TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies' Storage Area Network Tester Software Provides Breakthrough in Test Scalability through Device Virtualization.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers PALO ALTO Palo Alto, city, California Palo Alto (păl`ō ăl`tō), city (1990 pop. 55,900), Santa Clara co., W Calif.; inc. 1894. Although primarily residential, Palo Alto has aerospace, electronics, and advanced research industries. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 2003 Enhancements Allow 100X Increase in Test Capacity, Extend Test Coverage, Reduce Cost of Test Agilent Technologies This article needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :A) today announced three breakthrough enhancements to its storage area network (SAN) tester that increase its test capacity 100 times, extend test coverage and reduce cost of test. The new features added to the Agilent 1730B SAN tester are device virtualization An umbrella term for enhancing a computer's ability to do work. Following are the ways virtualization is used. Hardware Virtualization Partitioning the computer's memory into separate and isolated "virtual machines" simulates multiple machines within one physical computer. , host bus adapter See host adapter. (HBA (Host Bus Adapter) See host adapter. ) behavior emulation, and a capture buffer A reserved area in memory for holding incoming data. See capture and buffer. for failure analysis. As SAN fabrics double in size each year, testing them with actual servers and storage devices becomes increasingly challenging and expensive, reaching the scalability limits of traditional test methodologies. Device virtualization consists of emulating multiple devices behind each physical test port, thereby reducing the cost of test. The Agilent SAN tester's support of arbitrated loop A ring topology used in Fibre Channel. Up to 127 devices may be attached in the loop, but only two can communicate at the same time, reflecting the channel nature of Fibre Channel technology. technology allows emulation of up to 126 virtual devices behind each physical test port. Test engineers can use the Agilent SAN tester to emulate 2,000 devices in a 2U chassis, compared to fewer than 10 real devices using the same space. SAN fabric services can be stressed as if 126 physical devices were present for each physical port of the 1730B SAN tester. Each port can generate negative test through network exceptions such as link down or loop initialization in·i·tial·ize tr.v. in·i·tial·ized, in·i·tial·iz·ing, in·i·tial·iz·es Computer Science 1. To set (a starting value of a variable). 2. To prepare (a computer or a printer) for use; boot. 3. . Engineers can characterize behavior of each device by specifying how it logs into the fabric and registers to the name server, and how the name server is queried. This characterization is accomplished by indicating which commands are used, in which order they are sent to the fabric services, and what the parameters are. This allows engineers to extend test coverage and find problems associated with a specific device behavior. The third major capability added to each test port is a real-time protocol analyzer with triggers and filters for protocol debugging. Each test port has a 32MB-capture buffer behind it, allowing simultaneous trace on multiple ports. The Agilent 1730B analyzer differs from traditional protocol analyzers in that it supports triggering on fabric-performance events such as latency, misdirected or lost frames, and sequence errors. The analyzer's trigger also includes eight pattern recognizers that can be defined in a trigger event. Combining analyzer capabilities with fabric-performance measurements into one tool lowers overall cost of test. "In SAN testing, cost control of large-scale test infrastructures is key to increasing revenue," said Dave Bass, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Data Networks Division. "In one 2U chassis, we have packed more testing power than in several racks of equipment. Virtualization reduces the price per device by 97 percent, resulting in reduced cost of test." Product photos are available at www.agilent.com/find/photo_san-tester. U.S. Pricing and Availability The Agilent 1730B SAN tester is available for order at a list price of $32,836. More information on the SAN tester is available at www.agilent.com/find/santester. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 30,000 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: Sales information is available by calling +1 800 452 4844, ext. 7854. Please do NOT use editor contact or corporate telephone numbers for sales and product information. Information in this news release applies specifically to products available in the United States. Product availability and specifications may vary in other markets. If you choose to review this item, your readers will receive the quickest response to their inquiries by mailing them to Agilent Technologies, Test and Measurement Organization, 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd., MS 54LAK LAK In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Laos Kip. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. , Santa Clara, Calif. 95052. Further technology, corporate citizenship Corporate Citizenship The extent to which businesses are socially responsible in meeting legal, ethical and economic responsibilities placed on them by shareholders. The aim it to create higher standards of living and quality of life in the community in which it operates, while and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news. |
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