Abstract: An bit error rate tester for use in connection with a high speed networks. The bit error rate tester includes transmit and receive ports, as well as a sequence generator, memory, synchronizer, sequence start detect module, and comparator. The sequence generator generates a bit sequence for transmission through a network path. The bit sequence returns to the bit error rate tester by way of the receive port. The synchronizer then bit-aligns the received bit sequence to compensate for idles/fill words added/dropped as the bit sequence transited the network. The synchronized bit sequence is passed to the start word detector which detects start and end words in the bit sequence and instructs the comparator to compare only data between the start and end words. The comparator compares the received bit sequence with a copy of the transmitted bit sequence regenerated from the memory, and calculates a bit error rate.

Abstract: An bit error rate tester for use in connection with a high speed networks. The bit error rate tester includes transmit and receive ports, as well as a sequence generator, memory, synchronizer, sequence start detect module, and comparator. The sequence generator generates a bit sequence for transmission through a network path. The bit sequence returns to the bit error rate tester by way of the receive port. The synchronizer then bit-aligns the received bit sequence to compensate for idles/fill words added/dropped as the bit sequence transited the network. The synchronized bit sequence is passed to the start word detector which detects start and end words in the bit sequence and instructs the comparator to compare only data between the start and end words. The comparator compares the received bit sequence with a copy of the transmitted bit sequence regenerated from the memory, and calculates a bit error rate.

Abstract: The principles of the present invention extend to remotely licensing configurable network diagnostic modules. License keys included encrypted serial numbers are stored in blades that can be inserted into and removed form diagnostic chasses. Serial numbers are also stored in read only memory of blades. Each diagnostic chassis includes software for decrypting a serial number portion of al license key and comparing the decrypted serial number to a stored serial to determine of the features of the license key correspond to blade. A diagnostic chassis requests license upgrades from a licensing server. The licensing serer encrypts a serial number and feature ID string into a new license key. The new license key is sent to the diagnostic chassis and stored in a blade at the diagnostic chassis. Since license keys are stored in blades, the blades can be moved between chasses while still retaining licensed features.

Abstract: The principles of the present invention extend to accessing results of network diagnostic functions in a distributed system. A chassis allocates resources for performing a network diagnostic function directly to requesting computer system. The requesting computer system communicates directly with the allocated resources to initiate the network diagnostic function. The network diagnostic test continues to execute even if the requesting computer system subsequently malfunctions. Collected test results are stored at the chassis such that any network connectable computer system can access the collected test results. A monitoring computer system (which may or may not be the requesting computer system) requests collected test results corresponding to the network diagnostic function. The chassis identifies appropriate test results and returns the results to the monitoring computer system.