Technology
Network quality evaluation tools
Our in-house network test tools underpin our comprehensive and
quantitative approach to the prediction, and evaluation, of the
end-to-end performance of all types of data networks. They are able
to quantify distributions of the observed delay and loss, not just
averages, permitting a more sophisticated expression of requirements and
observations.
Such information is essential to the understanding of the emergent
operational behaviour of complex networks, their underlying causality,
and approaches to their cost optimisation. This understanding has
proven to be invaluable to several of our clients.
Stochastic process evaluation tools
Evaluating the performance of an application need not be done after it
has been written. By representing the applications' network
interactions using stochastic process algebras we can predict their
performance under a variety of network conditions. Accurate
understanding of the performance and resource requirements of
applications as part of the design can prevent costly systems
re-engineering after deployment.
Such analysis can help avoid an issue that we have seen many times;
where each of the components of the system have passed their individual
acceptance criteria, yet they fail to be integrated into a viable
operational system.
Contention management
Traditional wisdom requires that to provide QoS, control is required
over every queue in every network element on the end-to-end
path. However, through our analysis we have identified a new approach,
which we call "contention management" - an approach that effectively
controls multiple points of contention (i.e. where queues form) from a
single physical location in the network.
This capability is essential where contention points are out of a
client's control (e.g. within a national broadband infrastructure), or
where the cost of replacing existing infrastructure is prohibitive.
When contention management is combined with our mathematical models we
are able to provide strong statistical performance guarantees -
enabling the delivery of applications with strict, real-time quality
requirements over low-cost infrastructures.
