Infrastructure testing proves out at N+I
With the emergence of 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a wireless networking, new content-sensitive routers and load balancers, and ever-expanding server demands, enterprise infrastructure test equipment has become more critical than ever.
The importance of such equipment was underlined by major announcements by two leading test equipment vendors, Spirent Communications (www.spirentcom.com) and Ixia (www.ixia.com) at NetWorld+Interop in Las Vegas this week.
Each company is shipping new 10 Gigabit Ethernet test modules, designed to test routers, switches, and other Ethernet infrastructure products for proper operation and configuration. Each demonstrated new Layer 7 modules designed to test load balancers, servers, and accelerators. Spirent also showed a new line of Fibre Channel modules for testing storage area network equipment.
One top item in Spirent's showcase of new test modules was the result of the company's relationship with Caw Networks, announced last fall. Initially, the relationship meant that Spirent would sell Caw's Layer 7 test products. Since then, however, Caw and Spirent have worked together to produce Layer 7 modules for Spirent's SmartBits line of test equipment. The SmartCaw test module supports HTML, SSL, FTP, and other related protocols.
Like Spirent, Ixia released a 10 Gigabit Ethernet version of the popular IXWeb test modules. Each of Ixia's modules contains an embedded Linux computer, which makes testing very flexible. Ixia also demonstrated its new Layer 7 modules.
Also new for Ixia was the company's release of an IPv6 update to the company's IxExplorer packet generation and analysis software.
Both companies participated in the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Association's massive 10 Gigabit interoperability demonstration. Their products were used to confirm that the products in the demo were actually operating at their rated speed.
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