QA Cafe News

QA Cafe CDRouter 7.0 Incorporates Nmap Analysis for Broadband Gateway Security

QA Cafe — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Portsmouth, NH, USA - QA Cafe, a leader in test and analysis solutions for the telecom and data communications industry, announced that version 7.0 of its popular CDRouter platform has incorporated Nmap, the premier open-source network security scanner.

With the rapid expansion of broadband deployments for both residences and businesses, securing these always-on and potentially vulnerable networks has become a top priority. The cornerstone of these networks is the gateway; whether distributed by a Service Provider or incorporated off-the-shelf into the home or business. The security of these devices, often with default or provider-dictated configurations, is now a critical part of the quality assurance cycle before they end up in customer networks.

"We are very excited about including Nmap functionality in the CDRouter family," said Joe McEachern, CEO of QA Cafe. "As the networking community's de-facto security scanner, it will allow device vendors using CDRouter™ to verify the security of their products long before they end up in the customer premises."

"I'm glad to see more innovative uses of Nmap in the networking and security community," said Gordon Lyon, creator of the Nmap Security Scanner. "QA Cafe CDRouter's integration with Nmap helps ensure robust and secure home networks in an increasingly broadband-enabled world."

About QA Cafe, LLC

QA Cafe is a leading provider of IP testing solutions and packet capture analysis tools for broadband access, home networks, consumer electronics, and enterprise IT. Its flagship products include CDRouter™, providing comprehensive verification of wireless, cable, DSL, CPE such as NAS, and SOHO routers for PPPoE, DHCP, NAT, SIP, IKE, 802.1x, TR-069, IPv6 and over 100 different IPv4/IPv6 protocols.

QA Cafe’s Cloudshark allows network engineers and IT departments the ability to securely share, manage, annotate, and analyze packet capture files. You can try Cloudshark now at www.cloudshark.org.

Follow QA Cafe on twitter using @qacafe.

UNH-IOL Deploys CloudShark for Securely Storing, Annotating, and Sharing Packet Capture Files

QA Cafe — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Virtual Platform Enables Lab Engineers to Tag Files and Packets, Then Share Files Securely with Equipment Vendors

PORTSMOUTH, NH, September 6, 2011 — QA Cafe, a leading provider of IP testing solutions, today announced the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), an independent provider of broad-based testing and standards conformance services for the networking industry, has deployed the CloudShark platform for securely collecting, storing, tagging, and sharing packet-capture files. Capture files record network traffic within a specific period of time. Research teams at UNH-IOL generate hundreds and sometimes thousands of capture files each week in the course of their analysis of network devices and networking standards. By annotating files in the CloudShark platform, researchers can exchange comments and questions with other researchers who work in the lab at different hours of the day. CloudShark also enables researchers to share capture files securely with select outside parties, such as equipment vendors, without having to email files or transfer large, multi-gigabyte files by FTP. Authorized users can view, tag, and annotate files securely in any Web browser.

“CloudShark brings a new level of organization and security to our management of capture files,” said Timothy Winters, Senior IP Manager at UNH-IOL. “We can store files securely in the CloudShark repository and tag files with identifying information such as protocols, device type or test run IDs, making the files easier to find and compare. Our teams especially appreciate the ability to annotate individual packets. This helps engineers share comments and questions with other engineers who are visiting the lab at different times.”

“We’re thrilled to have such a renowned laboratory use CloudShark,” said Joe McEachern, founder and CEO of QA Cafe. “Researchers can now work more productively with capture files without sacrificing security.”

UNH-IOL has deployed CloudShark as a software-only virtual appliance. The solution is also available as a 1U rack-mountable physical appliance.

For more information about CloudShark, please write to sales@cloudshark.org or call 1 (877) 332-0784 in the U.S. or Canada.

About the UNH-IOL

Founded in 1988, the UNH-IOL provides independent, broad-based interoperability and standards conformance testing for data, telecommunications and storage networking products and technologies. Combining extensive staff experience, standards bodies participation, and a 32,000+ square foot facility, the UNH-IOL helps companies efficiently and cost effectively deliver products to the market. For more information, visit http://www.iol.unh.edu/, or connect with the UNH-IOL on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UNHIOL, on Twitter at @UNH_IOL and on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/unh-interoperability-lab.

About QA Cafe, LLC

QA Cafe, a privately held company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, is a leading provider of IP testing solutions that allow telecom and datacom developers and test engineers to test critical IP functionality quickly and reliably. The company developed CloudShark to make it easy for testers, network managers, field technicians, and other IT engineers to securely store, manage, and share packet capture files. QA Cafe’s flagship test product, CDRouter™, is used today by most of the major manufacturers of routers and CPE devices in the Far East, North America, Europe and Asia. For more information about CloudShark, please visit www.cloudshark.org.

