OSIX – Real-time network performance monitoring.

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Polystar’s OSIX system offers the telecommunications market 001100100000011000100the1101001011001110010000001110100011
innovative monitoring solutions for maximising network performance 0100101101101011001010010000101001111010100110100100101011000001
and managing advanced real-time troubleshooting. 0000001110010011101010network11011000110010101110011
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 OSIX
From surveillance to advanced troubleshooting
The OSIX system
Features

Applications
Protocol Analyser
Call Trace
Performance Analyser
Mass Call
Real Time Statistics
Network Status
Statistics Alarm

The OSIX system

System design
OSIX in Polystar’s Network and Service Assurance offering

“With OSIX, we provide telecom operators with a true real-time tool

they can use to ensure high network quality and proactively prevent
disturbances in their telecom networks. Currently, we have installations
all over of the world, from Taiwan to Canada, and in networks serving
20,000 subscribers up to networks with over 20 million.”

Mark Moltzer / Product Manager Polystar

OSIX
From surveillance to advanced troubleshooting The OSIX system
With the state-of-the-art monitoring system OSIX, Polystar offers the telecom market a wide range of • is an extremely robust solution with a small footprint
real-time network monitoring solutions. Using OSIX, you will be able to observe the network activity in • is a true real-time system
real time, which is crucial to maintain a first-rate customer experience and prevent quality degradation. • offers intuitive, easy-to-use applications with context-sensitive help functions
• offers unique scaling possibilities due to its modular design
OSIX is a passive probe system that non-intrusively extracts information from the control and user planes • is built using Java, MySQL, and Linux, employing state-of-the-art hardware and open
architectures, standards, and interfaces
in telecom networks. Control plane signalling is available in real time, and the data is also stored for later
• is highly flexible, with extremely fast installation and acceptance cycles, as well as
retrieval for historical analysis. The user plane data is correlated in real time against the corresponding
regular implementation of new features
control signalling.
• has low investment requirements, while offering high cost-efficiency, rapid ROI (return
on investment) and a very competitive TCO (total cost of ownership)
The OSIX system is used for monitoring, troubleshooting, alarming, and xDR generation.
OSIX supports fixed-line, mobile, and IMS/VoIP—all in one system.

The software component of OSIX includes a set of applications for viewing and analysing network data.
These offer a sophisticated correlation functionality that provides an end-to-end, network-wide view of Features
calls and data transactions. The Network Status and Statistics Alarms applications provide powerful
alarm-handling functionality and allow integration to third-party systems through SNMP traps. The • All protocols and network technologies are accommodated in a single system
Mass Call, Performance Analyser, and Real Time Statistics applications provide fast and accurate error • Handles both control plane and user plane on a number of interfaces (including E1/T1,
detection, allowing the operator to quickly detect and resolve network problems or poor performance STM-1, ATM, Gigabit and 10-Gigabit Ethernet)
• Generates real-time alarms for quick detection and resolution of network problems or
before customers are affected.
poor performance before customers are affected
• Generates real-time raw xDRs for third-party integration
The OSIX system is the foundation of all Polystar network and service assurance solutions. The advanced
• Includes intuitive drill-down functionality for root-cause analysis
features of this all-seeing system, in symbiosis with the power of Polystar’s real-time visualisation and
reporting tool Jupiter, give you full control over your network business.
From SS7 to LTE in the same system, all your analysis needs
fulfilled from the OSIX Main Panel.
APPLICATIONS Protocol Analyser Protocol Analyser
In Protocol Analyser, you can monitor all messages on a link down to the lowest

Call Trace level, either in real time or with historical data. All protocols can be mixed in one
view.

