Network testing

Abstract

Network testing apparatus comprises software defined network controller circuitry; and test controller circuitry operable to configure a test network in response to network definition data, to provide instructions to control operations of the software defined network controller circuitry and to control operations of a plurality of test traffic agents connected to the test network; the software defined network controller circuitry being arranged to control the test network to adopt a routing arrangement for data packets within the test network in response to an instruction provided by the test controller circuitry; and the test controller circuitry being configured to perform a network test by instructing the software defined network controller circuitry to control the test network to adopt one or more test routing arrangements, instructing the test traffic agents to communicate test data packets to respective destinations amongst the test traffic agents using the test network and detecting whether the test packets correctly arrive at their respective destinations under a current test routing arrangement as adopted by the test network.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.