What’s the difference between traffic generation and network emulation?

Traffic generators, like those used in traditional performance tests, create protocol-accurate packets and sessions to assess device or application throughput. But they assume the network behaves in predictable ways. Network emulators intentionally introduce unpredictability (latency drift, jitter, burst congestion, loss events) to model the unstable, transient conditions of real-world networks. Tools like the Elastic Network Generator function as a network adversary, helping you assess how well infrastructure holds up under shifting traffic paths, microbursts, or degraded service links. Unlike static testbeds, the Elastic Network Generator uses a software-defined architecture to create scalable, time-varying traffic flows in both physical and virtual topologies. It uses the Open Traffic Generator API for consistent, programmable test control, making it ideal for CI/CD environments where repeatable, automated stress conditions are needed.

Why is dynamic network emulation essential for testing AI/ML infrastructure?

AI fabrics rely on tightly coupled, east-west traffic with stringent timing requirements. But most lab environments can’t replicate real-world dynamics like sudden link contention, route instability, or asymmetric congestion. Elastic network emulation fills this gap by allowing test teams to model how distributed training clusters or inference fabrics react to those disruptions. It reveals issues like queue buildup, retransmission storms, or failure to converge, all of which can compromise throughput and model accuracy in production. Elastic Network Generator is designed to make this type of time-varying emulation repeatable and scalable. By recreating dynamic network stress in a controlled testbed, engineers can evaluate cluster performance limits, tune routing behavior, and validate failover or recovery across multivendor AI infrastructures. This ensures AI/ML workloads are tested against the same conditions they will encounter in production data centers.

What kinds of network behaviors can I emulate that traditional testing misses?

Traditional tools focus on metrics like throughput and packet loss. But real networks behave unpredictably, especially under load. Elastic emulation lets you replicate: Jitter bursts that disrupt real-time voice or video Microbursts that overload switch buffers Path flapping or routing convergence events TCP incast scenarios in AI data center topologies These behaviors are rarely caught in deterministic testbeds but can cripple service performance in deployment. Controlled emulation of these patterns helps surface issues early.

How does elastic emulation fit into full-stack validation workflows?

On its own, elastic emulation reveals how networks respond to time-varying stress. Combined with traffic generators (e.g., IxLoad for L4–L7 or IxNetwork for L2–L3), it becomes a full-stack testbed. For example, you can run realistic user traffic while injecting congestion events to see how service quality holds up. You can validate an inline security appliance under DoS-like conditions while observing protocol resilience. This composable architecture gives teams the flexibility to emulate real-world conditions from the physical to the application layer, making it ideal for agile development, automation, and AI/ML infrastructure validation. The Elastic Network Generator is built to integrate seamlessly into this ecosystem. It runs on common off-the-shelf hardware, virtual machines, or cloud platforms, and pairs with Keysight hardware accelerators for hyperscale performance. Its unified architecture with IxNetwork ensures that elastic emulation can be combined with high-fidelity protocol testing, delivering end-to-end visibility from packet forwarding to application-level QoE.

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Dynamic traffic and topology testing for network validation

Keysight Elastic Network Generator is a software-defined platform that creates scalable, time-varying traffic flows and protocol sessions to validate infrastructure performance under realistic and evolving conditions. Designed for continuous integration workflows, the platform enables engineers to evaluate routing behavior, scaling limits, and multivendor interoperability in both physical and virtualized topologies, using the industry-standard Open Traffic Generator API. It integrates with IxNetwork and Keysight hardware accelerators to deliver comprehensive, full-stack validation from protocol layers through application workloads. Select a license bundle based on your test requirements and the number of seats required for your lab environment. Need help selecting? Check out the resources below.

Dynamic load testing

Generate variable traffic, topologies, and protocols to test infrastructure scalability, routing behavior, and performance under changing network loads.

Network protocol validation

Re-create complex traffic profiles and path diversity to assess performance, fault recovery, and routing efficiency across multivendor environments.

Software-defined emulation

Run on common, off-the-shelf hardware, in virtualized environments, or on cloud platforms with API control for flexible, scalable, real-time network condition emulation.

Test ecosystem integration

Combine with IxNetwork and Keysight hardware accelerators for end-to-end testing from protocol layers through application-level workload performance.

Number of concurrent users

1 to 16
Emulated interfaces

IPv4 (ARP / PING reply), IPv6 (NDP / PING reply)
Emulated device routing

BGPv4, BGPv6, ISISv4, ISISv6 (L1 and L2), RSVP P2P LSPs
Traffic engines supported

Yes
License options

Subscription - 1 year