Networks

Working with its sister companies GAO Tek Inc., GAO RFID Inc., and partners, GAO Research Inc. has developed cloud systems, on-premises systems, cloud software, on-premises software, and hardware devices for Network Testing.

Together, in addition cloud and on-premises systems, we have developed incorporates a variety of instruments optical fiber devices such as  light sources, OTDR, optical talk sets, optical fiber identifiers, Optical Fiber Rangers , Optical Fiber Microscope, Optical Power Meters, Variable Optical Attenuators, Visual Fault Locators,  fiber optic multimeters, Fiber Fusion Splicers, GBIC BIDI Transceivers, XENPAK Transceivers, SFP Transceivers, Other Transceivers, SFP+ Transceivers, XFP Transceivers, CWDM / DWDM, Attenuators, Fiber Splitters, Fiber Distribution Terminal, FFTX, Fiber Termination Kit, Enterprise Network, Video MUX & Converters, Ethernet Media Converters, CATV Meters & Instruments and CCTV & Video Equipment

Cloud Systems for Network Testing

Cloud systems represent a paradigm shift in IT infrastructure, offering unparalleled scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. However, testing the network infrastructure in cloud environments requires a tailored approach to address the unique characteristics and challenges associated with virtualized, multi-tenant environments.

Virtualized Environment

Cloud environments rely heavily on virtualization technologies to abstract and pool physical resources, enabling dynamic provisioning and management of compute, storage, and networking resources. Network testing in virtualized environments must account for the dynamic nature of resource allocation and the potential impact on network performance and security.

• Resource Contention: Virtualized environments often share physical resources among multiple virtual machines (VMs) or containers. Network testing should assess the impact of resource contention on network performance, including CPU, memory, storage, and network bandwidth.
• Hypervisor Overhead: Hypervisors introduce overhead for virtualization operations, such as memory and CPU virtualization, which can affect network performance. Network testing should measure the overhead introduced by hypervisor operations and optimize resource allocation to minimize performance degradation.
• Network Virtualization: Software-defined networking (SDN) technologies virtualize network infrastructure, allowing for programmable and scalable network configurations. Network testing should evaluate the performance, reliability, and security of virtualized network components, including virtual switches, routers, and firewalls.

Elasticity and Scalability

One of the key benefits of cloud systems is the ability to scale resources dynamically to meet fluctuating demand. Network testing should assess the scalability and elasticity of the network infrastructure to ensure it can accommodate rapid changes in workload and resource requirements.

• Auto-scaling: Cloud platforms often support auto-scaling capabilities, allowing resources to be automatically provisioned or de-provisioned based on predefined thresholds. Network testing should validate the effectiveness of auto-scaling policies and measure the time-to-scale for network resources.
• Load Balancing: Load balancers distribute incoming network traffic across multiple servers or instances to optimize resource utilization and improve reliability. Network testing should evaluate the performance and effectiveness of load balancing algorithms under various traffic conditions and scaling events.
• Horizontal vs. Vertical Scaling: Network testing should compare the performance and cost-effectiveness of horizontal scaling (adding more instances) versus vertical scaling (increasing instance size) to determine the optimal scaling strategy for different workloads and resource requirements.

Multi-Tenancy

Cloud environments often host multiple tenants on shared infrastructure, raising concerns about resource isolation, performance interference, and security. Network testing should assess the impact of multi-tenancy on network performance, isolation, and security.

• Network Isolation: Network testing should validate the effectiveness of network isolation mechanisms, such as VLANs, security groups, and virtual private clouds (VPCs), to prevent unauthorized access and data leakage between tenants.
• Performance Interference: Resource contention among tenants can affect network performance and throughput. Network testing should measure the impact of performance interference on network latency, throughput, and packet loss under varying load conditions.
• Security Compliance: Cloud providers implement security controls and compliance frameworks to ensure the security and privacy of customer data. Network testing should validate compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR, and identify potential security gaps or vulnerabilities.

