EXFO launches Layer 1/2/3 100G Ethernet compliance tester

May 14, 2009
MAY 14, 2009 -- The IQS-85100G Packet Blazer is a CFP-based 100 Gbps Ethernet test module designed to accelerate and simplify the development and commercialization of 100- and 40-Gbps Ethernet equipment.

MAY 14, 2009 -- EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. (search Lightwave for EXFO) has launched the IQS-85100G Packet Blazer, a CFP-based 100 Gbps Ethernet test module designed to accelerate and simplify the development and commercialization of 100- and 40-Gbps Ethernet equipment. The IQS-85100G enables transmission equipment and transponder testing teams to efficiently execute multilayer testing to rapidly validate physical-layer characteristics and accurately benchmark Ethernet/IP performance of their products, EXFO says.

A significant aspect of the IEEE 802.3ba draft specifications is the use of parallel optics, which influence the Layer 1 implementation and consequently increases the need for a test platform that supports all popular CFP-based client interface configurations.

Housed in the IQS-600 Integrated Qualification System platform and developed on an FPGA architecture, the IQS-85100G Packet Blazer is a CFP-based tool offering Layer 1/2/3 traffic generation and analysis features to stress and validate network elements and transceivers against demanding corner cases. At Layer 1, the IQS-85100G can test the physical coding sublayer (PCS) and perform bit-error-rate testing on optical or electrical interfaces. At Layers 2 and 3, users can generate and analyze 100-Gbps line-rate Ethernet and IP packets, as well as perform EtherBERT tests, all via a graphical user interface (GUI). With its range of test features, the IQS-85100G provides network equipment manufacturers with all the critical elements needed to rapidly productize and commercialize 100- and 40-Gbps prototypes with confidence, EXFO asserts.

To accelerate the adoption of commercially viable 100-Gbps Ethernet equipment, EXFO collaborated with Santur Corp., the first company to ship a CFP-based 100-Gbps transceiver with a reach that extends over 10 km. The IQS-85100 is the first 100-Gbps Ethernet test instrument that can be ordered with Santur's CFP transceiver. As transceiver technology becomes available, EXFO says it will also support additional CFP manufacturers and additional transceiver technologies such as CXPs and QSFP.

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