Ready for VoIP: Network Management Architectures: Brix Networks - Page 2
BrixVision is a comprehensive IP video quality and performance management module, which is designed for IPTV services. This element supports the complete service deployment lifecycle by combining active testing with passive service monitoring, thus striving to optimize the subscriber's quality of experience (QoE). BrixVision lets network managers continually monitor video content quality, channel change response times, and video function delays—plus obtain key usage statistics that are required. This module also enables service monitoring to determine if network and infrastructure impairments are occurring at the national, regional, or local content aggregation and distribution locations, or at the subscribers homes.
Figure 2 - Click to see full-size image
The BrixNGN module is designed for next generation network analysis, and lets providers continuously collect, correlate, analyze, and visualize critical QoS and QoE information along the path from the network core to the customer endpoint. These functions support capacity planning and service turn-up verification, and identify network and service issues before they can have an impact on the customer base. BrixNGN performs continuous monitoring of the network core, extended Ethernet and IP networks, plus the data services, such as email, web-based applications, and file transfers. These functions are capable of supporting inter-carrier peering, wholesale backbone services, private line over Ethernet and VoIP backhaul configurations.
A number of monitoring sources are available that feed data to the BrixWorx engine.
Figure 3 - Click to see full-size image
Brix Verifiers are scalable appliances and software agents installed at key network locations to segment the network and localize problems. Different models are available for installation at customer locations, at the network edge, in high-speed locations, such as MPLS core networks, and within the PSTN or service provider networks. In addition, a number of third-party monitoring devices, from companies including Cisco Systems, Linksys, Motorola, and Texas Instruments can also be integrated into the Brix System.
Finally, BrixView is an advanced analytics software package, which is integrated with the BrixWorx correlation engine and presents the information in a visual format. The BrixView Dashboard is shown in Figure 2, with examples of BrixView historical reports illustrated in Figure 3.
Further details on the Brix Networks architecture and products can be found at http://brixnet.com/. Our next tutorial will continue our examination of vendors' network management architectures.
Author's Biography
Mark A. Miller, P.E., is President of DigiNet Corporation, a Denver-based consulting engineering firm. He is the author of many books on networking technologies, including Voice over IP Technologies, and Internet Technologies Handbook, both published by John Wiley & Sons.
Article courtesy of Enterprise VoIP Planet, © 2008 DigiNet Corporation, All Rights Reserved