Integration with Cloud Services

Cloud systems often integrate with various cloud services, such as storage, database, and analytics services, to extend functionality and improve scalability. Network testing should ensure seamless integration between cloud services and the underlying network infrastructure.

• Data Transfer Rates: Network testing should measure the throughput and latency of data transfer between cloud services and the network infrastructure to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
• Service Availability: Cloud services may experience downtime or service interruptions due to maintenance, upgrades, or infrastructure failures. Network testing should validate service availability and failover mechanisms to minimize downtime and ensure continuous operation.
• Data Security: Cloud services often involve the transmission and storage of sensitive data over public networks. Network testing should assess the effectiveness of encryption, access controls, and data protection mechanisms to safeguard data in transit and at rest.

Network Testing in On-Premises Systems

While cloud computing offers numerous benefits, many organizations maintain on-premises systems for reasons such as data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, and legacy infrastructure. Network testing in on-premises systems requires a comprehensive approach to address the unique characteristics and challenges of physical infrastructure and legacy technologies.

Physical Infrastructure

On-premises systems typically consist of physical servers, switches, routers, and other networking hardware. Network testing should evaluate the performance, reliability, and security of on-premises infrastructure components.

• Hardware Reliability: On-premises hardware devices are subject to wear and tear, hardware failures, and component degradation over time. Network testing should assess the reliability of hardware devices and identify potential points of failure or performance degradation.
• Link Utilization: Network testing should measure link utilization and bandwidth usage to identify potential bottlenecks and optimize network throughput and performance.
• Traffic Congestion: On-premises networks may experience congestion during peak usage periods or when handling large volumes of traffic. Network testing should evaluate the impact of traffic congestion on network latency, throughput, and packet loss.

Legacy Systems

Many organizations still rely on legacy systems and technologies that may lack modern features such as virtualization, automation, and software-defined networking. Network testing should assess the compatibility and interoperability of legacy systems with newer network technologies and protocols.

• Protocol Support: Legacy systems may use proprietary protocols or outdated networking standards that are incompatible with modern networking equipment. Network testing should verify protocol support and compatibility with existing network infrastructure.
• Interoperability: Legacy systems may need to integrate with newer applications, services, or platforms to support business operations. Network testing should ensure seamless integration and interoperability between legacy systems and modern network environments.
• Performance Optimization: Legacy systems may exhibit performance bottlenecks or inefficiencies due to outdated hardware or software components. Network testing should identify performance optimization opportunities and recommend upgrades or enhancements to improve performance and reliability.

Resource Constraints

On-premises systems may face resource constraints such as limited bandwidth, storage capacity, and processing power. Network testing should identify potential bottlenecks and performance limitations within the on-premises infrastructure.

• Bandwidth Management: Network testing should measure available bandwidth and bandwidth usage to identify potential bottlenecks and optimize bandwidth allocation for critical applications and services.
• Storage Capacity: On-premises storage systems may experience capacity constraints or performance degradation as data volumes grow. Network testing should assess storage capacity and performance to ensure scalability and reliability.
• Processing Power: On-premises servers and computing resources may become overloaded during peak usage periods or resource-intensive tasks. Network testing should evaluate CPU and memory utilization to identify potential performance bottlenecks and resource contention issues.

Security Compliance

On-premises systems are subject to the same security threats and compliance requirements as cloud systems, including data breaches, malware attacks, and regulatory mandates. Network testing should assess the security posture of on-premises systems and identify potential vulnerabilities or gaps in security controls.

• Perimeter Security: On-premises systems should implement perimeter security controls, such as firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and access control lists (ACLs), to protect against external threats and unauthorized access.
• Access Controls: On-premises systems should enforce access controls and authentication mechanisms to restrict access to sensitive data and resources. Network testing should validate the effectiveness of access controls and identify potential weaknesses or vulnerabilities.
• Intrusion Detection and Prevention: On-premises systems should detect and prevent intrusions, malware infections, and other security threats in real-time. Network testing should evaluate the effectiveness of intrusion detection and prevention systems and recommend improvements to enhance security posture.

