Patent ID: 7886348
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of testing a firewall comprising: transmitting at least one of a session initiation signal to initiate a communications session through said firewall and a session termination signal used to terminate an established communications session; monitoring to determine from the time of at least one said transmitted signal at least one of a port opening delay which occurs in regard to a session initiation signal and opening a port in said firewall for a communications session that is being initiated, and a port closing delay which occurs in regard to a session termination signal and closing a port in said firewall when terminating an established communications session; and the method further comprising at least one of: transmitting session initiation signals at an increasing rate through said firewall to cause the opening of ports in said firewall, measuring the effect of said increasing rate of session initiation signals on at least one of an opening and a closing delay time associated with opening a port and closing a port, respectively, in response to transmitted session initiation signals; and transmitting session termination signals at an increasing rate through said firewall to cause the closing of ports in said firewall, measuring the effect of said increasing rate of session termination signals on closing delay time associated with closing a port in response to transmitted session termination signals.