MAPS™
MEGACO Protocol Emulator
(Scripted MEGACO Protocol Emulation)
Background
The Media Gateway Control Protocol (Megaco) is a signaling and call control protocol used between the Media Gateway Controller (MGC) and
Media Gateway (MG). MAPS-MEGACO protocol operates on two basic constructs called Terminations - media connections and Contexts - associations
between terminations which can be added or deleted.
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The MGC uses Megaco to instruct MG about the events, media, signals to be played on Terminations, to create a Context, and to audit the status of the
Terminations involved in the conversion of media from one type of network, to the media required in other type of the network.
Eg: Conversion from TDM voice to Voice over IP (VoIP).
Overview
GL’s Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS™ Megaco) is an advanced protocol simulator/tester traffic generator designed for Megaco
testing, which can simulate MGC to test Media Gateways with various types of calls. It can also control scenario involved in Media conversion. This test tool
can also be used to perform protocol conformance testing (Megaco protocol implementations) as per ETSI TS 102 374-2 standards.
The application is available as
- MAPS™ Megaco Protocol Test Tool (Item # PKS122)
- MAPS™ Megaco Conformance Test Suite (Item # PKS123)
The MAPS™ MEGACO Conformance test tool is designed with 200+ test cases, as per Megaco specification of ETSI TS 102 374-2 document. Test suite
includes in-built scripts which tests the functionality of the Media Gateway for Megaco protocol valid and in-valid behavior.
Main Features
- Simulates Media Gateways (MG) and Media Gateways Controller (MGC)
- Supports transmission and detection of RTP traffic - digits, voice file, single /dual tones
- Generates and processes MEGACO valid messages
- Supports all Megaco commands such as Add, Subtract, Notify, Modify, Move, ServiceChange, AuditValue, and AuditCapabilities
- Fully integrated, complete test environment for MEGACO
- Supports complete customization of call flow and messages
- Supports scripted call generation and automated call reception
- Provides protocol trace with full message decoding, and graphical ladder diagrams of call flow with time stamp
- Inbuilt scripts makes testing procedure simpler, less time consuming and hence time to market the products
- Provides fault insertion, and erroneous call flows testing capability
- Support end-to-end gateway testing
- Script based & protocol independent software architecture.
- Provides call statistics with associated captured events and error events during call simulation
- Logging of all messages in real-time
Other notable features include
- Interfaces to Portable T1/E1, and VoIP
- Support for SIP protocol conformance testing
- Multi-protocol call trace for TDM / VoIP
Supported Protocols Standards
| Supported Protocols |
Specification Used |
| MEGACO |
IETF RFC 3525 / ITU-T Recommendation H.248
ETSI TS 102 374-2 (2004-11) |
Test Configuration
The test configuration window allows users to configure the necessary parameters in order to establish communication between MAPS™ and the DUT.
MAPS™ –MEGACO can be configured as MGC to test MG. It is necessary to set appropriate IP address, port number to establish a channel to communicate
between MAPS™ MGC / MG (DUT).
Screen Shot of MEGACO Testbed Setup Configuration
Typical Call Flow Scenario
Diagram below depicts the call flow scenario which is placed from one PSTN interface to another PSTN interface between two Media Gateways through IP
Network.
MEGACO Call Flow
Call Generation
Call Generation option allows the user to simulate outgoing communications where an outgoing call is initiated by sending call control messages using
proper scripts and profiles. The profile allows necessary parameters of call control messages to be changed during runtime. Communication between media
gateways and call agents is achieved by Megaco (H.248) protocols. MAPS™ Megaco includes inbuilt basic and conformance scripts (*.gls) that allows
itself to act as Gateway and to perform Media Gateway, and Media Gateway Controller conformance testing
MAPS™ MEGACO (Item # PKS122)
The MAPS™ MEGACO is designed with sample test cases, which equips the tool to act as MGC testing the functionality of the Media Gateway for
Megaco protocol valid and in-valid behavior. MAPS™ receives registration requests from MG (DUT- third party gateway) and initiates the call flow.
MAPS™ configured to act as MGC
MAPS™ Megaco acting as MGC and receiving Registration requests from MG
MAPS™ Megaco acting as MGC and initiating the call flow
MAPS™ MEGACO Conformance Test Suite (Item # PKS123)
MGC Conformance Testing
MAPS™ includes inbuilt MGC basic and conformance scripts (*.gls) that allows itself to act as Media Gateway (MG) performing MGC conformance testing.
