March 5, 2008
By Mark A. Miller
BrixVision is a comprehensive IP video quality and performance management
module, which is designed for IPTV services. This element supports the complete
service deployment lifecycle by combining active testing with passive service
monitoring, thus striving to optimize the subscriber’s quality of experience
(QoE). BrixVision lets network managers continually monitor video content quality,
channel change response times, and video function delays—plus obtain key
usage statistics that are required. This module also enables service monitoring
to determine if network and infrastructure impairments are occurring at the
national, regional, or local content aggregation and distribution locations,
or at the subscribers homes.
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| Figure 2 - Click to see full-size image |
The BrixNGN module is designed for next generation network analysis,
and lets providers continuously collect, correlate, analyze, and visualize critical
QoS and QoE information along the path from the network core to the customer
endpoint. These functions support capacity planning and service turn-up verification,
and identify network and service issues before they can have an impact on the
customer base. BrixNGN performs continuous monitoring of the network core, extended
Ethernet and IP networks, plus the data services, such as email, web-based applications,
and file transfers. These functions are capable of supporting inter-carrier
peering, wholesale backbone services, private line over Ethernet and VoIP backhaul
configurations.
A number of monitoring sources are available that feed data to the BrixWorx
engine.
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| Figure 3 - Click to see full-size image |
Brix Verifiers are scalable appliances and software agents installed
at key network locations to segment the network and localize problems. Different
models are available for installation at customer locations, at the network
edge, in high-speed locations, such as MPLS core networks, and within the PSTN
or service provider networks. In addition, a number of third-party monitoring
devices, from companies including Cisco Systems, Linksys, Motorola, and Texas
Instruments can also be integrated into the Brix System.
Finally, BrixView is an advanced analytics software package, which is
integrated with the BrixWorx correlation engine and presents the information
in a visual format. The BrixView Dashboard is shown in Figure 2, with examples
of BrixView historical reports illustrated in Figure 3.
Further details on the Brix Networks architecture and products can be found
at http://brixnet.com/.
Our next tutorial will continue our examination of vendors’ network management
architectures.
Copyright Acknowledgement: © 2008 DigiNet Corporation ®, All
Rights Reserved
Author's Biography
Mark A. Miller, P.E., is President of DigiNet Corporation®, a Denver-based
consulting engineering firm. He is the author of many books on networking technologies,
including Voice over IP Technologies, and Internet Technologies Handbook,
both published by John Wiley & Sons.
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