Abstract: In one embodiment a distribution system includes customer premise equipment that is authenticated to a network that includes a cable modem termination system based upon a DOCSIS authentication. The customer premise equipment receives data from a supplicant device that is interconnected to the network through the customer premise equipment where the supplicant device is authenticated to the network based upon an 802.1X authentication.

Abstract: A cable modem termination system (CMTS) for use with a modem test server, an external network, and a cable modem. The CMTS including a memory and a processor configured to execute instructions stored on memory to cause CMTS to: provide a downstream service flow to the cable modem; provide an upstream service flow to the cable modem; receive a speed test initiation request from the modem test server; provide a second downstream service flow to the cable modem, provide a second upstream service flow to the cable modem; receive a speed test query from the modem test server; transmit the speed test query to the cable modem via the second downstream service flow; receive a speed test response from the cable modem via the second upstream service flow; and transmit the speed test response to the modem test server.