MAPS™ MGCP Protocol Emulator
(Scripted MGCP Protocol Emulation)
Background
The Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) is a signaling and call control protocol used between the Media Gateway
Controller (MGC) and Media Gateway (MG). The MGC uses MGCP to instruct MG about the events, media, signals to be
played on Endpoint, to create a Connection, and to audit the status of the Endpoints and connections involved in the
conversion of media from one type of network, to the media required in other type of the network. The Media Gateway
uses MGCP to report events (such as off-hook, or dialed digits) to the Call Agent.
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Overview
GL’s Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS™ MGCP) is an advanced protocol simulator/tester traffic generator designed for MGCP 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 (MGCP protocol implementations) as per IETF Standard according to RFC 3435.
The application is available as
- MAPS™ MGCP Protocol Test Tool (Item # PKS124)
- MAPS™ MGCP Conformance Test Suite (Item # PKS125)
The MAPS™ MGCP Protocol Conformance Test Suite is designed with 70+ test cases, as per RFC 3435. Test suite includes in-built scripts, which
tests the functionality of the Media Gateway for MGCP protocol valid and in-valid behavior.
Main Features
- Simulates Media Gateway Controller (MGC) and Media Gateway(MG).
- Supports transmission and detection of RTP traffic - digits, voice file, single /dual tones
- Used to test Media Gateway and Media Gateway Controller functionalities.
- Generates and processes MGCP valid and invalid messages.
- Fully integrated, complete test environment for MGCP
- Supports complete customization of call flow and messages
- Supports all the MGCP commands as per the protocol specification such as CRCX, NTFY, MDCX, RQNT, AUEP, AUCX, DLCX, EPCF, and RSIP.
- Supports message templates for each MGCP message and customization of the field values.
- Facilitates defining variables for the various protocol fields of the selected MGCP message type.
- 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
- 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 MGCP protocol conformance testing
- Test Echo canceller performance and compliance
- Multi-protocol call trace for TDM / VoIP
Supported Protocol Standards
- IETF MGCP - RFC 3435 specifications.
Test Configuration
MAPS™ MGCP can be configured as MGC / MG to test other entity and vice versa. It is necessary to set appropriate IP Address, Port number to establish a
channel to communicate between Media Gateway Controller (MAPS) and Media Gateway (DUT).The test configuration window allows users to configure the
necessary parameters in order to establish communication between MAPS™ and the DUT.
Screen Shot of MGCP Testbed Setup Configuration
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 MGCP protocols. The 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.
MGCP Call Flow
- Media Gateway indicates to MGC that it is in the process of restarting with RestartInProgress (RSIP) command Media Gateway informs MGC with RSIP
command about rebooting of the Gateway, and it also indicates the resources available in the Gateway to place a Call.
- To request notification of events and to apply signal on the Media Gateway, MGC programs Endpoint using RequestNotification (RQNT) command.
- Media Gateway responds NTFY command to MGC indicating that it has detected an event for the previously requested notification (via the RQNT
command)
- To manage the connection on a Media Gateway, MGC uses Create Connection (CRCX) command to create the connection. Now the two-way call is
established to exchange the media.
- MGC queries (the state of) a Media Gateway using Audit Endpoint (AUEP) and Audit Connection (AUCX) commands to get the statistics of the Endpoint
and Connection.
- Media Gateway sends a Delete Connection (DLCX) command to delete the connection for its self-management.
- With the appropriate responses for the above set of commands, the call flow is completed.
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.
As seen in the figure below, MAPS™ acts as MG, so that entire MGC testing can be automated using conformance scripts.
Simulate Media Gateway
MAPS™ (Media Gateway) indicates to MGC that it is in the process of restarting with Restart In Progress (RSIP) command Media Gateway informs MGC
with RSIP command about rebooting of the Gateway, and it also indicates the resources available in the Gateway to place a Call.
MAPS acting as MG
MG Conformance Testing
MAPS™ include inbuilt MG basic and conformance scripts (*.gls) that allows itself be configured as a Media Gateway Controller (MGC). It can generate
calls to a device under test (DUT) and receive incoming call from DUT. The Device under Test can be any Media Gateway (MG), or Trunking Gateway.
As depicted in the scenario below, MAPS™ acts as MGC, so that entire MG (Media Gateway) testing can be automated.
Simulate Media Gateway Controller
The MGC initiates the call control and signaling functionality by sending signaling information to the Media Gateway (MG). MGC uses MGCP protocol signaling
to instruct MG. Users can control number of dumb Terminals in the Media Gateway through scripts.
For example, the inbuilt TX_MGC_TP_MG_V_CR_01.gls conformance script is executed to ensure that the MGC sends CRCX with mandatory parameters. The
DUT (MG), on receipt of a valid CRCX message with a call id, responds with a 200 message.
MAPS acting as MGC
Call Reception
MG Conformance Testing
MAPS™ includes inbuilt MG basic and conformance scripts (*.gls) that allows itself to act as Media Gateway Controller (MGC) performing, MG
conformance testing.
MAPS™ (MGC) processes the registration request sent by MG and sends reply message. For example, say MGC_Registration.gls is executed to
confirm the registration of a connected MG on receipt of a RESTARTINPROGRESS Request sends a 200 Reply.
MAPS™ acting as MGC
MGC Conformance Testing
MAPS™ includes inbuilt Media Gateway Controller (MGC) basic and conformance scripts (*.gls) that allow the application to act as MG receiving the
call flow requests.
For example, the inbuilt RX_MG_TP_MGC_CR_V_01.gls conformance script is executed to ensure that the MAPS™ (MG) responds with a 200 message
to a valid CRCX message with a call id from MGC (DUT).
MAPS acting as MG
Bulk Call Simulation
MAPS™ MGCP 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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