Spirent Communications announced the SmartBits 10GbE Test System, responding to network equipment manufacturers' requirements for rapid and comprehensive testing of 10GbE wide area equipment and networks.

Spirent's SmartBits 10GbE Test System provides detailed testing of WAN/LAN interface Ethernet, IPv4/v6 and Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), as well as SONET Frame and other metro network protocols, creating the most comprehensive unified 10GbE test system available today. The system also offers a suite of up to 12 ports of 10GbE testing capability in a single chassis. The 10GbE Test System introduces 10 Gigabit WAN and LAN interface capacity per port, doubles test system density and a cost-efficient solution for manufacturers, service providers or enterprises.

Network equipment manufacturers (NEM) report that early 10GbE purchases have already begun to materialize, and they are looking to fulfill this market need with advanced 10GbE switches with increased port counts. Consequently, NEMs have an immediate need to test and deliver 10GbE switches. In addition, they have to scale production and testing of 10GbE equipment as next-generation services accelerate demand for 10GbE link aggregation and metro Ethernet services. Spirent has responded to this demand by introducing the SmartBits 10GbE system to market within just seven months of initial development. NEM product verification teams and carrier technology labs are ideal candidates to take immediate advantage of SmartBits' lower price and higher density capabilities to validate product performance and/or new service offering performance based on 10GbE technology.

"The introduction of the 10GbE capabilities reflects customers' evolving testing needs," said Mark Fishburn, vice president of technical strategy for Spirent Communications. "One port per slot now doubles port density over previous solutions. Furthermore, 10GbE LAN and WAN interfaces enable network equipment vendors to conduct comprehensive testing of Main Distribution Facility (MDF) applications as well as emerging 10GbE services -- all with a single system."

Spirent's SmartBits 10GbE Test System incorporates two new modules -- the XFP- 3720A and XFP-3721A , both of which provide 10-Gbps wire-rate traffic generation, analysis, and capture that conforms to the new draft standard for 10-Gigabit Ethernet defined by the IEEE 802.3ae specification.

Spirent also announced the availability of 10GbE WAN mode features on these new modules.

"Service providers' and enterprises' demand for Ethernet equipment is accelerating as prices fall," according to a report from the Dell'Oro Group. "This trend is fueling service provider deployments of high-speed metro Ethernet technologies as a low cost and easy to manage alternative to ATM and SONET. High-speed Ethernet also provides an avenue toward reducing the costs of Packet over SONET (POS) infrastructure. Simultaneously, enterprise customers are welcoming Ethernet WAN interfaces because of their compatibility with internal Ethernet LANs."