate with each other using a variety of protocols. To perform correctly it is necessary to ensure that they communicate efficiently and that no bottlenecks are created. Analysing the performance of a VoIP network is not always easy. However it can be achieved and significant improvements in performance can be achieved if the VoIP testing scenarios are carefully chosen and planned, and the data analysed to reveal any problems.


VoIP testing fundamentals

When considering VoIP testing, it is first necessary to categorise the different applications or different types of VoIP testing that may be employed. There are three areas into which VoIP testing (and other types of testing) may be categorised:

  • VoIP functionality or pre-deployment testing
  • VoIP standards compliance testing
  • VoIP performance testing

Each element within the overall VoIP testing regime is of importance as it will ensure that the network is able to perform properly. A problem in any one element will result in the whole network not performing properly. These tests can be of the form of a functional test in the laboratory before deployment. VoIP testing of the individual elements is essential to make sure that any problems do not manifest themselves during deployment. Isolating the problem, and fixing it at this stage is considerably more costly.

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