Ixia Advances Network Performance Testing with the Introduction of IxNetwork; IxNetwork Integrates IP Control Plane Emulation with Sophisticated Data Plane Traffic Generation and QoS Measurements.

CALABASAS, Calif. -- Ixia (Nasdaq:XXIA), a leading, global provider of IP performance test systems, announced today its next generation application - IxNetwork - for the performance and functional validation of Layer 2-3 devices and networks. IxNetwork builds on Ixia's highly successful IxRouter application and extends it with more powerful and sophisticated capabilities to meet the ever increasing test demands of Network Equipment Manufacturers and Service Providers. IxNetwork provides the Layer 2-3 cornerstone for a comprehensive Layer 2-7 test solution that operates on Ixia's purpose-built, single-solution hardware test platform.

IxNetwork incorporates powerful IP routing engines capable of emulating thousands of routers on a single network interface. Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Packet over SONET/SDH (POS), and ATM interfaces are all available. Configuration wizards and a highly scalable, grid-based GUI enable sophisticated protocol setup with minimal effort across many test ports simultaneously.

The innovative IxNetwork design features a highly flexible Traffic Wizard that provides complete integration of the IP control plane with the data plane traffic generation and results measurements required to validate the control plane and measure overall system performance. The IxNetwork Traffic Wizard is designed to create specific traffic types to validate the network paths set up by IxNetwork's routing protocol emulations. This validation is critical to ensuring proper operation of an IP network. All common topologies and traffic types are supported, including Ethernet, VLAN, Frame Relay, PPP/HDLC, ATM, IPv4, IPv6, Unicast, Multicast, MPLS, L3 MPLS VPN, L2 MPLS VPN, 6PE, and Multicast VPNs. Additionally, traffic streams can be created between the emulated sources and destinations with flexible one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many mappings. The Traffic Wizard automatically sets up the ability to track the performance of traffic flows defined by specific routes, IP QoS levels, VLANs, MPLS VPN sites, etc.

Enhanced real-time measurements include per-flow QoS statistics to track packet loss, throughput, and latency. Such measurements make it possible to detect device defects or improperly configured elements within the network. Detailed control plane statistics are available per emulated protocol that let users quickly troubleshoot protocol issues.

IxNetwork incorporates a Test Scheduler that provides unprecedented flexibility to introduce dynamic behavior into routed topology emulations. For example, the Test Scheduler allows users to program sequences of test events that simulate Internet instabilities and other dynamic behavior that can have a dramatic effect on IP network performance. These network events can include the flapping of emulated routes or routers, starting/stopping traffic generation, etc.

IxNetwork supports over twenty protocol options, enabling the testing of even the most sophisticated IPv4 and IPv6 networks. Supported protocols include:

--Routing: BGP4, BGP4+, OSPFv2, OSPFv3, ISISv4/v6, RIPv1/v2/ng

--Bridging: STP, RSTP, MSTP 

--Multicast: PIM-SM/SSMv4/v6, IGMPv1/v2/v3, MLDv1/v2

--MPLS: LDP, RSVP-TE, L2 MPLS VPNs, L3 MPLS VPNs, VPLS, Multicast VPNs

To learn more about IxNetwork, visit our website at www.ixiacom.com/ixnetwork.

Product available now: IxNetwork 5.00

About Ixia

Ixia is a leading provider of performance test systems for IP-based infrastructure and services. Its highly scalable solutions generate, capture, characterize, and emulate network and application traffic, establishing definitive performance and conformance metrics of network devices or systems under test. Ixia's test systems are used by Network and Telephony Equipment Manufacturers, Semiconductor Manufacturers, Service Providers, Governments, and Enterprises to validate the functionality 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. Ixia's vision is to be the world's pre-eminent provider of solutions to enable testing of next generation IP Triple Play networks. Ixia's test systems utilize a wide range of industry-standard interfaces, including Ethernet, SONET, ATM, and wireless connectivity, and are distinguished by their performance, accuracy, reliability, and adaptability to the industry's constant evolution.

For more information, contact Ixia at 26601 W. Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302; [phone], Fax: [phone]; Email: [e-mail] or visit our Web Site at http://www.ixiacom.com.

Ixia and the Ixia four petal logo are registered trademarks of Ixia. IxNetwork is a trademark of Ixia. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.