Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a network having a plurality of nodes. The method includes sending commands to one or more traffic agents connected to the network and to at least one network management agent coupled to a respective node of the network, transmitting data from at least one of the traffic agents over the network responsive to the commands, determining network information at the at least one network management agent responsive to the commands and to transmission of the data through the respective node, and receiving and evaluating the network information to assess a state of the network.

Abstract: A method for testing a communication network includes transmitting at least one unidirectional flow over a path through the network, and measuring arrival characteristics of the least one unidirectional flow at a receiving end of the path. The arrival characteristics include at least one of a packet throughput characteristic, a packet delay characteristic, a packet loss characteristic, a packet jitter characteristic and a packet misordering characteristic. A bidirectional flow is transmitted over the path from both ends of the path simultaneously, and the arrival characteristics of the bidirectional flow are measured at least at one of the ends. The arrival characteristics of the unidirectional and bidirectional flows are compared in order to detect a fault in the path.