Zyxel Communications is a leader in broadband networking, providing a wide range of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) such as xPON, xDSL, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Extenders, and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) devices. Zyxel’s OPAL software, supporting the TR-369 User Services Platform (USP), has been crucial in delivering efficient services to providers.
We recently spoke with Gavin Yeh, Head of Fixed Line CPE Products, and Louie Lo, Head of Product Quality Assurance at Zyxel, about how CDRouter streamlines their product development and testing process and shows their commitment to robust, quality broadband and Wi-Fi products. Here’s what they had to say.
QA Cafe (QA): Could you give us some background on Zyxel’s products and what led you to adopt CDRouter?
Gavin Yeh (GY): At Zyxel, we maintain a diverse portfolio of CPE products, powered by our OPAL software. OPAL enables us to provide scalable and efficient solutions to service providers by unifying various protocols, including TR-369/USP.
Testing has always been critical for us, given the complexity of our product line. We perform function tests, stress tests, performance assessments, and user scenario simulations like triple-play services and digital home environments. However, as the demand for powerful standards like IPv6 and TR-369/USP functionality grew, we realized we needed a more structured and automated testing environment. That’s when we discovered CDRouter.
QA: How were you handling testing before CDRouter, and what were the challenges?
Louie Lo (LL): Our lab was fully equipped to handle manual testing and some automation with different tools, and we were using a Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) system for our development. We would simulate customer scenarios and verify network throughput, Wi-Fi performance, and more. Manual testing became more complex and time-consuming as we sought more diverse and powerful products.
We needed a tool to provide clear, predefined test cases for IPv6 and other network functions. CDRouter stood out because it offered a comprehensive suite of tests with detailed instructions. This was invaluable in helping our engineers identify where tests were failing and address those issues quickly.
QA: What made CDRouter the ideal choice for Zyxel?
LL: We first encountered CDRouter over a decade ago. We learned that CDRouter was the industry’s standard test solution for broadband routers, and it quickly became apparent how powerful it was.
What really stood out was its automation capabilities. Before, manual testing took considerable time and effort. With CDRouter, we can now automate these tests, especially for critical functions like IPv6, TR-069, and USP. It has significantly reduced the need for repetitive manual work, giving our engineers more time to focus on development.
QA: Can you describe how Zyxel integrates CDRouter into its development process?
LL: CDRouter is an integral part of our CI/CD pipeline. Let’s take TR-369/USP as an example. It’s an important technology to Zyxel’s products, and CDRouter is the official Broadband Forum (BBF) certification test solution. Whenever we develop new features, engineers use CDRouter to verify their implementations. Once they’ve completed a partial feature, they run CDRouter tests to check for any issues, such as regression bugs.
The tool allows us to conduct these tests automatically, even during weekends or off-hours, which saves us around 20% of the time that would otherwise be spent on manual testing. This efficiency is critical, especially when we're pushing new code changes and need to ensure that no previous functionality is affected.
QA: What specific features of CDRouter have been most beneficial to Zyxel’s workflow?
LL: CDRouter’s IPv6, TR-069, and USP test cases are essential for us. Additionally, the tool’s ability to run parallel test instances is a game-changer. It allows us to execute multiple tests simultaneously, speeding up the entire validation process.
Another critical feature is CDRouter’s performance testing. It helps us simulate real-world network conditions, which ensures that our products can handle various stress scenarios before they reach customers.
QA: How has CDRouter impacted your development timeline and testing efficiency?
LL: CDRouter has made a significant difference. The automation alone has drastically cut down the time we spend on repetitive tasks. This increased efficiency also means that we can identify issues earlier in the development cycle, which reduces the need for rework later on.
Additionally, with automated regression testing, we can ensure that new features or bug fixes don’t break existing functionality. This has allowed us to maintain high-quality standards while meeting tight deadlines.
QA: Have there been any notable improvements in Zyxel’s sales or customer interactions since using CDRouter?
LL: Absolutely. Many of our customers, especially ISPs, ask for tested and certified products. With CDRouter, we can provide them with detailed test reports, which demonstrate the robustness of our devices. This has definitely improved customer confidence in our products and streamlined the sales process. It also helps us work directly with our customers who are also using CDRouter by standardizing the testing and reporting process so that collaboration and issue resolution is easy.
QA: How has your experience been with CDRouter’s customer support?
LL: Our experience with CDRouter’s support team has been excellent. Whenever we’ve needed assistance, whether it’s clarifying a test case or troubleshooting an issue, their team has been quick to help. We appreciate the responsiveness and technical expertise they bring to the table.
QA: What are Zyxel’s plans moving forward with CDRouter?
LL: CDRouter is now an indispensable part of our product development process. We plan to continue using it to validate new models and test firmware updates regularly. Its ability to simulate real-world conditions and run automated tests is crucial for maintaining our product standards. It’s a versatile tool that helps us stay ahead of the curve in this fast-evolving industry.
