Calabasas, CA, February 02, 2012 - Ixia (NASDAQ: XXIA), the leading global provider of converged IP and wireless network test solutions, today announced its participation in the first public test of a cloud infrastructure in conjunction with EANTC and Cisco. EANTC-independently led testing that showcased Cisco's expertise in providing the comprehensive end-to-end functionality required to deliver next-generation cloud data centers from application delivery through to core switching. The testing highlighted Ixia's unique ability to completely characterize a complex cloud network using several of its physical and virtualized testing solutions working together.

The success of cloud computing and the online applications it enables has brought about a new paradigm of user experience and expectations. Users now expect access to a wide range of media-rich applications and services, instantly, from any location. Virtualization makes more efficient and flexible use of data center resources, but increases the workload and complexity of server architecture and network infrastructure, putting new and significant demands on both resources. Add to this the security concerns and the ongoing migration to IPv6, deploying public cloud networks can be a daunting process.

Ixia hardware test ports (Xcellon-Flex AP load module) emulated millions of Internet or campus users in a next-generation IP network to test in various public/private cloud scenarios. Ixia virtualized test ports (IxVM) emulated realistic tenant application workloads on the "inside" of data-centers on Cisco's unified computing platform. Various network conditions in the wide area network were emulated using Ixia channel impairment solutions (ImpairNet). Testing showcased platform scalability when dealing with inter-VM East-West traffic up to 24 Gbps, as well as subscriber/client-based North-South traffic simultaneously. IxNetwork was used to validate IPv6 performance by generating traffic emulating large numbers of concurrent IPv4 and IPv6 clients, while IxLoad validated security polices in virtual environments and the performance of the video platform using real L4-7 application protocols.

Elements tested included Cisco infrastructure products, focusing on core switching and routing, aggregation switching and QoS, software switches required by virtualization software, virtual security gateways, virtual machine management, computing and storage solutions for application/service delivery, specialized video services features, and IPv6 transitional mechanisms. The event covered crucial aspects of cloud network deployment and architecture strategies, including:

• Cloud service delivery - Delivering quality in cloud networks is difficult due to multiple technologies and numerous boundaries from one domain to the next. To demonstrate robust service delivery, Ixia helped test QoS policing for mixed-tenant tiered services, demonstrating that service level agreements (SLAs) could be met as well as virtual machine security policies that support mobility across physical servers.
• IPv6 - IPv6 deployment is increasingly entering operator awareness as more of the Internet makes the switch from IPv4. In cloud networks, users and services cross disparate protocol boundaries even more often, requiring IPv4/IPv6 translation to scale dramatically. To demonstrate IPv6 translation, Ixia helped test simultaneous IPv6 client support as well as dual-stack scalability.
• Video service deployment - Cloud video distribution requires that the platform serves video content optimized for various devices, including set-top boxes, PCs, or mobile devices. Ixia helped test subscriber scalability, redundancy, and resiliency to ensure subscribers have a seamless multimedia experience.

Supporting Quotes:

• "Though still evolving and acheiving acceptance, public cloud networks are continuing to gain ground as a cost- and time-saving option for enterprises," said Carsten Rossenhövel, managing director at EANTC. "As clouds become a more common solution, their complexity and reliance on pre-deployment testing will only increase. Ixia's wide understanding and comprehensive testing solution was crucial for executing the tests."
• "Public cloud networks are complex and evolving architectures that must continually be evaluated for optimum performance and security," said Eddie Arrage, market development manager at Ixia. "This EANTC demonstration of a Cisco-based design, using Ixia's cloud testing tools and solutions, highlights the requirements needed for deploying a high-functioning and real-world proof cloud network." 

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About Ixia
Ixia provides the industry's most comprehensive converged IP testing solution - from the wireless edge to the Internet core. Network equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises, and government agencies use Ixia's industry-leading test and simulation platforms to design and validate a broad range of wired, Wi-Fi, and 3G/LTE networking equipment and networks. Ixia's solutions create real-world conditions by emulating a full range of high-scaling networking protocols and generating media-rich application traffic to validate performance, conformance and security of cloud, core, data center, wireless, and multiplay networks. For more information, visit www.ixiacom.com.

About EANTC
The European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC) offers vendor-neutral consultancy and test facilities for network equipment manufacturers, service providers, and enterprise customers. Primary business areas include interoperability, conformance, and performance testing for IP, MPLS, Carrier Ethernet, and Voice over IP-related network technologies and applications. For more information contact Carsten Rossenhoevel, Managing Director, at +49.30.3180595-0 or via e-mail at cross@eantc.com. http://www.eantc.com/.

This material is for informational purposes only and subject to change without notice. It describes Ixia's present plans to develop and make available to its customers certain products, features and capabilities. Ixia is only obligated to provide those deliverables specifically included in a written agreement between Ixia and the customer.