AresONE-S-400GE6 QSFP-DD High-Density 8-Port Test System

Challenge: Testing All PAM4 and NRZ Speeds

8x56 Gb/s electrical interface, PAM4 encoded technology is becoming popular with 400GE adoption. Most switch ASICs now support this new PAM4 modulation along with the legacy NRZ encoding that is used for lower-speed technologies — easing the transition from 100GE to 400GE. Testing all seven speeds from 10GE to 400GE on these platforms has become a new challenge. Bandwidth requirements for internet applications is driving the need of testing line rate traffic of 3.2, 6.4, 12.8, 25.6 and now 51.2 Tbps ASICs. 

Keysight has extended its AresONE 400GE network test platforms to address these evolving market needs.

Solution: All-in-one Test Platform with 8-port Density and 7 Speeds

With first-to-market solutions, both AresONE and AresONE High Performance 400GE solutions have established significant footprint in the networking equipment industry as enablers for testing bleedingedge, high scale, 400GE technology. AresONE-S 400GE is our latest addition to the AresONE family of high-speed Ethernet product lines.

AresONE-S doubles the density of AresONE 400GE in the same 2RU fixed chassis form factor. A staggering 6.4 Tbps traffic generation capability, stackable to build higher-throughput test beds gives you a future-proof test platform that can grow with your needs. It enables testing 7 speeds in the same platform with each port capable of the following speeds:

AresONE-S enables testing 7 speeds in the same platform with each port capable of the following speeds:

• PAM4 Speeds: 1x400, 2x200, 4x100, 8x50GE
• NRZ Speeds: 2x100, 4x50, 2x40, 8x25, 8x10GE

Pay as you Grow — Full and Reduced, Speed Variants, All Field Upgradeable

AresONE-S 8-port fixed chassis are available in 4-port and 8-port with full- and reduced-performance model selections:

8-port hardware chassis

• IXIA, AresONE S400GD-8PHW-8P-QDD, High Density, 8-port, full performance fixed chassis model with native QSFP-DD 400GE (PAM4) physical interfaces and L1-3 support (944-1302) 
• IXIA, AresONE S400GDR-8PHW-8P-QDD, High Density, 8-port, reduced performance fixed chassis model with native QSFP-DD 400GE (PAM4) physical interfaces and L1-3 support (944-1303)

4-ports enabled on the 8-port hardware chassis 

• IXIA, AresONE S400GD-8PHW-4P-QDD, High Density, 4-port, full performance fixed chassis model with native QSFP-DD 400GE (PAM4) physical interfaces and L1-3 support (944-1304) 
• IXIA, AresONE S400GDR-8PHW-4P-QDD, High Density, 4-port, reduced performance fixed chassis model with native QSFP-DD 400GE (PAM4) physical interfaces and L1-3 support (944-1305)

Keeping with the trend set by the earlier generation of AresONE 400GE, next generation AresONE-S offers flexibility for upgrades based on need. In addition to being field upgradable from reduced to full performance, users can field-upgrade from the 4-port configuration to the 8-port configuration and add on PAM4 and/or NRZ speeds.

Highlights

• AresONE-S 8 port model enables affordable low port count and highdensity testing in a single 2 RU fixed chassis platform
• 3.2 Tbps of line-rate traffic, with option to synchronize multiple chassis to test 25.6 Tbps and beyond switching platforms
• One platform for all 7 speeds: 400/200/100/50/40/25/10GE with PAM4 and NRZ signaling
• Complete L2/3 protocols emulation coverage, scale, and performance with Ixia’s IxNetwork software application
• Flexible bundle options for port and performance upgrades, to extend your investment
• Improve your interoperability, link stability and robustness testing with Keysightdeveloped intellectual property for the critical test elements of 400GE: MAC, PCS, FEC symbol error correction distribution, FEC error injection and statistics, and PAM4 / NRZ Rx Eye Histogram analysis