You can filter the protocol data in several ways, using link, protocol or parameter
filters—separately or in combination.
Performance Analyser
Feature highlights

• Advanced filtering functionality with an extensive set of filter options for specific
Mass Call nodes, messages, release codes or user identities (IMSI, MSISDN, etc.)
• Detailed information for each message is easily accessed
• Up to four Main Window sessions can be active at the same time
• Windows in the Protocol Analyser application are highly configurable, allowing
Real Time Statistics easy adaption to personal preferences

Network Status

Statistics Alarm
 Call Trace Performance Analyser
The Call Trace application monitors calling processes, in real time or using historical data. With Performance Analyser, you can monitor calling statistics for different groups of
It then correlates network messages into complete calls, for analysis of the entire chain nodes and numbers in your network in real time. It provides real-time overview of network
of events from start to end. quality and monitors network-related KPIs, for example ASR, NER, PDP activations, per
user-configured group.
The application features advanced filtering functionality, and offers comprehensive tools
for adapting the user interface. You also have quick access to detailed information about With flexible configuration options, you can create various call groups for real-time KPI
the processes and all messages sent during the session. measurements. Advanced filter tools allow you to pinpoint and monitor the exact type of
information or site.
The comprehensive correlation functionality allows you to view messages for all the
different protocols of the end-to-end signalling flow, for example all messages involved in Performance Analyser is commonly used on NOC walls, to provide an instant overview
a mobile call, SMS transaction, or a VoIP call. of the performance of configured destinations, and also among roaming departments to
analyse outbound roaming.
Call Trace helps your support staff give first-rate service to the subscribers, thanks to the
complete overview of all calling processes and root cause analysis capabilities of calling Feature highlights
events.
• Instant drill-down access to Call Trace and Protocol Analyser for root-cause analysis
Feature highlights • SNMP support for alarm generation to other systems

• A call-flow view, displaying how messages are sent between different nodes, is
available for both single and correlated calls
• Signalling technicians get access to all the bits and bytes of every calling process and
protocol message for deep analysis
• Call Trace supports a number of protocols for fixed, mobile, IMS/VoIP, and intelligent
networks
• Advanced filtering capabilities with extensive set of filter options for specific nodes,
messages, release codes, and user identities (IMSI, MSISDN, etc.)
 Mass Call Real Time Statistics
The Mass Call application provides real-time monitoring of call attempts made to specific With the Real Time Statistics application you can set up and view statistical information in
numbers, or made from specific numbers. graphs or in table format, over configured parameters, messages or calls in your network
in real time.
The application allows you to quickly identify if congestion scenarios are caused by mass
calling events such as viewer voting in popular TV shows. Mass Call can also be used to When configuring the graphs, you can decide how often you want the graph to be updated
identify fraudulent usage and to detect loop scenarios in the network. (in seconds), and for how long you wish the data to remain in the graph (in hours and
minutes).
When running Mass Call, you can have one window displaying high amounts of call
attempts to certain numbers and one window displaying high amounts of call attempts The graphs can be of two different types: message-based or call-based. That is, each
from certain numbers. graph you create can be based either on the number of protocol messages or the number
of calls that pass through the graph’s filter settings. It is also possible to display different
Feature highlights traffic types in the same graph.

• Detailed information about calling/called numbers, and the concerned point codes, Using Real Time Statistics, you can monitor network traffic continuously, focussing on
is easily accessed
traffic to selected destinations or towards specific applications.
• Drill-down to Call Trace and Protocol Analyser, where filters will be set auto­matically
based on the numbers you have chosen
Feature highlights

• Extensive set of filtering options for statistical counters (same as in Protocol

Analyser and Call Trace), which can be used either separately or in combination
• Colour schemes for quick overview and problem detection
• Instant drill-down access to Call Trace and Protocol Analyser
 Network Status Statistics Alarm
The Network Status application is used to monitor alarms in the network on level 1 With the Statistics Alarm application you can set up alarms that are to be generated when
(hardware), and on levels 2 and 3 (nodes and links), including link load. The application also certain filter criteria for protocol messages or calls/transactions are met. The alarms can
receives and stores all alarms from the Performance Analyser and Mass Call applications, be generated either at first occurrence, or after a certain number of occurrences over
and alarms based on configured thresholds in the Statistics Alarm application. a certain period of time. You can also configure the alarms to be automatically cleared.

Detailed information about an alarm is easily accessible, regardless of in which area or at The application runs unobtrusively in the background. Triggered alarms are available as
which level the alarm occurs. This will help you detect problems quickly, and decrease the SNMP traps, and are also displayed in the alarm application in Network Status.
time needed for problem solving.
Feature highlights
When monitoring the network using network maps, you have quick and easy access to
detailed information about the links. There is also a Global Link Status view, that displays • Advanced filtering functionality (same as for Call Trace/Protocol Analyser)
• SNMP support for alarm generation to other systems
the current global link status, with link loads, counters for messages, etc.