MGC processes the registration request and sends reply message.
MG (MAPS™) initiates registration process by generating the SERVICECHANGE message to the default port of MGC (DUT); it also specifies the service
change address to which the MGC has to send further messages. MGC (DUT) processes the registration request and sends reply message.
MAPS™ Megaco configured to simulate MG and initiating the registration process
MG Conformance Testing
MAPS™ includes inbuilt Media Gateway basic and conformance scripts (*.gls) that allow MAPS™ can be configured to act as MGC, so that entire
MG (Media Gateway) testing can be automated. The device under test can be any Media Gateway. Users can control number of dumb Terminations in the Media
Gateway through scripts.
Media Gateway Conformance Testing Scenario
MG (DUT) initiates registration process by generating the SERVICECHANGE message to the default port of MGC (MAPS™); it also specifies the service
change address to which the MGC has to send further messages. MGC (MAPS™) processes the registration request and sends reply message.
The MAPS™ (MGC) then initiates the call control and signaling functionality by sending signaling information to the Media Gateway (MG). Communication
between media gateways and Call Agents is achieved by Megaco (H.248) protocols.
For example, as shown in the figure below, the inbuilt TX_MGC_TP_MG_AD_BV_01.gls conformance script is executed to ensure that the DUT (MG) on receipt
of MODIFY command request sends reply message.
MAPS™ Megaco configured to conform MG generating calls
Call Reception
Call generated from other entity can be automatically detected in call reception window by pre-setting the required scripts in the Incoming Call Handler
window.
MG Conformance Testing
The inbuilt basic and conformance scripts that allow MAPS™ to act as MGC, and test MG (DUT).
For example, the MG conformance script, say Recv_Registration_from_MG _ServiceChange.gls is executed to confirm the registration of a connected MG.
On receipt of a SERVICECHANGE request, MGC (MAPS™) sends a SERVICECHANGE Reply.
MAPS™ configured to act as MGC receiving registration requests from MG
MGC Conformance Testing
The inbuilt basic and conformance scripts that allow MAPS™ to act as MG, and test MGC (DUT).
For example, the RX_MG_TP_MGC_MD_BV_01.gls conformance script is executed to ensure that the MGC (DUT) sends ADD command and then the
MAPS™ (MG) sends reply message.
MAPS™ configured to act as MG receiving request commands from MGC
End-to-End Gateway Testing
As shown in the figure below, MAPS™ is an ideal tool to evaluate Gateway / ATA product features such as call connectivity, call signaling, traffic
generation, voice quality testing, codec, and hundreds of other features. For more details, contact GL Communications.
Bulk Call Simulation
MAPS™ MEGACO supports Bulk Call Simulation and Stress/Load Testing capabilities through Load Generation feature. Load Generation window helps
users configure Stress/Load Testing parameters such as Call per second (CPS) or Busy hour call attempts (BHCA), Max Simultaneous Calls and
Burst parameters.
Screen Shot of Load Generation Parameters
Customization of Call Flow and Messages Using Pre-Processing Tools
Call Flow & Script Execution Control
Message Sequence -MAPS™ provides protocol trace with full message decoding, custom trace, and graphical ladder diagrams of call flow
with time stamp while simulation is running. Call flow graph allows to easily verifying the messages exchanged between MAPS™ and DUT.
See Call Generation and Call Reception for details
Script Contents & Script Flow - The Scripts Contents window displays the contents of the script selected for call generation or reception. The
Script Flow window displays the set of statements successfully executed by MAPS™ to help users in troubleshooting a particular the call scenario.
Events & Event Profile Editor - User-defined events allow redirection of script execution on-the-go. The custom parameters in the events can
also be changed during script execution using Event Profiles
Screenshot of Script Contents and Script Flow
Call Statistics, Events, Link Status
Call Statistics & Status - By default, all call handling scripts (irrespective of the type of the functions) are assessed by MAPS™ to provide
statistical information about total calls, active calls, completed calls, passed calls, and failed calls. It is also possible to characterize the statistical information
under different groups of call handling scripts under a unique heading.
In addition, Call Generation and Call Reception windows provide useful call status & script execution results.
Screenshot of Call Statistics and Status
Events Reporting – MAPS™ provides Event Log, Error Events, and Captured Errors windows that log the captured events and errors
encountered during the progress of the call.
Screenshot of Event Log
Buyer's Guide:
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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