- Provides powerful correlation and analysis capabilities
- Allows network operators to effectively manage service performance and quality
- Offers open architecture for seamless integration with existing OSS products
Service Assurance Correlation and Analysis Software Engine
The highly scalable, open and extensible BrixWorx architecture is especially suited to meet the needs of demanding service providers' networks and IP-based services. Working together with network-wide monitoring sources — including Brix Verifiers, Brix software agents, third-party devices, and standard interfaces — BrixWorx conducts network and IP service testing and monitoring, while collecting, storing, correlating, and analyzing essential data to produce detailed, graphical reports that provide end-to-end service verification.
Actionable Information and Reporting
One of the key strengths of BrixWorx is its ability to correlate large volumes of operational performance and quality metrics collected across a network, analyze the data, and present it as actionable information in a number of easy-to-read, customized or preformatted views (dashboards, executive reports, deep diagnostics). By providing both real-time and historical metrics and results, BrixWorx reliably delivers the information required to ensure success throughout the entire service lifecycle of any IP-based service.
Proactive Service Level Management
With BrixWorx, service providers can quickly establish their specific key performance indicators (KPIs) and key quality indicators (KQIs) — such as voice and video quality scores, network latency, packet loss, jitter, and more — to run automated tests and monitor live traffic against service-specific thresholds. BrixWorx continuously analyzes the collected performance and quality data, and automatically compares the results to the customized service level objective thresholds to proactively warn providers of at-risk service level agreements (SLAs) before a violation occurs.
Comprehensive, Converged Service Assurance Visibility
BrixWorx enables service providers to monitor the performance and quality
of their networks and services. Further, EXFO Service Assurance (formerly Brix Networks) offers targeted,
modular products that seamlessly integrate with BrixWorx to monitor the
quality of highly performance-sensitive voice, video, and data services:
- BrixCall — Complete voice quality and performance management software
- BrixVision — Comprehensive IP video quality and performance management software
- BrixNGN — Scalable software that verifies the quality of next-generation networks
Additionally, the BrixView advanced analytics and business intelligence software, which is integrated with the BrixWorx correlation engine, enables the flexible presentation and visualization of converged service assurance performance and quality information to all decision makers.
Integration Options
Service providers can increase the value and reach of the Brix System by incorporating its actionable information and essential data into pre-existing operational support systems (OSS), back-office applications, and network management systems (NMS), including network and fault management, provisioning, inventory, trouble-ticketing, workflow, capacity planning, and billing systems.
The Brix System integrates with OSS applications via:
- Product-specific Connectors — Provides seamless links to several off-the-shelf OSS products, including:
- Agilent Technologies' NGN Analysis System
- BMC Software's Remedy IT Service Management and Help Desk solution
- EMC's Smarts VoIP Manager
- Alcatel-Lucent's VitalNet Network and Performance Management Software
- IBM Tivoli's Netcool/OMNIbus fault-management product
- Spirent Communications' REACT Test Management and Perform Express Performance Management OSS
- Brix Developer's Kits — Enables integration with proprietary applications or creates highly customized integrations with OSS applications with industry-standard, XML-based APIs.
- Fault Management Tools — Forwards Brix SNMP traps to the consoles of fault and network management tools for performance alerting.
BrixWorx User Portals
For service providers, the BrixWorx User Portals allow their customers to track their own SLAs, comparing actual performance against the contracted performance objectives. By offering their customers visualization into their SLA performance, providers can differentiate themselves from the competition by demonstrating their commitment to network performance and service quality.