MMS Probe

Data services, in particular Multimedia Messages (MMS), are important for mobile network operators, service providers and MVNOs for a number of reasons. To achieve customer satisfaction, high availability and high performance of MMS services is crucial. MMS Probe from ADVENAGE - together with HP's Business Availability Center (BAC), HP Business Service Management (BSM) or HP SiteScope (SiS) - is an excellent tool to measure and approve Multimedia Messaging Service availability and performance from a customer's point of view.

MMS Probe extends HP Business Service Management, HP Business Availability Center, and HP SiteScope with MMS service testing and monitoring capabilities. MMS Probe simulates MMS service end-users sending and receiving Multimedia Messages over the air and delivers detailed performance data to BSM, BAC or SiS. MMS Probe integrates seamlessly with HP BAC, HP SiS and other HP Business Service Management products.

MMS Probe supplies mobile network operators, service providers and MVNOs with a reliable tool to monitor and analyze the quality and performance of MMS services and other mobile network services from an end-users point-of-view.

Geographically distributed MMS MO/MT transactions and roaming scenarios are supported. With BPM as monitor for HP BSM and HP BAC, testing of complex Value Added Services is fully supported involving mobile services voice, SMS, USSD, MMS, packet switched data (WAP and WEB) and any combination of them.

As a probe application for HP BSM, HP BAC and HP SiS, MMS Probe enables mobile network operators, service providers and MVNOs to monitor mobile services end-2-end using an industry standard performance management system. This avoids expenditures by running separate systems or integrating non-standard systems.

MMS Probe gathers availability and performance data by periodically sending and receiving Multimedia Messages (MMS) to and from an MMSC, usually over the air.

Upon reception of a test MMS, the round trip time is calculated and logged to HP SiteScope, HP BAC (via HP Business Process Monitor) or other HP Business Service Management products along with a number of additional metrics, such as transaction times for message delivery, notification and messages retrieval, transfer rates and status information.

Measurement results are reported online to HP BAC/BSM an can be instantly displayed and serve as input for SLA and KPI calculations, alarming, and reporting. Service failures and KPI/SLA violations can be reported to the Network-Management-Center using standard reporting and alarming functions.

Interoperability with HP Business Service Management (BSM) and HP Business Availability Center (BAC)

MMS Probe provides full interoperability with HP Business Availability Center (BAC) and HP Business Service Management (BSM). Two of the data collectors of BAC - HP SiteScope and HP Business Process Monitor - are supported to collect data from MMS Probe.

HP SiteScope Integration

Integration with HP SiteScope is achieved by registering MMS Probe as custom probe via the scripting interface of SiteScope. Advantage is quick and easy deployment, and metrics reported can be selected from the SiteScope configuration dialogs. SiteScope integration provides full functionality, including geographical distributed measurements and allows to integrate UNIX and Windows based systems. MMS Probe integration via SiteScope is especially useful for smaller installations.

HP Business Process Monitor Integration

Integration with HP Business Process Monitor is achieved by an extension of the HP Virtual User Generator language. It allows to directly trigger MMS end to end measurements and to process metrics received back as well as additional failure information.

HP BPM integration is intended for larger installations running several data collectors, usually at different location. The central repository service of BAC enables central development, testing and deployment of MMS measurements at different locations from the central management system. Measurement results appear in the end user management section of BAC and may be aggregated for SLA and KPI performance tracking. The figure below depicts BAC integration of MMS probe via Business Process Monitor:

MMS Probe Server Administration Interface

MMS Probe comes with an easy to use web based administration interface for probe servers. The probe server administration interface provides access to status information, service management, parameterization, provides access to log files and provides utility functions in order to test local connectivity and modem allocation.