High Availability

On-premises systems often require high availability and fault tolerance to minimize downtime and ensure business continuity. Network testing should evaluate the resilience of on-premises infrastructure to hardware failures, network outages, and other disruptions.

• Redundancy and Failover: On-premises systems should implement redundancy and failover mechanisms to maintain service availability in the event of hardware failures or network outages. Network testing should validate failover configurations and measure the time-to-failover for critical services and applications.
• Disaster Recovery: On-premises systems should have robust disaster recovery plans and procedures to recover from catastrophic events, such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, or equipment failures. Network testing should assess disaster recovery readiness and validate backup and recovery processes to ensure data integrity and availability.

Network Testing in Cloud Software

Cloud software refers to applications and services that are hosted and accessed over the internet via cloud computing platforms. Network testing for cloud software focuses on ensuring the performance, reliability, and security of cloud-based applications and services.

Application Performance

Network testing should assess the responsiveness, throughput, and latency of cloud-based applications under various network conditions, including bandwidth constraints, packet loss, and network congestion.

• Response Time: Network testing should measure application response time from client request to server response to ensure optimal performance and user experience.
• Throughput: Network testing should evaluate application throughput and data transfer rates to identify potential bottlenecks and optimize network performance.
• Latency: Network testing should measure network latency and round-trip time (RTT) to assess application responsiveness and identify latency-sensitive components or operations.

Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

Many cloud providers offer SLAs guaranteeing certain levels of performance, uptime, and availability for cloud-based services. Network testing should validate compliance with SLA requirements and identify areas for improvement to meet or exceed service level commitments.

• Uptime: Network testing should measure service uptime and availability to ensure compliance with SLA requirements and identify potential sources of downtime or service interruptions.
• Performance Metrics: Network testing should monitor performance metrics, such as response time, throughput, and latency, to track service performance and validate SLA compliance.
• Fault Tolerance: Network testing should evaluate fault tolerance mechanisms and failover configurations to minimize downtime and ensure continuous service availability during infrastructure failures or maintenance windows.

Data Security

Cloud software often involves the transmission and storage of sensitive data over public networks. Network testing should assess the effectiveness of encryption, access controls, and other security measures to protect data in transit and at rest.

• Encryption: Network testing should validate the implementation of encryption protocols, such as SSL/TLS, to secure data transmission between clients and servers and protect against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks.
• Access Controls: Network testing should assess the effectiveness of access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and resources.
• Data Protection: Network testing should evaluate data protection measures, such as data masking, tokenization, and data loss prevention (DLP), to safeguard data at rest and prevent unauthorized access or disclosure.

Scalability and Elasticity

Cloud software should be able to scale dynamically to accommodate changes in user demand, resource utilization, and workload distribution. Network testing should assess the scalability and elasticity of cloud-based applications and services under varying load conditions.

• Auto-scaling: Network testing should validate the effectiveness of auto-scaling policies and mechanisms to dynamically provision or de-provision resources based on workload demand and resource utilization metrics.
• Horizontal vs. Vertical Scaling: Network testing should compare the performance and cost-effectiveness of horizontal scaling (adding more instances) versus vertical scaling (increasing instance size) to determine the optimal scaling strategy for different workloads and resource requirements.
• Load Balancing: Network testing should evaluate the performance and effectiveness of load balancing algorithms and configurations to distribute incoming traffic across multiple servers or instances and optimize resource utilization and availability.

Third-Party Integrations

Cloud software may integrate with third-party services and APIs for functionality such as authentication, payment processing, and data analytics. Network testing should ensure seamless integration between cloud software and third-party services.

