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Portable 800G Ethernet system to test AI and data centre interconnect

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October 14, 2024

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Keysight Technologies has launched a portable system to test 800G interconnects in AI, HPC and data centre infrastructure.

The Keysight Interconnect and Network Performance Tester 800G Benchtop is a multiport, multi-user, and multi-speed portable design and validation platform that

Demand for optical interconnects (optics and fibre cables) and the 800GE Ethernet interconnects for AI, ML, and HPC network infrastructure is dramatically increasing. To support this growth, data centre providers are focused on latency, throughput, streamlining operations, intelligence, and security.

Testing is critical for manufacturers and the end-users of silicon chips, optical transceivers, cables, and network equipment, who must trust the products they receive have been stress tested in a real-world environment that realistically simulates how they will operate in their actual network.

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The portable test system is aimed at manufacturers of 800G network equipment (NEMs), silicon chips (ASIC), optics and cables as well as cloud service providers, and data centre operators.

The platform is available in a 2-port and a 4-port model allows operators to run more tests simultaneously with 2, 3, or 4 users per chassis. Parallel testing optimizes resource utilization and test case throughput and minimizes testing time by covering a wider range of scenarios and configurations to identify bottlenecks and scalability issues. This capability is not possible with single-user benchtop test systems on the market. The system can test all Ethernet speeds from 50GE to 800GE PAM4 for layers 1 through layer 3 on any port.

The 800G benchtop unit is lightweight and portable with a small footprint. The built-in handle enables easy movement within the lab or to another lab. Manufacturers can also transport the system to events or customer sites to demonstrate how their products are being tested, which is not possible with existing difficult to move rackmount test systems. With “office quiet” operation, the audible noise specification is only 60 decibels (dBA). The unit supports high power consumption optical receivers up to 30 watts.

Keysight’s IxExplorer software is included with the Interconnect and Network Performance Tester 800GE Benchtop chassis and provides an easy-to-use graphical user interface to manage the hardware. The GUI runs on the benchtop itself by connecting a monitor, keyboard, and mouse – or connecting a computer to a test network for remote operation by multiple simultaneous users.

Keysight’s IxNetwork software on the benchtop hardware platform allows simulation of authentic real-world network traffic and control plane protocols. This provides end-to-end test system automation to benchmark performance and scale of layer 2 and layer 3 network devices and network protocols.

“The rapid growth in AI and HPC infrastructures is driving an unprecedented need for innovative testing solutions and Keysight’s mission is to champion these efforts. Our new 800GE benchtop system represents a significant leap forward in enabling the industry to validate and deploy the next generation of high-speed networks with confidence,” said Ram Periakaruppan, Vice President and General Manager, Network Test & Security Solutions at Keysight.

Dr. Mike Gao, General Manager, Luxshare-TECH Optical Business Unit, said: “As demand for high-performance solutions in AI, HPC, and ML continues to grow, the collaboration between Luxshare and Keysight is paving the way for future innovation. Our combined expertise is creating cutting-edge products to meet evolving customer needs, including 800G DR8 LPO transceivers able to meet higher speed data rates and performances with limited power consumption (less than 8W).”

 

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