[asterisk-users] Asterisk concurrent calls count

[Mike Trest - On Travel]

At 02:25 PM 5/18/2008, Tzafrir Cohen wrote:
>Please suggest a test environment

IMHO, it is definitely NOT EASY to come up with a standardized test 
without some standardized network configurations and standardized 
load generation tools.  It is even harder when a non-standard or 
niche application use is intended.

For example:  I had to run a bench mark with live traffic calls that 
entered by the PSTN and VoIP gateways into a PAY-FOR-PLAY farm of asterisks.

I had to generate a minimum load of 5,000 simultaneous calls with a 
specific distribution of call durations and to continuously pump that 
traffic to attain specific objectives for rate-of-arrival on new calls.

This required me to tie up 10,000 phone lines.  5,000 outgoing calls 
to specific numbers that would be terminated by specific carriers 
plus another 5,000 inbound VoIP and TDM lines to receive those calls.

Reason eventually prevailed and we got the marketing & program 
managers to understand what can be shown by a much smaller set of 
lines (3,000 total, 1,500 IN and 1,500 OUT).   This was a 3% sample 
of the intended full scale loading rather than a 10% loading.

I would not expect any generalized benchmark to even begin to address 
all of the non-Asterisk elements in this over-all system.   Indeed, 
how could I even base any estimates for this based on generalized 
benchmarks for products optimized for mass-market PBX,IVR, or 
CALL-routing applications.

I am using extreme examples to make the point that the 
Integrator-Reseller has that responsibility.
For the non-extreme examples, the vendors conservative estimates for 
middle-of-the-road users of pre-prepared solutions are just fine.

BTW:  It required only two guys and one hour to setup and perform the 
test with Asterisks.  It took several days of advanced negotiation to 
agree on the methodology with all concerned.  This is a typical 
situation when you want to make sure the client knows enough to make 
a valid decision.

..mike..