The ability to test network and device features and functions is an important piece of technology development and deployment. RCR Wireless looks weekly at the test and measurement space to see what’s afoot. Â
– Spirent Communications demonstrated its new Spirent Velocity virtal lab environment for testing software-defined networks (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) this week at Interop, collaborating with Wedge Networks.
The demo included provisioning of virtual devices-under-test (DUTs) using Wedge Networks’ NFV-based security solution. The solution from Wedge, according to the two companies, is the first-ever demo of an NFV for Security (NFV-S) solution. Spirent’s Velocity solution, with its TestCenter Virtual and Avalanche Virtual products, “lets users quickly gauge performance and security in a stressed cloud,” according to the test company.
Spirent is also involved in the Open Cloud Project that was launched this week by the Cloud Ethernet Forum (of which Spirent is a member) and Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF). The project includes a dedicated proof-of-concept test lab in Silicon Valley, and initial work that is supposed to focus on application managemenr, security for the cloud, and traffic load balancing. The test program is aimed at building a foundation for “a fully inter-working cloud environment, and the advancement of best practices” according to the CEF.
—Fluke Networks says its new Application-Aware Network Performance Management (AANPM) solution is “capable of analyzing an enterprise’s entire network infrastructure—including wired and wireless, application performance and device interconnectivity, and in-depth path analysis all the way to an end user’s specific device.”
The solution integrates Fluke’s Visual TruView AANPM and its OptiView XG network analysis tablet (pictured at upper right), in order to eliminate the need to use separate tools with different user interfaces and sign-ons to figure out and resolve problems, the company said. Visual TruView is usually deployed in the data center, Fluke said, either as a standalone appliance or as part of a distributed configuration. One or more tablet can be deployed at remote or centralized sites and share data with Visual TruView to troubleshoot end-user issues or application performance, the company added, giving “detailed local visibility across both wired and wireless networks.”
—Anritsu launched a new traffic-shaping appliance to support 10GbE networks. The PureFlow GSX is designed to address the needs of cloud computing, video streaming and other high-bandwidth services. The test company also has a new president of its U.S. subsidiary. Wade Hulon was named to that position this week.
—Â Ixia is launching the first phase of a global partner program to build a network of resellers that will have access to its Visibility Architecture solutions. The Channel Xcelerate program includes its current partners as well as the partner network of Net Optics Inc., which Ixia recently acquired.
–Rohde & Schwarz is having its fifth annual LTE Innovation Summit next week in San Diego. I’ll be moderating a panel on over-the-air testing on day two. If you’ll be attending, expect some great in-depth discussions on various testing topics.
