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Networks & Infrastructure
MSF refines interoperability trials at GMI 2008
Set to push industry standards on IMS, SOA, session control and QoS
by Doug Allen
The MultiService Forum’s (MSF) next big interoperability tests are coming up fast (see MultiService Forum takes NGN interoperability demo global ). GMI (Global MSF Interoperability) 2008 is set for a late October launch.
The MSF has just announced new details on the six major test scenarios slated for the event. These will focus on IMS support for high value IPTV services in a multi-vendor NGN environment by drilling down on IPTV tests and standards assessment, end-to-end session control, end-to-end QoS, locations-based services, service-oriented architecture and management. “In addition we shall be looking at the management surround, addressing a number of issues such as remote management of an IPTV set-top box, gathering VoIP performance management statistics and the provision of flexible charging mechanisms,” said Roger Ward, MSF President.
GMI 2008 will link major carrier labs and test beds across three continents to demonstrate the strength of multi-vendor interoperability between “a significant number of NGN elements” that support Implementation Agreements developed in support of the MSF Release 4 Architecture. Practical deployment scenarios of interest have been devised to match the interests of major carriers. The GMI 2008 networked distributed test environment comprises five host sites: Verizon, NCS and UNH-IOL in the U.S., BT/Vodafone in Europe, and China Mobile in Asia.
“Each lab is under the control of a host site manger with overall coordination being the responsibility of the MSF Project coordinator (a paid position),” said Ward. “A bespoke test capture tool has been developed specifically for this event to facilitate online data capture at each host site with automatic aggregation of results.”
One major goal of the tests is to be able to offer providers real-world results that can be matched against carrier specs for NGN equipment and software, and see if deployed solutions really measure up. “...As NGN technology matures, carriers are increasingly focused on the details of multi-vendor interoperability and GMI 2008 will provide a unique opportunity for suppliers to demonstrate their ability to develop products that meet this challenge in real world networks. The MSF has a comprehensive set of test plans against detailed implementation specification agreements (IAs), so we expect to get a wealth of valuable information related to practical implementation in a multi-vendor environment as a result of this event,” Ward continued.
The MSF hopes to validate the aforementioned MSF’s Implementation Agreements in carrier-designed test scenarios, even as these IAs remain open to further modifications.
“[We hope] to learn valuable lessons on the detail of practical implementation of NGN technology & feed back into updated MSF IAs for the benefit of MSF members & the industry,” Ward expanded.
What do service providers hope to come away with from these trials? A few testimonials from major carriers:
“GMIs are very important to us,” says Naseem Khan, Principal Member of Technical Staff, Verizon. “These events advance the implementation of industry standards and are very useful in assessing the maturity of IMS and other NGN technologies. IP video is a particularly important area of GMI 2008 and Verizon wants to know what additional network components and interfaces are required to support IMS-based video. Verizon also wants to explore the architecture and potential of SOA since it allows carriers to offer a wide range of services. The importance of QoS is self-evident: it enables service differentiation and good QoE is mandatory for multimedia services such as IP Video.”
Zhang Hao, MSF Lead, China Mobile comments, “...The end-to-end QoS test scenario in GMI is the best way to validate QoS solutions within an IMS Core network, especially under the demanding conditions of long-distance roaming environments. Joining this event allows China Mobile to establish a test network with other host-sites and that gives us the ‘real-life’ roaming and nomadic environment necessary to help accelerate interoperability between different carriers.”
After GMI 2008 is concluded, test results will be written up in a comprehensive white paper set for publication in early December 2008. The same presentation will include any specific MSF IAs updates.
“MSF plans for 2009 and 2010 are well advanced and will be made public after the completion of GMI2008,” said Ward.
There are now 20 GMI 2008 member participants, including Acme Packet, Alcatel-Lucent, Codenomicon, Empirix, Fujitsu, Huawei, Motorola, Mu Dynamics, NEC, Nokia-Siemens Networks, Nortel, OSI, Sonus, Spirent, Starent, Tekelec, Tektronix, Telchemy, Teles and ZTE. Motorola, OSI, Sonus, Tektronix, Telchemy, and Teles are the newest members, having joined specifically for GMI 2008, according to Ward.
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