Ixia (Nasdaq:XXIA) unveiled the world’s first proof of concept 400Gb/s Higher Speed Ethernet test solution that will enable its customers to meet the growing bandwidth requirements of the ever-evolving data network. Building on the company’s market leadership with the first 40 and 100GbE testing solutions, Ixia has successfully completed the industry’s first 400GbE interoperability test with Ciena, a global provider of open, programmable networking platforms and software.
The 400GbE Jumpstart Test system provided wire rate packet generation/reception at 400Gb/s. By demonstrating this ability, Ixia is helping the market advance toward delivering a standard for 400GbE while extending its technology leadership.
Since ratification of the 100Gb/s Ethernet standard, global network traffic and bandwidth demand continues to experience massive growth. The IEEE P802.3bs Task Force is focusing on the new 400GbE standard enabling high-bandwidth solutions for web-scale data centers, video distribution infrastructures, service providers and new applications areas. The newest standard is expected to reach data-transfer speeds of 400Gb/s, which is fast enough for 50,000 simultaneous High Definition Netflix video streams.
News highlights
Reliance on networking permeates every aspect of our world, and bandwidth requirements from local area, data center, access and metropolitan area networks are expanding at double-digit rates. As technologies such as cloud computing and streaming video necessitate larger and faster data centers, equipment manufacturers must evolve beyond from 100 Gb/s capabilities to keep pace.
With the new 400GbE Jumpstart Test System Ixia continues to stay on the cutting edge of developing innovative networking technologies that allow our customers to meet demands and provide next generation solutions to network providers.
The Ixia 400GbE Jumpstart Test System is a developer tool kit to help network equipment manufacturers shorten development and test time, accelerating pre-standard 400GbE networking hardware. Now customers have the ability to create, test and verify the interoperability of their next Higher Speed Ethernet technologies while maximizing their 400GbE test investment. Key features of the 400GbE Jumpstart Test System include wire rate packet generation at 400Gb/s below the minimum and above the maximum Ethernet frame sizes.
Industry commentary
“Networks are evolving and growing rapidly, which means that we have to be proactive in developing quality products that help construct the networks of the future,” said Roger Carroll, Senior Director, Hardware Engineering at Ciena. “Ixia’s continued leadership in offering first-to-market high-capacity Ethernet test solutions enables us to develop next-generation network systems.”
“Networks are under increasing strain while expectations of uptime and speed are growing, and 400GbE technologies will quickly become a critical part of the network’s backbone,” said John D’Ambrosia, Ethernet Alliance Chairman of the Board of Directors, and IEEE 802.3bs task force chair. “Development for these solutions must happen long before 400GbE becomes standard, and Ixia’s development of the industry’s first 400GbE testing program will prove vital in ensuring equipment manufacturers can meet the needs of next-generation networks.”
“In an exceedingly competitive market, equipment manufacturers must deliver increasingly higher-speed networking solutions. We’re committed to providing the solutions our customers need to develop, test and validate the networking technologies of the future,” said Errol Ginsberg, Chairman of the Board and Acting Chief Executive Officer of Ixia. “Ixia developed the world’s first 40 and 100GbE test platforms, now with 400GbE, we continue to lead the industry in creating the solutions that enable the network to work every time and everywhere.”
