Business Services Industry

TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Introduces Industry-First 32,000-Stream Packet Generation and Performance Analysis System for Network Device Testing

Business Wire, March 31, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2003

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today introduced its new packet generation and performance analysis system, the only system in the industry capable of simultaneous measurement of packet performance on more than 32,000 individual customer services per test port. Designed for developers and users of networking devices, including switches, routers and access equipment, the new system reduces packet testing costs and enables developers to verify the number of revenue-generating customers and services that can be supported per device.

"Agilent pioneered development of the industry's most scalable systems for real-world testing of core and metro/edge routers," said Dave Bass, general manager of Agilent's Data Networks Division. "Today, we are setting a new standard for packet blasting, with an industry-first, affordable system that is 128 times more powerful than before, providing immediate time and cost savings to developers of a wide range of network equipment and devices."

The system features an advanced protocol data unit (PDU) builder that allows users to quickly and easily create virtually any type of Layer 2 to Layer 7 test packet or frame, and apply any type of network encapsulation to it, including L2oMPLS, L2TP, GRE, VLAN, Frame Relay and PPP encapsulations. This permits developers to test equipment response and performance at any point in a test network with an appropriate frame or packet structure. Stream groups can be defined to rapidly create hundreds or thousands of streams of user-defined packets.

A graphical user interface (GUI) speeds the creation of thousands of customized streams. Traffic loads can be changed dynamically during testing, allowing users to quickly measure how varying traffic configurations affect forwarding performance. Billions of traffic flows can be generated per port.

New cards for Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit UniPHY provide packet generation and analysis capabilities, as well as advanced routing/signaling support. The cards also offer auto-negotiation and jumbo frame support. All new hardware cards are compatible with the Agilent RouterTester 900 platform.

Pricing and Availability

Hardware cards for 10/100 Ethernet through 10 GbE (LAN and WAN Phy) and OC-3, OC-12 and OC-48c Packet Over SONET/SDH testing are available for ordering. Per port pricing begins at $1,542. Further product and technical information is available at www.agilent.com/comms/RouterTester.> About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics and life sciences. The company's 35,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $6 billion in fiscal year 2002. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news.>