QA Cafe Introduces CloudShark™, a Secure Cloud-based Solution for Storing and Sharing Packet Capture Files

QA Cafe — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Virtual Platform Enables Enterprises and Service Providers to Accelerate Troubleshooting and Protect Capture Files from Data Breaches

PORTSMOUTH, NH, June 6, 2011 — QA Cafe, a leading provider of IP testing solutions, today announced the availability of CloudShark, a secure platform for storing and sharing packet capture files. Network engineers, VoIP service providers, and other IT engineers rely on capture files, which record network traffic, to troubleshoot applications and networks. Using CloudShark, authorized engineers can upload capture files to a secure software repository. They can tag capture files to make them easier to find and annotate them with comments and questions. They can also share files with other engineers, who can access the files through CloudShark’s secure browser-based interface. CloudShark enables users to view capture files from any device with a Web browser,including smartphones or tablets such as iPads. The CloudShark platform is available as a software-only virtual appliance or a turn-key, rack-mountable 1U hardware appliance, the CloudShark PCA1000.

TalkFree, a leading provider of VoIP services to resellers, is using CloudShark to share capture files among its operations and support teams and its customers. “CloudShark gives us the ability to analyze and resolve issues much faster,” said Colin Brown, director of network operations at TalkFree. “We deal with over 100 carriers on our platform, so we have an abundance of SIP trace files to manage, and they are much easier to administer using CloudShark’s centralized storage. Rather than emailing files back and forth, now we simply email a link and our engineers and customers can view a file on a mobile device such as a smartphone or iPad. We’re very pleased with the CloudShark solution and so are our customers. When they see it they say `What’s this? I want it.’”

“Capture files are invaluable assets for network analysis and troubleshooting, but until now IT organizations have had no way of securely organizing and sharing their capture files,” said Joe McEachern, founder and president of QA Cafe. “CloudShark makes it easy for engineers to collaborate, even if they’re not carrying network analyzers. CloudShark also helps organizations ensure that capture files containing confidential data never fall into the wrong hands, leading to a data breach or violation of regulations such as HIPAA or SOX.”

QA Cafe has launched an Early Adopter program for CloudShark. For details, please write to sales@cloudshark.org or call 1 (877) 332-0784 in the U.S. or Canada.

About QA Cafe, LLC

QA Cafe, a privately held company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, is a leading provider of IP testing solutions that allow telecom and datacom developers and test engineers to quickly and reliably test crucial IP functionality. The company developed CloudShark to make it easy for testers, network managers, field technicians, and other IT engineers to securely store, manage, and share packet capture files. QA Cafe’s flagship test product, CDRouter™, is used today by most of the major manufacturers of routers and CPE devices in the Far East, North America, Europe and Asia. For more information about CloudShark, please visit www.cloudshark.org.

QA Cafe Releases Latest CDRouter™ with IPv6 DS-Lite and Broadband Forum Updates

QA Cafe — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Portsmouth, NH - QA Cafe, LLC, creators of industry-leading testing solutions for CPE routers and devices, has released CDRouter 6.5 with updates for IPv6 and the Broadband Forum's TR-069. This new release adds support for IPv6 Dual Stack Lite (DS-Lite) capable devices and also boosts support for the Broadband Forum's Device:2 data model based on TR-181 Issue 2 Amendment 2 which adds support for IPv6 to the data model. The complete CDRouter 6.5 release notes can be viewed here.

"This release continues to expand our IPv6 coverage for emerging IPv6 standards such as DS-Lite and TR-181," stated Joe McEachern, Product Manager at QA Cafe. "There is a great deal of activity in our vendor community to fully integrate IPv6 into all aspects of the CPE device from WAN connectivity to TR-069. We are responding with the tests needed to help deliver these new breed of products."

CDRouter 6.5 also contains several additional updates:

New IPv6 firewall test cases
New IPv6 multiple LAN test module
New IPv6 DNS test module
Support for TR-181 Amendment 2 Profile support i.e. Device:2.x
OD-128 Rev 4 updates
Support for TR-069 based Deployment Unit RPCs

For more details on CDRouter IPv6, please visit the CDRouter IPv6 page or login to download the new release.

About QA Cafe, LLC

QA Cafe, a privately held company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, is a leading provider of IP testing solutions that allow telecom and datacom developers and test engineers to quickly and reliably test crucial IP functionality. Its test suites provide comprehensive verification for wireless, cable, DSL, CPE, and SOHO routers. The company’s flagship product, CDRouter™, is used today by most of the major manufacturers of routers and CPE devices in the Far East, North America, Europe and Asia. CDRouter offers testing of IPv4, IPv6, PPPoE, DHCP, NAT, SIP, IKE, 802.1x, TR-069, NAS, SMB, Storage, and over 50 different IPv4/IPv6 protocols.

