# Service Assurance Agent

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{{Short description|Active computer network measurement technology}}
{{More sources needed|date=April 2024}}
thumb|IP-SLA operation
'''IP SLA''' (Internet Protocol Service Level Agreement) is an active [computer network](/source/computer_network) measurement technology that was initially developed by [Cisco Systems](/source/Cisco_Systems). IP SLA was previously known as '''Service Assurance Agent''' (SAA) or Response Time Reporter (RTR). IP SLA is used to track network performance like latency, ping response, and jitter, it also helps to provide service quality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Using Cisco Service Assurance Agent and Internetwork Performance Monitor to Manage Quality of Service in Voice over IP Networks |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/service-assurance-agent-saa/13938-csaaipm.html |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Cisco |language=en}}</ref>

== Functions ==
[Router](/source/router_(computing))s and [switch](/source/network_switch)es enabled with IP SLA perform periodic [network](/source/computer_network) tests or measurements such as
* [Hypertext Transfer Protocol](/source/Hypertext_Transfer_Protocol) (HTTP) [GET](/source/HTTP)
* [File Transfer Protocol](/source/File_Transfer_Protocol) (FTP) downloads
* [Domain Name System](/source/Domain_Name_System) (DNS) lookups
* [User Datagram Protocol](/source/User_Datagram_Protocol) (UDP) echo, for [VoIP](/source/VoIP) [jitter](/source/jitter) and [mean opinion score](/source/mean_opinion_score) (MOS)
* [Data-Link Switching](/source/Data-Link_Switching) (DLSw) ([Systems Network Architecture](/source/Systems_Network_Architecture) (SNA) [tunneling protocol](/source/tunneling_protocol))
* [Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol](/source/Dynamic_Host_Configuration_Protocol) (DHCP) lease requests
* [Transmission Control Protocol](/source/Transmission_Control_Protocol) (TCP) connect
* [Internet Control Message Protocol](/source/Internet_Control_Message_Protocol) (ICMP) echo (remote [ping](/source/Ping_(networking_utility)))

The exact number and types of available measurements depends on the [IOS](/source/Cisco_IOS) version. IP SLA is very widely used in [service provider](/source/service_provider) networks to generate time-based performance data. It is also used together with [Simple Network Management Protocol](/source/Simple_Network_Management_Protocol) (SNMP) and [NetFlow](/source/NetFlow), which generate volume-based data.

== Usage considerations ==
* For IP SLA tests, devices with IP SLA support are required. IP SLA is supported on Cisco routers and switches since IOS version 12.1. Other vendors like [Juniper Networks](/source/Juniper_Networks) or [Enterasys Networks](/source/Enterasys_Networks) support IP SLA on some of their devices.
* IP SLA tests and data collection can be configured either via a console ([command-line interface](/source/command-line_interface)) or via SNMP.
* When using SNMP, both read and write community strings are needed{{Clarify|What does this mean? Reference please?|date=March 2009}}.
* The IP SLA voice quality feature was added starting with IOS version 12.3(4)T. All versions after this, including 12.4 mainline, contain the MOS and [ICPIF](/source/ICPIF){{Clarify|What does this acronym stand for?|date=March 2009}} voice quality calculation for the UDP jitter measurement.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Computer networks

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Service Assurance Agent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_Assurance_Agent) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_Assurance_Agent?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.