Candela Technologies LanForge ICE Wan Simulator

The LANforge-ICE platform is used to simulate T1, DS3, OC-3, OC-12, GigE, DSL, Satellite, Dial-Up, and other Wide Area Networks (WANs). LANforge-ICE can simulate many attributes of a WAN, including latency, jitter, packet-loss, packet-reordering, packet-duplication and bandwidth constraints. Latency and jitter is configurable in 1ms increments, and the packet-loss, reordering, and duplication settings are X packets per million.

LANforge-ICE can be configured to run entirely on a single laptop provided by Candela Technologies or a distributor, and it can also be configured on rack-mounted units or your own Linux machines.

LANforge-ICE: The Business Case

• Reduces lab and training costs by replacing expensive WAN hardware, such as T1 and FrameRelay devices.
• Automates testing with various scripting features and libraries.
• Compact form factor and rack-mount chassis conserves valuable lab space.
• Laptop form factor makes LANforge-ICE a friendly traveling companion, and a good option for trade shows and customer demos.
• Validates stability and functionality of devices and programs functioning across a wide variety of network conditions.
• Very affordable, especially when compared to competitors.
• Delivers advanced, remote, cross-platform, graphical management interface.
• Implements a modular architecture that allows you to leverage your existing LANforge investment as your need for capacity increases.
• Turn key solution. The LANforge systems come pre-installed and configured based upon customer supplied information.
• Ease of use - central management of entire LANforge system from anywhere on the network.

Product features

Able to simulate DS1, DS3, DSL, OC-3, OC-12, GigE, CableModem, Satellite links and other rate-limited networks.

Can modify various network attributes including: line-speed, latency, jitter, packet-loss, packet-reordering, and packet-duplication.

Supports WanPath feature to allow configuration of specific behaviour between different IP pairs or subnets using a single pair of physical interfaces.

Available configurations include all-in-one Laptops and rackmount systems for stationary labs.

Allows packet sniffing and network protocol decoding with the integrated Ethereal protocol sniffer.

Comprehensive management information detailing all aspects of the LANforge system including processor card statistics, test cases, and ethernet port statistics.

GUI runs as Java application on Linux and Microsoft Operating Systems (among others).

GUI can run remotely, even over a dial-up modem link to accommodate the needs of the users.

Central management application can manage multiple units, tests, and testers simultaneously.

Supports scriptable command line interface (telnet) which can be used to automate test scenarios. Perl libraries and example scripts are also provided!

Automatic discovery of LANforge processor cards simplifies maintenance of LANforge test equipment.

LANforge traffic generation and management software qualified on Red Hat Linux.

Figure 1: Typical LANforge-ICE Installation

Test Scenarios

• Simulate a full T1 with 35ms latency, 10ms jitter, and 15 packets-per-million drop rate.
• Simulate a DSL connection with 15ms latency, 10ms jitter, and 150 packets-per-million drop rate, running 784Kbps downstream and 256Kbps upstream.
• Insertion duplicate and reordered packets to verify your RTP streaming protocols can handle it gracefully.
• Create regression scripts using LANforge perl libraries or your own favorite scripting language.

Example LANforge-ICE Configurations

LANforge-ICE is usually installed on a single machine with two Ethernet ports free for use by LANforge. It takes exactly two ports to simulate a WAN link, but if you wish to run several WAN simulations simultaneously, you may order a LANforge-ICE configuration with 4 or more ports.