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Software Agents: Q-Agents

The Last Mile and Home Network QoE Solution

Embedded in set-top-box, PC media players and other platforms, the lightweight QoE monitoring software Q- Agents are portable software agent solutions that enable monitoring of entire network including last mile and customer premise equipment (CPE). Q-Agents are integrated with V-Factor’s end-end management and correlation engine for a complete network solution.

Software agents from Symmetricom can be easily downloaded or preloaded to reside on customer premise equipment (CPE) such as a set top box (STB), PC or mobile devices to monitor and troubleshoot network performance and/or content quality for that customer. Under the control of Q-Advisor, Q-Agents perform a comprehensive suite of real-time tests to help identify content issues, network bottlenecks, equipment failures, and other problems.

Maximum Scalability for End-End Coverage
Deploying agents on CPE equipment can ensure seamless scalability of your monitoring system. With Q-Agents, V-Factor scales as CPE devices are added to the network, ensuring full network coverage without needing to roll-out new monitoring equipment in every new network site. 

Testing Tailored to Your Network
For maximum flexibility, Symmetricom software agents can be deployed in any of two configurations and three test suites. The two agent configurations are:
• Resident: A software agent is installed permanently on CPE entirely transparent to the customer, and monitors performance continuously.
• On-demand: Software agents are downloaded and run as needed from inside the web browser of the customer’s computer. 

Complete end-end coverage of last mile and home network
Q-Agents can be deployed in DSLAM, STB or Home Gateway devices for complete network coverage.

Advanced technology designed for video monitoring
Q-Agents incorporate V-Factor technology to look at both content & network metrics and achieve correlation incorporating the human vision system model.

Most reliable and non-intrusive solution for end-end coverage
Q-Agents consist of a lightweight client software that is suitable for resource limited (processor, memory, etc) environments.

Q-Gauge
Monitors bandwidth and delays as it highlights network bottlenecks and shows which issues are LAN or WAN related. (Both resident and on-demand tests).

Q-Diag
In addition to all Q-Gauge tests, Q-Diag also records packet route (with per-hop performance indicators) for in-depth troubleshooting of network performance issues. (On-demand only).

Q-Mon
Monitors whether a service (FTP, TELNET, IMAP, POP3, SMTP, HTTP, etc.) is up and running. Records packet route with per-hop metrics to dissociate network issues from server issues. (Resident only).