On testing of IP routers

Protocol implementation testing, especially conformance testing has drawn tremendous efforts worldwide since late 1970s. Pioneer work on conformance testing resulted in a framework on conformance testing as specified in ISO/IEC JNT 1/SC21 9646. Protocol testing regained its momentum with the advent of IPv6 in Internet, which involves replacement of existing IPv4 based protocol stack. We explain the techniques of testing of IP routers. The involvement of an IP router in perspective of migration from IPv4 to IPv6 is analyzed; as a result, a new model for IP routers is introduced. Existing testing techniques in testing OSI protocols are carefully examined and requirement of extension and adaptation to existing techniques are addressed. Finally, based on authors' past experience in testing OSI network relay system and preliminary research work on IP routers, a multifunctional test system design is introduced based on the new IP router model, and extension to TTCN-3 to adapt to the IP router test system is also briefly discussed.