Increasing market demands for improved Internet availability is requiring ISPs to more quickly evaluate routers for network deployment. Typically, the focus of this evaluation has been on protocol conformance, interoperability, and scaling. While these parameters are critical for a successful deployment, none ensure router availability once deployed.

ISPs and router vendors should now consider altering the paradigm of test and evaluation to focus on router stability in a multi-protocol environment. This is achieved by implementing a test program that includes automated regression testing, topology-specific configuration testing, convergence testing, stress testing, and longevity testing with multiple protocols simultaneously configured. This presentation will detail these components for integration into existing test programs as follows:

1. Automated regression testing
   • Description
   • Benefits
   • Commercial Tools
2. Large topology testing
   • Description
   • Benefits
3. Convergence testing
   • Measurement techniques
   • Configurations
   • Commercial tools
4. Stress testing
   • Description
   • Benefits
   • Procedure
   • Required automation
   • Commercial tools
5. Longevity testing
   • Benefits
   • Procedure