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40 GE and 100 GE Testing

Ixia - THOUGHT and ACTION Leader in Higher Speed Ethernet

Internet traffic has grown exponentially as greater numbers of users employ more and more complex types of traffic. The need for bandwidth that handles applications such as IPTV, video, peer-to-peer sharing, and wireless backhaul is becoming readily apparent. Aggregating 10 GE links to handle increased bandwidth not only complicates data center topologies, but is also costly and labor-intensive. It’s essential that single, higher-speed links be available in the data center and throughout the Internet. The exponential increase in network traffic requires a leap from 10 GE aggregations to higher-speed Ethernet connections. The next step in data center evolution is 40 GE and 100 GE speed network devices.

Ixia's K2 40 GE and 100 GE modules are the first-to-market test solution for network equipment manufacturers developing 40/100 GE devices, providing full IP layer 2-7 measurement and analysis. Test requirements for 40/100 GE compliant devices range from generating and analyzing the simplest layer 2 data plane traffic all the way up to sophisticated stateful network communication testing, including IPTV, VoIP, video on demand, HDTV, Internet gaming, and multimedia streaming services.

K2 modules can generate and analyze full 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s layer 2-7 line rate traffic, up to 1 million flows per port. Module testing includes such metrics as:

Real-time latency
Inter-arrival time
Packet loss
Data integrity
Sequence checking
Packet capture

K2 modules can measure and analyze the performance of HSE standard-compliant devices at line rate, and are compatible with Ixia's chassis and broad range of 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, and 10 Gbps interfaces, allowing real-world, full product testing in a single box.

Ixia has been an active participant in the IEEE P802.3ba standardization effort staring in 2006 with the IEEE Higher Speed Study Group, which validated the needs for the next generation of Ethernet traffic. Ixia facilitated in developing the new standards, including prototyping the proposed methods for the new 40 GE and 100 GE physical coding sublayer (PCS). PCS lanes are a key enabler that allows today's component, fiber optic, and computer processor technologies to be used at high 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps rates. Ixia assisted in developing PCS lanes, a key component of the PCS solution.

Ixia's Involvement in HSE Development

As the IEEE P802.3ba standard moves toward finalization in 2010, Ixia's FPGA-based design strategy provides the flexibility that allows it to keep pace with the developing standard. This allows NEMs and other developers test to their standard-compliant products accurately and get to market faster.

Ixia's new 40/100 GE testing load modules are engineered to meet the testing needs of product teams developing 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s network devices. Ixia’s testing solution provides both HSE speeds:

HSE40GETSP1-01 – 40 GE PCS lane compatible test port running at 40 Gbps.

HSE100GETSP1-01 – 100 GE PCS lane compatible test port running at 100 Gbps.

Ixia TV

Higher Speed Ethernet (40 Gbps and 100 Gbps) testing (00:03:16) - May, 2009

Alexis McDougall interviews Charles Seifert, Ixia Product Manager, discussings Ixia's new 40 & 100 Gig Ethernet test solutions.

40/100 Gigabit Ethernet Technology (00:02:30) - February, 2008

The need for higher speed Ethernet and Ixia test soltuions.

Library

White Papers

An Overview of Next-Generation 100 and 40 Gigabit Ethernet Technologies (302.62 KB ) - this white paper discusses how advances in data center technology and Internet usage have pushed enterprises to demand higher speed Internet connections.
Enabling 100 Gigabit Ethernet Implementing PCS Lanes (329.83 KB ) - In order to make 100 GbE immediately available, it is important that it operate in conjunction with existing, deployed fiber. This requires technology that flexibly maps a single 100 Gbps stream of data into a variable number of data "lanes" that can be used in bundles.