• API Performance: Network testing should measure the performance and reliability of third-party APIs and web services to ensure seamless integration and responsiveness of cloud software.
• Data Transfer Rates: Network testing should evaluate data transfer rates and latency for data exchange between cloud software and third-party services to optimize performance and reliability.
• Error Handling: Network testing should assess error handling and recovery mechanisms for handling communication failures, timeouts, and other errors during integration with third-party services.

Network Testing in On-Premises Software

On-premises software refers to applications and services that are deployed and operated within an organization’s own infrastructure, typically behind a firewall and accessed over a local area network (LAN) or intranet. Network testing for on-premises software focuses on ensuring the performance, reliability, and security of locally hosted applications and services.

Internal Network Performance

Network testing should evaluate the performance and reliability of on-premises software within the organization’s internal network, including LAN connectivity, intra-server communication, and database access.

• LAN Connectivity: Network testing should measure LAN connectivity and throughput to ensure optimal performance and reliability of on-premises software within the local network environment.
• Intra-Server Communication: Network testing should assess communication latency and throughput between servers and services to identify potential bottlenecks and optimize resource utilization.
• Database Access: Network testing should evaluate database access performance and throughput for on-premises software applications that rely on database queries and transactions for data retrieval and storage.

Client-Server Communication

Many on-premises software applications rely on client-server architectures for data exchange and interaction. Network testing should assess the responsiveness and throughput of client-server communication.

• Round-Trip Latency: Network testing should measure round-trip latency and response time for client-server communication to ensure optimal performance and responsiveness of on-premises software applications.
• Data Transfer Rates: Network testing should evaluate data transfer rates and throughput for client-server communication to identify potential bottlenecks and optimize network performance.
• Connection Reliability: Network testing should assess connection reliability and stability for client-server communication to minimize packet loss, connection timeouts, and other network-related issues.

Integration with Legacy Systems

On-premises software may need to integrate with legacy systems and databases for data exchange and interoperability. Network testing should ensure seamless integration between on-premises software and legacy systems.

• Data Format Compatibility: Network testing should validate data format compatibility and data transformation capabilities for integrating on-premises software with legacy systems and databases.
• Protocol Support: Network testing should verify protocol support and compatibility between on-premises software and legacy systems to ensure seamless communication and interoperability.
• API Functionality: Network testing should assess API functionality and compatibility for integrating on-premises software with legacy systems and external applications, services, or platforms.

User Authentication and Access Controls

On-premises software often implements user authentication and access controls to restrict access to sensitive data and functionality. Network testing should evaluate the effectiveness of authentication mechanisms, authorization policies, and session management controls.

• Authentication Mechanisms: Network testing should assess the security and reliability of user authentication mechanisms, such as username/password authentication, single sign-on (SSO), and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Authorization Policies: Network testing should validate authorization policies and access controls to ensure proper enforcement of user permissions and privileges within the on-premises software application.
• Session Management: Network testing should evaluate session management controls and session timeout settings to prevent unauthorized access and protect against session hijacking or replay attacks.

High Availability and Disaster Recovery

On-premises software should be resilient to hardware failures, network outages, and other disruptions to minimize downtime and ensure business continuity. Network testing should evaluate the resilience of on-premises infrastructure to ensure high availability and disaster recovery.

• Failover Mechanisms: Network testing should validate failover configurations and failover times for critical services and applications to ensure seamless transition and minimal downtime during hardware failures or network outages.
• Data Replication: Network testing should assess data replication mechanisms and synchronization processes to ensure data consistency and integrity across redundant or geographically dispersed locations.
• Backup Strategies: Network testing should validate backup and recovery strategies to ensure data protection and availability in the event of data corruption, deletion, or other data loss scenarios.

Network Testing for Hardware Devices

Network testing for hardware devices involves evaluating the performance, reliability, and security of network infrastructure components such as routers, switches, firewalls, and access points. Hardware devices play a critical role in network connectivity, data transmission, and security enforcement, making thorough testing essential to identify potential issues and vulnerabilities.

