Testing an access link between a service provider and a customer

1. A method of operating a test system to test an access link between a service provider network and a customer network, the method comprising:

transmitting a test request to a device located in the customer network;

receiving a response from the device indicating a traffic description;

generating test data based on the traffic description;

generating a test file having the test data contained in the test file;

transmitting the test file to the device;

receiving test traffic transmitted by the device over the access link wherein the device generates the test traffic based on the test data contained in the test file; and

processing the test traffic to determine a status of the access link.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the test traffic to determine the status of the access link comprises comparing the test traffic to the test data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the access link comprises an Ethernet link.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the Ethernet link is provided over a cable network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the test request identifies a node in the customer network and wherein the traffic description identifies traffic associated with the node.

6. A test system for testing an access link between a service provider network and a customer network, the test system comprising:

an interface configured to transmit a test request to a device located in the customer network and receive a response from the device indicating a traffic description;

a processing system configured to generate test data based on the traffic description, generate a test file having the test data contained in the test file;

the interface further configured to transmit the test file to the device and receive test traffic transmitted by the device over the access link wherein the device generates the test traffic based on the test data contained in the test file; and

the processing system further configured to process the test traffic to determine a status of the access link.

7. The test system of claim 6 wherein the processing system is configured to compare the test traffic to the test data to determine the status of the access link comprises.

8. The test system of claim 6 wherein the access link comprises an Ethernet link.

9. The test system of claim 8 wherein the Ethernet link is provided over a cable network.

10. The test system of claim 6 wherein the test request identifies a node in the customer network and wherein the traffic description identifies traffic associated with the node.

11. A communication system for testing an access link between a service provider network and a customer network, the communication system comprising:

a test system in the service provider network; and

a device in the customer network and in communication with the test system;

wherein the test system is configured to transmit a test request to a device located in the customer network, receive a response from the device indicating a traffic description, generate test data based on the traffic description, generate a test file having the test data contained in the test file, and transmit the test file to the device;

wherein the device is configured to receive the test request, generate the response indicating the traffic description, transmit the response to the test system, receive the test file, generate test traffic based on the test data, and transmit the test traffic to the test system over the access link; and

wherein the test system is configured to receive the test traffic and process the test traffic to determine a status of the access link.

12. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the test system is configured to compare the test traffic to the test data to determine the status of the access link comprises.

13. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the access link comprises an Ethernet link.

14. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the Ethernet link is provided over a cable network.

15. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the test request identifies a node in the customer network and wherein the traffic description identifies traffic associated with the node.

16. A software product for operating test system to test an access link between a service provider network and a customer network, the software product comprising:

software operational when executed by a computer system to direct the computer system to transmit a test request to a device located in the customer network, receive a response from the device indicating a traffic description, generate test data based on the traffic description, generate a test file having the test data contained in the test file, transmit the test file to the device, receive test traffic transmitted by the device over the access link wherein the device generates the test traffic based on the test data contained in the test file, and process the test traffic to determine a status of the access link; and

a storage medium configured to store the software.

17. The software product of claim 16 wherein the software is operational when executed by the computer system to direct the computer system to compare the test traffic to the test data to determine the status of the access link comprises.

18. The software product of claim 16 wherein the access link comprises an Ethernet link.

19. The software product of claim 18 wherein the Ethernet link is provided over a cable network.

20. The software product of claim 16 wherein the test request identifies a node in the customer network and wherein the traffic description identifies traffic associated with the node.