Follow QA Cafe on twitter using @qacafe.

QA Cafe Kicks off new CDRouter™ Tested Logo Program

QA Cafe — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Portsmouth, NH - QA Cafe, LLC, creators of industry-leading testing solutions for CPE routers and devices, has announced a new CDRouter Tested logo program to help QA Cafe customers display their commitment to high quality products. The logo program consists of a series of "CDRouter Tested" logos available for web, print, or packaging. Customers may use these logos to convey their use of CDRouter as part of their qualification process.

"We created the CDRouter Tested logo program so that customers have a way of communicating quality to the market place. From our own experience, CDRouter customers produce higher quality products then their non CDRouter competitors. The CDRouter Tested logo program provides a mechanism for customers to promote this advantage," stated Joe McEachern, Product Manager at QA Cafe.

iPad2 Giveaway

To jump start industry's adoption of the CDRouter Tested logo, QA Cafe is offering a free iPad2 to the first 5 customers that adopt the logo in either web, print or packaging format.

For more details on CDRouter Tested logo program, please visit the new logo page at http://www.qacafe.com/show/logo or contact logo@qacafe.com.

About QA Cafe, LLC

QA Cafe, a privately held company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, is a leading provider of IP testing solutions that allow telecom and datacom developers and test engineers to quickly and reliably test crucial IP functionality. Its test suites provide comprehensive verification for wireless, cable, DSL, CPE, and SOHO routers. The company’s flagship product, CDRouter™, is used today by most of the major manufacturers of routers and CPE devices in the Far East, North America, Europe and Asia. CDRouter offers testing of IPv4, IPv6, PPPoE, DHCP, NAT, SIP, IKE, 802.1x, TR-069, NAS, SMB, Storage, and over 50 different IPv4/IPv6 protocols.

CDRouter Storage Now Available as a Standalone Test Solution for NAS Market

QA Cafe — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

New Standalone CDRouter Storage Solution Brings Storage Testing to a Wider Audience

Portsmouth, NH - QA Cafe, LLC, creators of industry-leading testing solutions for CPE routers and devices, today announced the availability of a standalone CDRouter™ Storage test solution. The new standalone version specifically targets NAS devices without the routing and firewall capabilities found in CPE access devices.

The standalone version of CDRouter Storage contains the same award winning test automation framework as the full version of CDRouter. The standalone version also contains the targeted storage tests designed to verify NAS capabilities over both IPv4 and IPv6 networks.

"The standalone CDRouter Storage solution allows QA Cafe to offer a more cost effective test solution to NAS vendors and IT departments conducting storage test trials. With the standalone version, customers only receive CDRouter's storage test modules," stated Joe McEachern, Product Manager at QA Cafe. "While many of our traditional customers are building routing devices with integrated NAS capabilities, we also wanted to offer a general storage test solution for NAS vendors, ISP testing, and IT departments."

The standalone CDRouter Storage is available now as part of the CDRouter 6.4 release. For more details on CDRouter Storage, please visit the CDRouter Storage page or login to download the new release.

About QA Cafe, LLC

QA Cafe, a privately held company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, is a leading provider of IP testing solutions that allow telecom and datacom developers and test engineers to quickly and reliably test crucial IP functionality. Its test suites provide comprehensive verification for wireless, cable, DSL, CPE, and SOHO routers. The company’s flagship product, CDRouter™, is used today by most of the major manufacturers of routers and CPE devices in the Far East, North America, Europe and Asia. CDRouter offers testing of PPPoE, DHCP, NAT, SIP, IKE, 802.1x, TR-069, IPv6 and over 50 different IPv4/IPv6 protocols.

Follow QA Cafe on twitter using @qacafe.

QA Cafe Introduces New Storage Capabilities for CDRouter™ Test Solution

QA Cafe — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

QA Cafe has announced the availability of a new storage based add-on module for CDRouter™. The new add-on module, CDRouter Storage, provides testing of network attached storage (NAS) enabled CPE devices and standalone NAS devices. CDRouter Storage covers a range of NAS technologies including SMB/CIFS over IPv4 and IPv6 using both wired and wireless interfaces.

"CDRouter Storage extends the CDRouter product family into the Storage market. NAS capabilities have become more common for today's CPE products as the home and small business network evolves," stated Joe McEachern, Product Manager at QA Cafe. "CDRouter Storage provides the testing technology needed to quickly verify the storage capabilities of today's CPE devices."

QA Cafe has also released a new white paper on CDRouter Storage that details the advantages of CDRouter Storage over existing test tools. The whitepaper is available at http://www.qacafe.com/static/pdf/storage-testing.pdf.

CDRouter Storage is available as part of the CDRouter 6.4 release. For more details on CDRouter Storage, please visit the CDRouter Storage page or login to download the new release.

