Systems and method for testing the load of at least one IP-supported device

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for testing the load state of at least one device or communication network in the loaded state. The system includes at least one programmable control device and at least one session computer connected to, or integrated with, the control device. The control device stores a plurality of session scripts which may be pre-compiled and individually interactive. The session scripts may contain an initialization procedure, a predefined test procedure, and a termination procedure. The session computer includes: a plurality of mutually independent logical or physical connection interfaces; and a plurality of script-processing devices being able to simultaneously establish mutually independent connections to a device to be tested. Each script-processing device executes at least one session script received from the control device through each of the mutually independent connection interfaces to simulate a load of a plurality of users on the device to be tested.

1 . A system for testing a load state of at least one device in the case of a load by a plurality of users, the device being connected to a communications network based on an IP standard, the system comprising: 
 a control device having an assigned memory device storing a plurality of session scripts, each session script containing an initialization procedure and a termination procedure; and    at least one session computer connected to the control device and comprising: 
 a plurality of mutually independent logical or physical connection interfaces; and  
 a plurality of script-processing devices being able to simultaneously establish mutually independent connections via the connection interfaces, to a device to be tested, wherein each script-processing device executes at least one session script received from the control device through each of the mutually independent connection interfaces to simulate a load of a plurality of users on the device to be tested, wherein the at least one session computer logs messages generated by the execution of the at least one session script to evaluate a load state of the device to be tested.  
   
   
   
       2 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the connection interfaces comprise logical interfaces.  
   
   
       3 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one session script is pre-compiled.  
   
   
       4 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one session script defines an individually interactive session.  
   
   
       5 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , each session computer having a session-management device which supplies each selected script-processing device with the at least one session script.  
   
   
       6 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of session computers are linked via a backbone network to the control device.  
   
   
       7 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each session computer includes a memory for storing status data of each device to be tested and the results and preset status messages of each test procedure.  
   
   
       8 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the communications network based on an IP standard is the Internet or an Intranet, and the devices to be tested are access routers and/or servers.  
   
   
       9 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each session script includes one or more of a user ID, a user password, at least one service based on the IP standard, defined time sequences, repetition rates, and the destination address of the device to be tested.  
   
   
       10 . The system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each session script further includes a predefined test procedure.  
   
   
       11 . A method for testing a load state of at least one device in the case of a load by a plurality of users, the device being connected to a communications network based on an IP standard, the method comprising: 
 writing a plurality of session scripts, which each include an initialization procedure and a termination procedure;    storing the plurality of session scripts in a control device;    selecting at the control device a plurality of mutually independent logical or physical connection interfaces of at least one session computer;    assigning each of the mutually independent connection interfaces to a script-processing device;    loading appropriate session scripts by the control device into each script-processing device assigned to the selected connection interfaces;    executing the loaded session scripts through the mutually independent connection interfaces such that the selected connection interfaces simultaneously initialize a plurality of independent IP connections to a device to be tested to simulate a load state of a plurality of users on the device to be tested; and    logging messages generated by the execution of the loaded session scripts to evaluate the load state on the device to be tested.    
   
   
       12 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein each session script includes one or more of a user ID, a user password, at least one service based on the IP standard, defined time sequences, repetition rates, and the destination address of the device to be tested.  
   
   
       13 . The system as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the connection interfaces comprise logical interfaces.  
   
   
       14 . The system as defined in  claim 11 , wherein at each one session script is pre-compiled.  
   
   
       15 . The system as defined in  claim 11 , wherein at least one session scripts defines an individually interactive session.  
   
   
       16 . The system as defined in  claim 11 , wherein at least one session script contains a predefined test procedure based on an IP standard.  
   
   
       17 . A method for testing a load state of at least one device in the case of a load by a plurality of users, the device being connected to a communications network, the method comprising: 
 writing a plurality of individually interactive session scripts, which at least one session script includes an initialization procedure, a dynamic test procedure that is capable of implementing a dynamic behavior based upon replies from the device under test, and a termination procedure;    storing the plurality of session scripts in a control device;    selecting at the control device a plurality of mutually independent logical or physical connection interfaces of at least one session computer;    assigning each of the mutually independent connection interfaces to a script-processing device;    loading appropriate session scripts by the control device into each script-processing device assigned to the selected connection interfaces;    executing the loaded session scripts through the mutually independent connection interfaces such that the selected connection interfaces simultaneously initialize a plurality of independent connections to a device to be tested to dynamically simulate a load state of a plurality of users on the device to be tested; and    logging messages generated by the execution of the loaded session scripts to evaluate the load state on the device to be tested.    
   
   
       18 . The system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the connection interfaces comprise logical interfaces.  
   
   
       19 . The system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein at each one individually interactive session script is pre-compiled.  
   
   
       20 . The system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the communications network is based on an IP standard.