Agilent Technologies Introduces Industry's Most Comprehensive
Multiservices Test Solution for Converging Network Infrastructures
21st June 2004
Agilent N2X Combines Routing, Switching, Transport and Storage
Testers into Integrated Solution with Many New Enhancements
CHICAGO, Supercomm, Booth No. 12351, June 21, 2004 -- Agilent
Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today introduced the industry's
most comprehensive multiservices test solution for converging
voice and data networks. The Agilent N2X multiservice tester
is the first to combine leading-edge services testing with
carrier-grade infrastructure testing and emulation. The N2X
solution set allows network equipment suppliers and service
providers to more comprehensively test new services end-to-end,
resulting in higher quality of service and lower network operating
costs.
Today's communications networks for voice and data are converging
onto a single infrastructure designed to both reduce costs
and enable new services. These networks are based on multifunction
networking elements that are significantly more complicated
to test. Furthermore, the proliferation of new services is
increasing the diversity of deployed network architectures.
Previous generations of test equipment focused on verifying
the functionality of individual devices or in emulating only
a portion of a network. This approach is inadequate for testing
new leadingedge services over a wide variety of networking
architectures.
To address these challenges, Agilent has significantly enhanced
RouterTester 900, OmniBER XM and SAN Tester, and combined
them into an integrated test solution. What distinguishes
N2X from previous-generation test solutions is its ability
to test leading-edge services, such as metro Ethernet, IP/VPN
and L2oMPLS for ATM, over the latest converged infrastructure
standards such as MPLS, IPv6 and next-generation SONET.
The N2X product architecture is based on programmable measurement
test cards that offer best-in-class performance and can be
updated to the latest standards. These cards plug into a common
chassis and can be mixed and matched to create a realistic
emulation that tests the performance of a service from the
enterprise through the access-metro network and over the core
network. Agilent N2X also allows users to drill down and isolate
problems in a specific part of the network or device. Network
equipment manufacturers and service providers that use the
N2X solution set can now find problems more quickly, while
more thoroughly testing an interdependent carrier-grade network.
Agilent N2X's new capabilities include:
- an industry-first 40 Gb/s Packet over SONET (POS) interface
test card;
- a tri-rate 10/100/1000 Ethernet test card that has the
highest network emulation scalability available in supporting
32,000 individual data streams;
- a 10 Gb Ethernet test card with hot-swappable XENPAK
transceiver that provides the industry's highest port density
per rack unit;
- a patent-pending Ethernet services disruption measurement
for validating quality of service across a variety of network
architectures;
- a multistream Ethernet packet BER measurement for testing
layer 2 data integrity;
- multichannel, thru-mode APS message generation for testing
next-generation SONET switching devices from within the
telecom network;
- overhead sequence generation in thru and terminal mode
for testing the transparency of control plane protocols
across the transport network;
- L2oMPLS support for ATM and Frame Relay providing a single-card
solution for testing MPLS over Ethernet, POS, ATM or Frame
Relay;
- multicast IPv6 support for testing next-generation IPv6
infrastructure; and
- an "instrumented payload" for measuring packet throughput
and loss that can be used with the OmniBER OTN to verify
proper VLAN tagging of GFP encapsulated data traffic.
"With these new enhancements, built on top of the powerful
capabilities of our previousgeneration products, N2X offers
an unmatched combination of scalability and measurement functionality,"
said Dave Bass, vice president and general manager of Agilent's
Data Networks Division.
The Agilent RouterTester 900, OmniBER XM and SAN Tester are
compatible with N2X and can be upgraded by purchasing N2X
software release 1.0, available now. More information on the
N2X solution set is available at www.agilent.com/comms/N2X.
Agilent will demonstrate N2X's testing capabilities this
week at Supercomm, Booth No. 12351.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology
leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical
analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in
more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $6.1 billion
in fiscal year 2003. Information about Agilent is available
on the Web at www.agilent.com.
|
Network Services 
