Isocore Test Validates Extreme Scalability of Ixia's Highest Density Gigabit Ethernet Solution

Business Wire, Dec 4, 2007

A Single Load Module Scales to More than 11 Million Routes Across 800 Emulated Routers

CALABASAS, Calif. -- Ixia (NASDAQ:XXIA), a leading, global provider of IP performance test systems, today announced that a single port on its XMV16 LAN Services Module -- running Ixia's IxNetwork[TM] test software -- has scaled to 11,582,100 routes across 800 emulated routers in an independent comprehensive test conducted by Isocore at its Internetworking Lab, located in Reston, Va.

The goal of the test was to verify the scalability and stability of the XMV16 module's control plane. The module's scalability was validated in what Isocore calls a "testing the tester" environment, in which a major manufacturer's carrier-class router was used as a device under test (DUT). Isocore conducted a multiprotocol scenario where four routing protocols -- OSPFv2, OSPFv3, BGP, and BGP4 -- were enabled on a single test port. Isocore performed the test using its unique carrier multiservice, single-port scaling, benchmarking methodology. Ixia's XMV16 LAN Services Module operated in its Optixia([R]) XM2 field-proven, multiservice test chassis.

"It is quite challenging to create an environment for testing test equipment with a DUT that can scale to the tester's capabilities," said Dr. Bijan Jabbari, president of Isocore. "The observed results demonstrate that Ixia's XMV16 LAN Services Module does indeed support multiple protocols in a highly scalable environment."

Isocore reported that this was a unique test where routing protocols for both IPv4 and IPv6 were scaled in the same setup and as needed. As IPv6 grows, dual-stack test environments are becoming increasingly important.

"The Isocore test results validate the scalability and stability of Ixia's XMV16 modules," said Victor Alston, senior vice president of Product Development for Ixia. "This test proves that the XMV16 modules are more than capable of validating the performance of carrier-class, multiservice switches and routers for network equipment manufacturers and service providers."

Ixia's XMV16 modules provide the highest gigabit Ethernet port density available. Each of the module's 16 test ports supports wire-speed layer 2-3 traffic generation and analysis, high performance routing/bridging protocol emulation, and the industry's highest performing layer 4-7 application traffic generation and subscriber emulation. A single Optixia XM12 chassis fully populated with XMV16 modules provides 192 Gigabit Ethernet test ports in 10 units of rack space.

IxNetwork tests complex network topologies consisting of thousands of network devices and millions of routes and reachable hosts. IxNetwork also provides users with the ability to customize millions of traffic flows to stress data plane performance. With its enhanced real-time analysis and statistics, IxNetwork is capable of reporting comprehensive protocol status and detailed per-flow traffic performance metrics.

To view the Isocore summary report for the Ixia Gigabit Ethernet LSM1000XMV16 GigE LAN Services Module (XMV16) Scalability Verification go to http://www.isocore.com/reports/ITD-12099-IsocoreIxiaXMVScalabilityTest Report1.6.pdf. (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

About Ixia

Ixia is a leading provider of performance test systems for IP-based infrastructure 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 IP networks, devices, and applications. Ixia's triple-play test systems address the growing need to test voice, video, and data services and network capability under real-world conditions.

For more information, contact Ixia at 26601 W. Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302; (818) 871-1800, Fax: (818) 871-1805; Email: info@ixiacom.com or visit our Web Site at http://www.ixiacom.com.

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

This material is for informational purposes only and subject to change without notice. It describes Ixia's present plans to develop and make available to its customers certain products, features and capabilities. Ixia is only obligated to provide those deliverables specifically included in a written agreement between Ixia and the customer.