A test device enables DOCSIS link testing in a HFC network without
requiring the CMTS or other router at the headend of the HFC network to
respond to ICMP messages. The test device includes a test packet
generator for generating test packets having a destination Internet
protocol (IP) address associated with a test device, a memory for storing
transmission parameters of the test packets, and a test packet evaluator
associated with the IP address in the generated test packets. The test
packet evaluator receives the generated test packets after the test
packets have been routed through a router at a head end of a HFC network
and compares reception parameters for the received test packets to the
transmission parameters stored in the memory.