PORTFOLIO
EDS APPLICATION CHARACTERISATION SERVICE
CHARACTERISING APPLICATION PERFORMANCE AND NETWORK TRAFFIC TO REDUCE BANDWIDTH COSTS
EDS, in partnership with OPNET Technologies Ltd, offers an Application Characterisation Service to determine whether applications can be approved for use on UK MoD networks. Trouble shooting is also provided to address performance issues associated with network activity. This expertise can readily be made available to organisations outside the UK MoD domain via the ICS Catalogue Service.
Overview
Networked applications are crucial enablers of Network Enabled Capability. However, when such applications are introduced into service, many end users complain of their poor performance and failure to meet performance expectations. To combat this, the UK MoD now enforce the Release Assurance 'Purple Spotting' Process. This requires evidence of compliance with agreed rules and parameters to assure that applications will have no adverse effects on the wider network prior to acceptance into service.
The EDS Defence Consulting Application Characterisation Service determines the performance of new or existing applications through assessing the network loading characteristics of the application on the network infrastructure including the detailed interactions between both the application and the network.
The service offers benefits across the entire acquisition cycle. For example, it can provide predictions of WAN bandwidth utilisation during Concept and Assessment phases through to support of major upgrades as a part of In Service Support. Typical use of the service across the MoD CADMIT/D cycle is illustrated overleaf. Other organisations are expected to follow comparable acquisition cycles from system concept to disposal to which ACS will also be applicable.
What is provided by ACS?
The ACS comprises three elements, Application Characterisation, Traffic Profiling and Trouble Shooting:
- Application Characterisation: Determines how the system is going to be used in terms of user activities, background activities, user mix, number of active users and peak periods of activity. This assessment is subject to refinement during the acquisition cycle, and, once the application is introduced into service, it is important that the Application Characterisation is monitored as part of the In Service Support, to determine changes to user activities and any consequences thereof;
- Traffic Profiling: Translates the application characterisation to generated network traffic and determines the impact on existing systems thus directly determining the suitability for the application to be used on the network;
- Trouble shooting: Investigates problems which manifest themselves as network issues although closer examination may point to other areas in some cases.
Who should use the Application Characterisation Service?
The ACS is aimed at the development and maintenance of all networked applications both within the UK MoD and in the wider arena.
Value for Money
Investment in the ACS is a cost effective measure which:
- Reduces cost of intervention through early identification of bandwidth and other performance issues;
- Reduces application development and maintenance costs via early assessment of bandwidth usage;
- Reduces the risk of bandwidth overestimation and the associated higher tariffs via more accurate bandwidth usage predictions.
BENEFITS
Use of the ACS has the following benefits:
- Improves efficiency and effectiveness of IT operations;
- Reduces risk of application failing when introduced into service;
- Reduces risk of application severely degrading network performance;
- Increases end-user satisfaction with application performance;
- Decreases the likelihood of needing modifications to software or configuration once in service;
- More accurate predictions for new applications based on experience with similar existing applications;
- Increases confidence that applications will achieve Release Assurance (UK MoD).
FEATURES
- An independent service;
- Application characterisation and traffic profiling to determine network loading;
- Troubleshooting for existing applications and for systems under development;
- Uses 'best of breed' application performance monitoring tools enabling the visualisation of network traffic;
- Ability to assess other non network related performance issues where necessary;
For the UK MoD, ACS provides astandard and repeatable service throughout the lifecycle of an application to provide evidence of compliance with Release Assurance Certification.
ACS is available to both MoD and Other Government Departments via the ICS Catalogue Service.
POINT OF CONTACT
Damian Crockford
Business Relationship Manager
T: +44 (0)7825 119522
E: damian.crockford@eds.com
Michael Marsh
T: +44 (0) 1252 818127
E: michael.marsh@eds.com