Here are the types of network devices:

• Light Sources: These devices generate optical signals that are transmitted through fiber optic cables for data communication.
• OTDRs (Optical Time-Domain Reflectometers): OTDRs are used to analyze the performance of fiber optic cables by sending a pulse of light down the cable and measuring the reflections caused by imperfections or breaks.
• Optical Talk Sets: These devices allow technicians to communicate through fiber optic cables during installation or maintenance tasks.
• Optical Fiber Identifiers: Fiber identifiers are used to detect the presence of signals in optical fibers without disrupting the signal flow.
• Optical Fiber Rangers: Like OTDRs, optical fiber rangers measure the distance to faults or breaks in fiber optic cables.
• Optical Fiber Microscope: These microscopes are used for inspecting the end faces of fiber optic connectors to ensure they are clean and properly terminated.
• Optical Power Meters: These devices measure the power of optical signals transmitted through fiber optic cables.
• Variable Optical Attenuators: Attenuators are used to adjust the power level of optical signals to optimize performance.
• Visual Fault Locators: VFLs are used to locate breaks or faults in fiber optic cables by emitting a visible laser light.
• Fiber Optic Multimeters: These devices combine the functionality of optical power meters and light sources for testing and troubleshooting fiber optic networks.
• Fiber Fusion Splicers: Fusion splicers are used to join two optical fibers together by fusing the ends using heat.
• GBIC BIDI Transceivers: These transceivers enable bi-directional communication over a single fiber optic cable.
• XENPAK Transceivers: XENPAK transceivers are used to connect networking equipment over long distances using fiber optic cables.
• SFP Transceivers: Small Form-Factor Pluggable transceivers are modular devices used to transmit and receive data over fiber optic or copper cables.
• Other Transceivers: This category includes various types of transceivers used for specific networking applications.
• SFP+ Transceivers: Enhanced versions of SFP transceivers with higher data rates.
• XFP Transceivers: 10 Gigabit Small Form Factor Pluggable transceivers used for high-speed networking.
• CWDM / DWDM: These technologies enable multiplexing of multiple optical signals onto a single fiber optic cable for increased bandwidth efficiency.
• Attenuators: Attenuators are used to reduce the power of optical signals to prevent overloading of receivers.
• Fiber Splitters: Splitters divide a single optical signal into multiple signals for distribution to multiple destinations.
• Fiber Distribution Terminal: These terminals provide a centralized point for managing and distributing fiber optic connections within a network.
• FFTX (Fiber to the X): This refers to various configurations of fiber optic networks that extend to different endpoints such as homes, businesses, or street cabinets.
• Fiber Termination Kit: Kits containing tools and materials for terminating fiber optic cables with connectors.
• Enterprise Network: Hardware devices and infrastructure components used to build and maintain large-scale corporate networks.
• Video MUX & Converters: Devices used to multiplex and convert video signals for transmission over fiber optic or copper cables.
• Ethernet Media Converters: These devices enable the conversion of Ethernet signals between different media types, such as fiber optic and copper.
• CATV Meters & Instruments: Equipment used for testing and analyzing cable television (CATV) signals.
• CCTV & Video Equipment: Hardware devices used for surveillance and video monitoring applications, often connected via Ethernet or fiber optic networks.

Throughput and Bandwidth

Network testing should measure the maximum throughput and bandwidth capacity of hardware devices under various traffic loads and network conditions.

• Maximum Throughput: Network testing should determine the maximum throughput and data transfer rates supported by hardware devices to ensure optimal performance and reliability for network traffic.
• Bandwidth Utilization: Network testing should measure bandwidth utilization and link saturation to identify potential bottlenecks and optimize network performance and resource allocation.

Packet Forwarding Rate

Network testing should assess the packet forwarding rate of hardware devices to determine their ability to handle high volumes of traffic and packets per second (PPS).

• Packet Processing Rate: Network testing should measure the packet forwarding rate and packet processing capacity of hardware devices to ensure efficient and reliable packet delivery under varying traffic conditions.
• Jumbo Frames Support: Network testing should evaluate support for jumbo frames and large packet sizes to optimize network efficiency and reduce overhead for packet processing and transmission.

