Automated testing of remote networks, testing of multiple network points with satellite servers, instant notification of threshold violations
MCS shared network management services deliver the ability to automate network testing from remote locations. This provides a vital toolset to perform network assessment and pre-qualification testing, and quickly identify and resolve last mile connectivity problems that affect the customer. This approach provides a framework that improves service by proactively identifying connection failures experienced by remote customers, partners or remote offices and data centers.
The combination of Remote Test Agents and Satellite Servers significantly extends the testing capabilities of MCS, enabling pre- and post-sales support groups to easily perform comprehensive and accurate connection tests for actual network paths that are material for the application delivery directly to the user.
Remote Test Agents can easily be deployed, via the browser, to any remote customer desktop. This provides an adaptable interactive framework for troubleshooting of connection problems on an enterprise scale if required. The browser delivery model is flexible and usable allowing more permanent remote locations, such as application specific datacenters or offices, to continuously test and monitor connection quality and performance. Satellite Servers further extend this architecture such that the measurement between any two network points, to accurately align with the application delivery, is easily accomplished.
Remote Test Agents (RA) can be created for long-term testing and monitoring, or on-demand testing to resolve a support call.
| Long-Term Automated Testing |
Short-Term Automated Testing |
Installs as a service, starts automatically on a system reboot
Runs in the background with no open windows on the target system
Ideal for on-going testing to build and maintain a baseline of connection performance over time
Can be used with AlertAdvisor to monitor connection results, generate email notifications of poor performance, and provide real-time and historical reports of alert events
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Has a zero footprint that leaves no residual files or
executables on the target system
Provides a visible window on the remote target system for better user acceptance, allows the remote customer to be in control if required
Remains active only while Remote Agent window is open on the target system, nothing is hidden
Effective solution for small and large support groups focused on troubleshooting customer connection problems
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Satellite Servers (SS) add significant power and flexibility to MCS as they simplify the problem of testing between two remote locations. Satellite Servers act as target testing servers for Remote Test Agents, providing a quick and easy means to perform on-going or ad-hoc testing from one remote location to another remote location, with test results immediately visible to the MCS Support Technician anywhere in the world.
Create and redeploy Remote Agents and Satellite Servers an unlimited number of times, move/deploy
to new systems and locations as needed. Use of the RA/SS is limited by the number of active Remote Agent tests (CAT) licensed.
Use Satellite Servers to establish additional connection testing points at the application edge to accurately test actual application network paths. Place Satellite Servers at key locations to get visibility to the actual connection performance from the customer location to your application server -- and view the results via the MCS browser-based reports!
Remotely manage the testing process to troubleshoot and resolve support calls, with little to no involvement from the customer. RA/SS are managed from browser-based MCS Control Panel, support technicians create and publish RA/SS, change the testing work order on the fly, remove agents when no longer needed. This process enables support technicians to quickly and easily perform tests from the customer system or data center and immediately view test results — avoiding costly truck rolls and on-site visits.
Perform continuous network testing to isolate network ongestion and traffic regulation/shaping. A single connection test provides a limited picture of connection performance, many factors affecting connectivity are only visible when viewing results of tests performed at regular intervals over several days or longer. MCS Remote Agents and AccessCT devices automate the testing process and perform ongoing connection tests at regular intervals.
Long-term views of data help identify performance patterns that quickly isolate last mile congestion or packet shaping interference. For more information see our white paper, Solving Last Mile Speed Problems --Traffic Congestion vs. Traffic Control.
Remote Agents and Satellite Servers are available for Windows, Linux/Unix and Mac OS X.
AccessCT™ Appliance Remote Testing enhances the standard automated remote testing through the provision of a small test appliance that integrates the active testing process with an integrated TCP stack to deliver passive monitoring and error analysis. The AccessCT platform provides a cost effective solution that does not entail the use of a PC platform and enables support engineers to analyze the testing process to identify the network errors on the WAN or LAN in addition to the performance issues. Errors identified cover Corruption, data loss, duplicates and data order. More info.
AlertAdvisor provides instant notification of connections that violate critical application thresholds. Set threshold values on key performance metrics, receive an email whenever a connection performs below critical application service levels.
Define Alert levels with Warning, Information, or Critical status
View real-time alert status anytime, anywhere with real-time browser-based reports
View past alerts summarized by Last Hour, Last Day, Last 30 Days
Automated Remote Testing, Satellite Servers and AlertAdvisor are included with MCS NetworkCenter and BusinessCenter, and may be added to most
other packages with the Concurrent Remote Agent Test (CAT) Add-on Pack. |
