Spirent Communications Ensures Network Reliability at NetWorld+Interop iLabs; Adtech AX/4000 and SmartBits Validate Next Generation Technologies

Business Wire, Sept 22, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NetWorld Interop Atlanta 2000

Booth No. 7337

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2000

Spirent Communications, the world leader in performance analysis solutions, has been selected by Key3Media to provide network testing and analysis for the interoperability Labs network that will be featured at the NetWorld Interop 2000 Atlanta event Sept. 26 - 28, 2000. Both Spirent Communications' Adtech AX/4000 Broadband Test System and SmartBits(R) Systems were used to validate the network at the hot stage facility in Foster City, CA earlier this month prior to its deployment in Atlanta. Using Adtech and SmartBits equipment during the design phase of the network allows the NOC team to better understand the interworking of next generation technologies and better manage the network during the actual event.

"iLabs is characterized by its focus on leading-edge technologies," said Alan Sguigna, vice president of marketing for Spirent Communications, Adtech Systems. "Using the Adtech AX/4000 and SmartBits solutions, the NOC team can take advantage of capabilities that better showcase the various iLabs components and infrastructure."

iLabs is NetWorld Interop's live test-bed for the latest networking technologies in a vendor-neutral environment. It is the first arena to feature the latest solutions to real engineering challenges using a standards-based approach.

Use of the Adtech and SmartBits solutions helps establish the robustness, scalability and standards-based interoperability of next-generation technologies, such as those being demonstrated at the iLabs pavilion. The Adtech AX/4000 will be used in iLabs Core to provide in-depth traffic analysis, including trigger-based wirespeed captures.

The Core provides Internet and Internet 2 connectivity to the four arms of the iLabs: MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching), VoIP (Voice over IP), Multicast and IP version 6 (IPv6). The Adtech AX/4000 will also be used within both the MPLS and VoIP areas.

In the MPLS area, the Adtech's Protocol Passthrough mode will be used to insert hierarchical stacked labels, using various traffic distributions and loads, into established LSPs (Label Switch Paths) between LSRs (Label Switch Routers) at up to OC-48 speeds. An Adtech chassis also will be used to provide decodes of various protocols including SIP and MGCP for VoIP, along with the Adtech IP Wave Network Emulator determine the various effects of errors and delays on voice quality.

The SmartBits SmartFlow(TM) application is being used to measure the throughput and latency, sending traffic end-to-end from the network edge. Two SmartBits 6000 multi-port network performance and analysis systems will generate and analyze IP multicast traffic. In the VoIP area, the SmartBits 2000 with SmartVoIPQoS(TM) will generate and analyze voice traffic. SmartMulticastIP(TM) will measure the performance of live broadcast traffic coming into the event network from one or more remote location(s). SmartBits will also send background traffic measuring loss at Layer 2 to test the performance of IPv6 connections. Together, Adtech and SmartBits are providing a complete end-to-end testing suite for the entire iLabs network. iLabs is located at booth 1155 in the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. In addition to their iLabs participation, Adtech and SmartBits will also be demonstrating their solutions in the Spirent Communications booth no. 7337 at NetWorld Interop.

About Spirent Communications

Spirent Communications is the world leader in performance analysis solutions. The company designs and manufactures Abacus, Adtech, DLS, GSS, Metrohm, SmartBits, and TAS products to provide customers with a full-breadth of comprehensive and integrated performance analysis test solutions. Spirent Communications' solutions accelerate development and minimize the risk of deployment of new communications technologies.

Spirent Communications' award winning hardware and software applications are used by more than 2,500 of the world's leading network and terminal equipment manufacturers, network service providers, corporate enterprises and test laboratories to verify and measure the performance and services of networks and communications devices.

For more information on Spirent Communications or its products, visit the web site at www.spirentcom.com or call 800/927-2660.

Note to Editors: SmartBits, SmartVoIPQoS, SmartMulticastIP and SmartFlow are registered trademarks or trademarks of Spirent Communications. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.