GL Enhances Bit Error Rate Testing with Periodic Logging Capability

Introduction

GL’s PacketExpert™ is a comprehensive Ethernet testing device designed for both isolated devices and end-to-end network paths. The device supports copper and fiber optic interfaces at data rates ranging from 10/100/1000 Mbps up to 10 Gbps. The device supports manual operation through a Graphical User Interface, as well as Python scripting for automated testing.

Many customers use the PacketExpert™ to test isolated devices subject to severe environmental degradation including electromagnetic interference and temperature variations. Users often wish to know precisely when bit errors spike due to these environmental factors. GL has therefore enhanced its Bit Error Rate Testing (BERT) application to support periodic logging with one second precision. This allows customers to correlate changes in bit errors to environmental stimuli. This feature is complementary to the aggregated test reports that users can generate upon test completion.

Overview

To better support long-duration stability testing, GL Communications has enhanced its PacketExpert™ platforms with Timestamped Periodic Logging within the All Port BERT application. Engineers can now automatically capture test statistics at configurable intervals or choose to log events only when errors occur, making it easier to isolate and timestamp network impairments as they happen.

PacketExpert™

This capability improves visibility into error behavior across extended testing windows and helps engineers detect intermittent transmission impairments that traditional end-of-test summaries may miss.

Timestamped Monitoring for Long-Duration Bit Error Rate Testing

Periodic Logging automatically records statistics during active BERT execution without interrupting traffic generation. Depending on validation objectives, engineers can configure time intervals to continuously capture complete test statistics or use an error-triggered mode that logs data only when an impairment occurs.

Timestamped Error Data

Timestamped Error Data


Key capabilities:

  • Automated, timestamped recording of bit error statistics during the test
  • Configurable operational modes: capture complete interval statistics or trigger logs explicitly on error conditions
  • CSV export for offline analysis and reporting
  • Consolidated logging across multiple ports
  • Precise detection and timestamping of intermittent transmission impairments
  • Tracking synchronization loss behavior across time
  • Enhanced visibility into historical link performance trends during long-duration stability testing

This enables engineers to correlate exactly when impairments occur during extended stability validation rather than relying only on summary statistics collected at the end of the test.


Support Across PacketExpert™ Test Platforms

Timestamped Periodic Logging is supported within the BERT application on:

Both platforms support wire-speed BERT validation across multiple protocol layers including:

  • Ethernet (Layer 2)
  • Stacked VLAN
  • Stacked MPLS (Layer 2.5)
  • IP (Layer 3)
  • UDP (Layer 4)

Enhancing Long-Duration Stability Validation and Troubleshooting

By automating the capture of structured bit error statistics, Timestamped Periodic Logging bridges the gap between raw data and actionable insight. It provides engineers with enhanced visibility into link behavior across extended testing windows, simplifying troubleshooting and improving confidence in deployment readiness.

This capability is critical for optimizing workflows across a variety of environments-including MPLS/VLAN transport and backbone link qualification-by enabling engineers to:

  • Pinpoint Transient Impairments: Automatically detect and precisely timestamp intermittent bit errors and synchronization loss events that may otherwise be hidden in aggregated statistics
  • Accelerate Root-Cause Analysis: Reduce troubleshooting time by correlating the exact timestamp of an impairment with external network events or maintenance activities
  • Validate High-Stakes Deployments: Ensure interoperability and switch/router performance during pre-deployment acceptance testing and post-upgrade regression testing
  • Generate Repeatable Evidence: Eliminate manual monitoring by automatically exporting structured data logs, providing auditable proof of link stability for validation and reporting purposes

Learn More About PacketExpert™ Ethernet/IP Test Platforms

Explore the complete capabilities of GL’s Ethernet/IP testing solutions:
PacketExpert™ 10GX
PacketExpert™ 1G
Wirespeed Bit Error Rate Testing


Why GL Communications?

  • 40+ years of telecom protocol testing expertise
  • Proven leadership in network testing solutions
  • Trusted by operators, OEMs, enterprises, governments, and labs worldwide
  • Complete ecosystem covering emulation, capture, monitoring, and analytics

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