Packet Design, Inc., a supplier of network appliances that provide routing-layer visibility into IP networks, has introduced a service that gives service providers'  MPLS VPN (Multi-protocol Label Switching-Virtual Private Network) customers an in-depth look at traffic usage on their VPN networks. The customers will be able to better assess traffic trends, identify top users and plan for network growth.

 

The VPN Traffic Customer Reporting Module is a software option for its VPN Traffic Explorer. The Explorer was introduced in early 2008 as the first network management system to give service providers network-wide visibility into MPLS-VPN traffic by customer.

 

Providers deploy the VPN Traffic Explorer to gain the ability to visualize individual customer VPN topologies overlaid on their network, monitor site-to-site reachability, and view traffic by customer and class of service (CoS) across their entire network.

 

The providers get improved VPN service quality and reliability with the solution. Now, they can share detailed VPN traffic information with customers through existing customer portals or via reports with the new module.

 

Through the Customer Reporting Module, data can be extracted from VPN Traffic Explorer and delivered in provider-customized reports for individual VPN clients.

 

VPN traffic data is available to the customers by WAN link, class of service, top traffic sources and destinations, and many other parameters. The sales teams of service providers can use the its reporting capability as a value-added differentiator for their service portfolios as business intelligence tools that can show when customers may be ready for service upgrades.

 

The service providers can access the comprehensive data available from the VPN Traffic Customer Reporting Module, to deliver daily, weekly and monthly traffic information to their customers. The information includes WAN link traffic reports, Site-to-site traffic reports, CoS traffic reports and "Top N" traffic reports etc.

 

Jeff Raice, executive vice president of marketing and business development at Packet Design said that when enterprises contract with their service providers for MPLS VPN services, they not only give up management of their WAN networks, but also lose visibility into traffic usage on their WAN.

 

Raice noted that the new Customer Reporting Module lets service providers deliver meaningful data to customers so they can see exactly how they're consuming network services, and know when they'll need to adjust and budget for additional services.