Latency and Jitter

Network testing should measure the latency and jitter introduced by hardware devices to ensure low-latency communication and consistent packet delivery.

• Latency Measurement: Network testing should measure network latency and round-trip time (RTT) to assess the responsiveness and performance of hardware devices and network infrastructure.
• Jitter Analysis: Network testing should analyze jitter and packet delay variation (PDV) to identify potential sources of packet loss, latency variation, and network instability.

Security Features

Network testing should evaluate the security features and capabilities of hardware devices to ensure robust protection against unauthorized access, malware, and other security threats.

• Firewall Functionality: Network testing should assess firewall capabilities, including stateful packet inspection (SPI), intrusion detection/prevention (IDS/IPS), and application-layer filtering, to protect against unauthorized access and malicious traffic.
• Access Control Lists (ACLs): Network testing should validate ACL configurations and access control policies to enforce security policies and restrict access to sensitive network resources.
• Virtual Private Network (VPN) Support: Network testing should verify VPN functionality and encryption protocols to secure remote access and data transmission over public networks.

Interoperability and Compatibility

Network testing should verify the interoperability and compatibility of hardware devices with other network infrastructure components, including switches, routers, firewalls, and access points from different vendors.

• Vendor Interoperability: Network testing should validate interoperability between hardware devices from different vendors to ensure seamless communication and compatibility with existing network infrastructure.
• Protocol Support: Network testing should verify support for industry-standard protocols and networking technologies to facilitate interoperability and compatibility with third-party devices and software applications.

Below are some of GAO’s partners or customers in the U.S. and Canada:

Cisco Systems, Keysight Technologies, Spirent Communications, NetScout Systems, Viavi Solutions, Anritsu Corporation, EXFO Inc., National Instruments, Ixia (now part of Keysight), Teledyne LeCroy, Rohde & Schwarz, Fluke Networks, Broadcom Inc., Intel Corporation, Nokia Corporation, Qualcomm Incorporated, ARRIS International, Ciena Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Juniper Networks, CommScope, ADVA Optical Networking, Corning Incorporated, Extreme Networks, Gigamon, JDS Uniphase Corporation, Palo Alto Networks, Radware Ltd., Sandvine Corporation, Aerohive Networks, Aviat Networks, Cambium Networks, Citrix Systems, Dell Technologies, F5 Networks, Fortinet Inc., McAfee Corporation, Riverbed Technology, Sonus Networks, Symantec Corporation, Viasat Inc., Acacia Communications, A10 Networks, Arista Networks, Check Point Software Technologies, Cradlepoint Inc., FireEye Inc., Netgear Inc., Opengear Inc., Palo Alto Networks, Tenable Inc., Zebra Technologies, 3M Corporation, Alcatel-Lucent (now part of Nokia), Check Point Software Technologies, Ciena Corporation, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Finisar Corporation, Forescout Technologies, Juniper Networks, Microchip Technology Inc., Palo Alto Networks, Radware Ltd., Riverbed Technology, Sandvine Corporation, Skyworks Solutions Inc., Ubiquiti Networks, Viavi Solutions, Zayo Group, Akamai Technologies, Anritsu Corporation, Broadcom Inc., Cognizant Technology Solutions, CommScope, Datadog Inc., Extreme Networks, Fluke Networks, Ixia (now part of Keysight), Keysight Technologies, Lumentum Holdings Inc., NETGEAR Inc., Proofpoint Inc., Ribbon Communications, Skyworks Solutions Inc., Splunk Inc., T-Mobile US Inc., Technicolor SA, Telus Corporation, Thales Group, Ubiquiti Networks, Verisign Inc., VMware Inc., Zebra Technologies, A10 Networks, Acacia Communications, ADVA Optical Networking, Airgain Inc., Akoustis Technologies Inc. , and Amdocs Limited.