Ixia Proves Data Center Testing Strategy at SuperComputing ‘09

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ixia (NASDAQ: XXIA), a leading, global provider of converged IP performance test systems, today announced that it will participate in multiple technology demonstrations in conjunction with the Ethernet Alliance at SuperComputing ’09 booth 1259. The demonstrations incorporate fibre channel over Ethernet (FCoE), storage area networks (SANs), server virtualization and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GE) technologies from vendors including Cisco, Dell, Fulcrum, Intel, Mellanox, NetApp, and QLogic. Ixia solutions power the demonstration with high-density 10GBASE-T and SFP+ test ports and converged data center test applications for FCoE and virtualization.

“It’s not surprising that the converged data center has become the focus of networking advancements such as media rich content applications being offered to larger audiences of well connected wired and wireless consumers”

Data centers are simultaneously experiencing major growth and incorporating technology to benefit from fibre channel/Ethernet convergence. Both factors have quickly led to the need for a 10 GE network infrastructure that includes FCoE, expansion of SANs and a virtualized data structure. The Ethernet Alliance’s demonstration, entitled “Ethernet: THE Converged Network,” demonstrates all of these technologies. Ixia’s XM12 chassis, award-winning IxYukon 10 GE load modules and test applications are used throughout the demonstration to test FCoE protocols, SAN performance, 10 GE switch performance and virtualized infrastructure performance.

“It’s not surprising that the converged data center has become the focus of networking advancements such as media rich content applications being offered to larger audiences of well connected wired and wireless consumers,” said Atul Bhatnagar, President and CEO of Ixia. “Our data center testing initiatives provide the tools that network equipment manufacturers, service providers and enterprises can use to develop, qualify and verify converged solutions.”

In addition to its participation with the EA, Ixia has collaborated with Arista Networks and Fulcrum Microsystems to test a high-throughput, ultra-low latency 10GBASE-T switch. Arista Networks will be showcasing its technology at booth #249. Fulcrum Microsystems solutions will be on display in booth #335.

Ixia’s test solutions allow equipment manufacturers, data center operators and storage vendors to assess the functionality and performance of their Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE), Data Center Ethernet (DCE), Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), and Storage Area Network (SAN) devices.

To meet these rapidly growing needs, Ixia utilizes hardware and software components which apply and measure test traffic. Ixia’s data center test solutions address:

CEE/DCE/FCoE – The convergence of Local Area Network (LAN) and SAN traffic requires a multi-level testing approach, from the physical layer through FCoE protocols to lossless Ethernet. Ixia provides testing solutions for CEE/DCE, as well as FCoE. Testing of these technologies will be demonstrated with Cisco, Fulcrum and Mellanox.
SANs – The explosion of storage capacity delivered over converged networks requires that large-scale emulation be applied to SAN components: CNAs, FCoE initiators/targets, and SAN switches/arrays. IxSAN™ tests performance and interoperability, without the need for costly large disk and tape farms. IxSAN will be used to test the performance of Dell and NetAPP SAN devices.
Virtualization – Ixia’s IxVM enables infrastructure performance benchmarking in virtualized data centers. IxVM leverages Ixia’s industry proven technology to generate test traffic from within the server infrastructure, determining a data center’s virtual infrastructure performance. IxVM will be used in conjunction with an advanced VM Server featuring QLogic converged network adapters (CNAs) – measuring VM performance.

About Ixia

Ixia is a leading provider of converged IP performance test systems and service verification platforms for wireless and wired infrastructures and services. Ixia’s test systems are used by network and telephony equipment manufacturers, semiconductor manufacturers, service providers, governments and enterprises to validate the performance and reliability of complex networks, devices and applications. Ixia’s multiplay test systems address the growing need to test voice, video and data services and network capability under real-world conditions.

Ixia, IxSAN, IxVM and the Ixia four-petal logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Ixia. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.