Anritsu intros MD1260A 40/100G Ethernet Analyzer for lab, manufacturing, and field testing

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 By Stephen Hardy -- Anritsu has entered the multipurpose test platform arena with the MD1260A 40/100G Ethernet Analyzer. The MD1260A can be used to evaluate high-speed transmission technology performance -- including 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), OTU3, and OTU4 -- in metro/core transmission equipment optical module design and manufacturing as well as carrier network and data center installation applications.

The portable (8 kg/15 lb) MD1260A features built-in signal generation and analysis functions. These include 40/100G signal throughput, frame loss, BER, and skew margin. The analyzer can generate 40 and 100 GbE signals to evaluate transmission equipment and networks and offers analysis functions for troubleshooting transmitted signals.

An optional external 10-lane extender (for CAUI/XLAUI) supports standalone CFP module tests and fault isolation between the CFP and transmission equipment. Applicable test features and applications include:

• MLD 10-Gbps channel and 5-Gbps virtual channel generation/analysis
• 10-Gbps/5-Gbps lane BER, skew analysis
• temperature stress tests

Meanwhile, the D1260A can perform the following 40/100 GbE related tests:

• skew generation and monitoring (function for 40/100GbE skew adjustment evaluation between lanes)
• PCS Layer tests
• throughput
• frame loss
• latency
• statistics
• BER
• RFC2544

The platform is designed to enable interfaces to be added or removed depending upon requirements. Meanwhile, up to 16 MD1260A units can also be used in a master/slave configuration to evaluate multiport switches and routers, as well as to batch test multiple transmission equipment units. A Unit Synch function can synchronize the test frame time stamp issued to each instrument, as well as the timing, so the MD1260A can be used as a high background load generator to overload the networks in a multi-unit environment.

For OTN applications, the MD1260A can generate OTU3 and OTU4 signals to support such basic OTN measurements as errors/alarms and BER. MLD monitoring (for all lanes or per lane) and an OH monitor function are supported as well.

In the field, the MD1260A is designed to support 40/100 GbE, OTU3, and OTU4 network tests to verify connections. It also features troubleshooting functions so that network faults can be quickly located and repaired.

The base MD1260A analyzer is priced at $132,148. Delivery is 8 weeks.

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