About QA Cafe, LLC

QA Cafe, a privately held company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, is a leading provider of IP testing solutions that allow telecom and datacom developers and test engineers to quickly and reliably test crucial IP functionality. Its test suites provide comprehensive verification for wireless, cable, DSL, CPE, and SOHO routers. The company’s flagship product, CDRouter™, is used today by most of the major manufacturers of routers and CPE devices in the Far East, North America, Europe and Asia. CDRouter offers testing of PPPoE, DHCP, NAT, SIP, IKE, 802.1x, TR-069, IPv6 and over 50 different IPv4/IPv6 protocols.

Follow QA Cafe on twitter using @qacafe.

CDRouter™ Test Solution Picks Up PPPoE over IPv6 in Release 6.3

QA Cafe — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

QA Cafe has announced the availability of CDRouter 6.3 with new support for IPv6 over PPPoE testing with the CDRouter IPv6 add-on.

"Service providers with PPPoE infrastructure are looking at IPv6 over PPPoE," stated Joe McEachern, Product Manager at QA Cafe. "Our IPv6 add-on now provides the ability to look at IPv6 over PPPoE along with DHCPv6 prefix delegation running on top of the PPPoE connection."

CDRouter 6.3 also contains several additional updates:

Web based packet decodes are now available as part of the CDRouter web interface.
Additional CloudShark functionality including traffic graphs for all test cases.
TR-069 over IPv6 support.
Support for TR-181 Amendment 1 Profile support i.e. Device 2.0
New TR-069 tests for Upload and FactoryReset RPCs.
Improved TR-069 Firmware download support for packet loss.
New test case for ICMP unreachable with fragmentation needed.

For more details on CDRouter IPv6, please visit the CDRouter IPv6 page or login to download the new release.

About QA Cafe, LLC

QA Cafe, a privately held company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, is a leading provider of IP testing solutions that allow telecom and datacom developers and test engineers to quickly and reliably test crucial IP functionality. Its test suites provide comprehensive verification for wireless, cable, DSL, CPE, and SOHO routers. The company’s flagship product, CDRouter™, is used today by most of the major manufacturers of routers and CPE devices in the Far East, North America, Europe and Asia. CDRouter offers testing of PPPoE, DHCP, NAT, SIP, IKE, 802.1x, TR-069, IPv6 and over 50 different IPv4/IPv6 protocols.

Follow QA Cafe on twitter using @qacafe.

QA Cafe launches CloudShark.org for cloud based packet decoding

QA Cafe — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

New CloudShark.org service from QA Cafe makes packet decoding available in the cloud

Portsmouth, NH - QA Cafe, LLC, creators of industry-leading testing solutions for CPE routers and devices, today announced that it is launching CloudShark.org to provide free packet decoding services in the cloud.

CloudShark makes it possible to view packet captures on any type of device from smart phones to iPads, as well as traditional desktops. CloudShark accepts email, URLs, or file uploads and presents the user with a web based packet decode. CloudShark makes packet decoding possible when other packet decoding tools are not available or are not installed.

Availability

CloudShark is free and available now. Visit http://CloudShark.org to get started.

About QA Cafe, LLC

QA Cafe, a privately held company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, is a leading provider of IP testing solutions that allow telecom and datacom developers and test engineers to quickly and reliably test crucial IP functionality. Its test suites provide comprehensive verification for wireless, cable, DSL, CPE, and SOHO routers. The company’s flagship product, CDRouter™, is used today by most of the major manufacturers of routers and CPE devices in the Far East, North America, Europe and Asia. CDRouter offers testing of PPPoE, DHCP, NAT, SIP, IKE, 802.1x, TR-069 and over 50 different IP protocols.

CDRouter™ Visualize Introduces a Whole New Way to Look at your CDRouter Results

QA Cafe — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

CDRouter Visualize is an exciting new graphical addition to the CDRouter web interface. With this new capability, test and development teams can review test results and spot trends faster and easier than ever.

"Some of our more advanced customers need the ability to manage large sets of test results and spot trends over time," stated Joe McEachern, Product Manager at QA Cafe. "CDRouter Visualize provides them with multiple graphical views to make this process easier."

For more details on CDRouter Visualize, please visit the CDRouter Visualize page or login to download the new release.

About QA Cafe, LLC

QA Cafe, a privately held company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, is a leading provider of IP testing solutions that allow telecom and datacom developers and test engineers to quickly and reliably test crucial IP functionality. Its test suites provide comprehensive verification for wireless, cable, DSL, CPE, and SOHO routers. The company’s flagship product, CDRouter™, is used today by most of the major manufacturers of routers and CPE devices in the Far East, North America, Europe and Asia. CDRouter offers testing of PPPoE, DHCP, NAT, SIP, IKE, 802.1x, TR-069, IPv6 and over 50 different IPv4/IPv6 protocols.