Feature highlights

• The “Active alarms” and “Alarm log” dialog boxes allow you to see all alarms that are
currently active, and perform network-wide searches for historical alarms
• Instant drill-down to Call Trace and Protocol Analyser for troubleshooting alarms
• Map view with automatic detection of SS7 links/point codes and SCTP associations/
endpoints
• SNMP support for alarm generation to other systems
One system that shows you everything you need to know.
The OSIX system System design
As the network topology becomes more and more complex, requiring legacy fixed
networks to coexist with modern IP-based LTE networks, disturbances in a modern
telecom network can come from a number of places. Faults can occur in anything from The OSIX system is a scalable solution that consists of probes, servers, and clients. The
handovers, DNS lookups, and access points to cooperation with roaming partners. probes are non-intrusively connected to the network, and are independent from data
collected by the switches.
Network anomalies and root-cause errors can appear at any time, and having a monitoring
system like OSIX in place is essential to maintaining full control over network activity and The system receives network data from three different types of probes, depending on the
keeping a high level of customer satisfaction. interface to be monitored:

One of the main advantages of the OSIX system is that it supports all commercially used • E1/T1 probe with support for E1/T1 (64/56 kbps, HSL, FR (for Gb))
technologies in the telecom industry—in one system. You do not need to run different • Gemini probe with support for ATM/SDH (STM-1)
systems to monitor your entire network. • MediaProbe with support for Ethernet (10/100 Mbps and 10 Gbps), for monitoring of
signalling traffic as well as user plane data
OSIX is also a future-proof system, demonstrated by the support of both legacy SS7 and
state-of-the-art LTE technology in the same system. From the probe, data is sent through a router (RTR) that distributes the traffic evenly
between an arbitrary number of probe servers, which enables data capture on even the
largest Tier 1 installations. An OSIX deployment typically consists of multiple, regionally
distributed sites, where each site has probes and servers installed to capture, process
and store all data locally. This minimises the need to send data using expensive WAN
bandwidth. Storage of Signals (SoS) includes all captured signalling messages, and is
normally dimensioned to hold data for 4-10 days.

The mapping server (MAS) performs mapping between IMSI and TMSI. The global server
(GLS) acts as the OSIX management and authentication system, and the performance
server (PES) is the engine behind the Mass Call and Performance Analyser applications.

For hardware efficiency, and to accommodate smaller sites, several components can
share the same physical hardware.
OSIX in Polystar’s Network and Service
Assurance offering POLYSTAR
Polystar offers a broad range of products in telecom network monitoring solutions. OSIX
Polystar is the premier supplier of Service Assurance, Network Monitoring and Test
is the product closest to the network, where it gathers network data directly from the
Solutions to leading telecom operators, service providers and network equipment
probes in real time.
manufacturers around the globe. The innovative product portfolio supports the complete
OSIX can then supply data to Jupiter, Polystar’s reporting and OSS system. It is also the lifecycle of new services and technologies—from design, pre-deployment verification and
engine for the generation of xDRs to third-party systems, such as revenue assurance, stress-testing, through roll-out, down to network assurance and service management of
fraud management, and active roaming management systems. in-service mobile, fixed, IP or converged networks.

Polystar is recognised as one of the fastest-growing companies in Sweden. Since its

establishment in Stockholm in 1983, it has experienced a continuous and sustainable
growth, and evolved to a global presence, serving its customers in over 50 countries.

Facts

Server hardware Scalability

Polystar uses HP ProLiant servers as probe OSIX is built to be efficiently scalable from a
servers. The physical measurements are 1U small system into large systems. The amount
19''. The probe servers are configured with of hardware needed is directly related to the
RAID 1+0, which prevents data loss in case of amount of traffic on a single site. If one site has
hardware failure. small traffic volume only 2 servers are needed
(one probe and one PRS).
Operating system
The probe servers are running Red Hat Enter­ The GLS (Global Server) is only needed in one
prise Linux as operating system. central location.

This makes it possible for OSIX to be a system

Database for any operator, from a global operator to a
The probe servers are using MySQL as data­ locally based virtual operator.
base system.
Polystar / +46 8 50 600 600 / www.polystar.com