Software Defined Lab

Luxoft’s Software Defined Lab (SDL) is a software test Automation environment with built-in DevOps features targeted at Service Providers Operators, Large Enterprise and VNF vendors (NEMs). 

The following are its key core features:

• Operator or a VNF vendor can comprehensively model an operation of an NFV based network using any number of VNFs (multi-vendor).
• VNFs will be automatically deployed in a desired configuration that implements a required Service Chain or Network Services (the SUT).
• Integrated Test Automation environment orchestrates and executes traffic and functional tests against the assembled VNF configuration.
• SDL can test across physical network function (PNF) and Virtual network function (VNF) boundaries for operators as they transition various portions of their services to NFV.
• The same system can be used to test existing physical network functions (PNFs) using cost effective virtual test tools and simulators and can then use be used validate/compare/contrast the behavior of those network functions as they are transitioned to VNFs.

SDL makes it easy to simulate varying network conditions against the SUT in repeatable, automated way. The system is able to collect and correlate a large number of metrics (packets throughput, CPU/Memory utilization, application specific metrics, etc) in real time during the test. This allows us to dimension the behavior of the underlying virtual infrastructure and the deployed VNF/PNF configuration, find incompatibilities and identify root causes of problems.

SDL makes testing easier:

• Virtualized testing infrastructure – test tools, simulators, traffic generators, protocol testers, …reduces testing CAPEX and OPEX, but can still work with tools, licenses and physical component investments that you already have
• Automated testing which includes the NFV Infrastructure, Orchestration and end to end services …continuous testing/validation of the entire solution, not just the individual components
• Automated configuration including instantiation, network connectivity, network bandwidth …automate the setup/teardown of test beds and solutions under test, allows for much more unattended testing to occur, reuse/share the same resources – testing of 100s of systems/configurations within one lab
• Testing with real and/or simulated traffic…validation of real world behaviors, ability to recreate, diagnose and resolve live network issues
• Support for multiple infrastructures, multiple versions and configurations with a single system…test how a change to the infrastructure will affect the deployed solutions before it is rolled out to the live network
• Testing experience – test case development, test automation, infrastructure configuration and troubleshooting…We can support/augment your staff in developing test strategies, test suites, porting/updating existing test cases, test execution, best practices, NFV testing techniques, or use our staff to provide those services at offshore rates

Our customers have found that integrating and using SDL can reduce typical lab setup and testing timeframes from weeks to hours.