Spirent Communications is a global provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technology such as Internet telephony, broadband services, 3G wireless, global navigation satellite systems, and network security equipment. Spirent’s solutions are used by more than 1,500 customers in 30 countries, including the world’s largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises and governments.

Feature: Video Q&A with Spirent's COO, Rob Piconi.
Rob Piconi joined Spirent from Alcatel-Lucent in January. Learn more about Rob’s leadership at Spirent and how he is helping to speed new technologies to the telecom marketplace.

Spirent Communications Products

Carrier Ethernet Testing
Layer 4-7 Test Solution
SPT-2000A, SPT-5000A and SPT-9000A Chassis
Series 1000 and Series 2000 Gigabit Ethernet Test Modules
High Density 10 Gigabit Ethernet Test Modules
Test Automation
Packet Generator and Analyzer Base Package
Unicast Routing Base Package
RFC-2544 with VLAN Network Device Benchmark Test Package
RFC-2889 with VLAN Switching Benchmark Test Package
IPTV Test Package
IPTV and Triple Play Best Practices
Multicast Routing Base Package
DHCP Base Package
PPPoX Base Package
MPLS/LDP/RSVP-TE Base Package
L2TPV3-DEPI Base Package
Multiple Spanning Tree Base Package
IGMP/MLD Host IP Multicast Base Package
STP/RSTP Base Package

---

Carrier Ethernet Testing

In the next few years, greater demands will be placed on Ethernet. Since the technology will be used in different ways compared with the past, every aspect of use needs to be tested for next generation networks. New products and services that will be introduced in the market are a revenue opportunity if properly tested for reliability and performance. Be certain how networks and equipment will handle the new applications and expanding traffic volumes that are just around the corner.

 
Layer 4-7 Test Solution

It is essential that the performance of your network infrastructure, security systems and web applications are carefully tested to ensure that performance goals are met. The Spirent TestCenter Layer 4-7 Test Solution is aimed at testing your network and applications

 
SPT-2000A, SPT-5000A and SPT-9000A Chassis

Spirent TestCenter contains multiple hardware and software components. There are three chassis, each of which can be populated with a variety of test modules. Each chassis is compatible with all of the Spirent TestCenter product line components; they permit “hot swap” on all test modules for easy service or replacement while the chassis is fully operational; and each can be easily remotely managed through an IP network.

 
Series 1000 and Series 2000 Gigabit Ethernet Test Modules

Spirent TestCenter offers a variety of test modules and a high-density chassis or portable chassis to meet all core technology testing needs. There are Series 1000 and Series 2000 modules with copper only, fiber only, or dual media interfaces. The dual media interface has both copper and fiber interfaces on a single module. 1Gigabit Ethernet port densities range from 2 ports up to 144 ports in a single chassis.

 
High Density 10 Gigabit Ethernet Test Modules

10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) has become the preferred technology for linking workgroup switches, managing large 1GbE link aggregation and interconnecting large enterprise networks. The Spirent TestCenter 10GbE test modules provide highly scalable line-rate testing of switches and routers.

 
Test Automation

Test automation is an integral component of Spirent TestCenter. Automation is integrated into each Spirent TestCenter software component. The automation framework enables test engineers to meet their objectives-achieving more complete test coverage and more consistent results with fewer people, who are not required to be programming experts.

 
Packet Generator and Analyzer Base Package

The Packet Generator and Analyzer Base Package is a Spirent TestCenter System component that helps network equipment manufacturers, service providers and large enterprises quickly evaluate and troubleshoot the data plane functionality and scalability of switching and routing devices and networks.

 
Unicast Routing Base Package

The Unicast Routing Base Package is a Spirent TestCenter System component that enables network equipment manufacturers, service providers and large enterprises to quickly evaluate and troubleshoot the routing functionality, performance and scalability of any routing-enabled device or network. Spirent TestCenter also has a Multicast Routing Base Package.

 
RFC-2544 with VLAN Network Device Benchmark Test Package

The RFC-2544 with VLAN Network Device Benchmark Test Package is an essential tool enabling network testers to measure the performance of Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches and the networks on which they will be deployed. A component of the Spirent TestCenter, the test package provides a framework to test modern routing features within the guidelines of well established standards.

 
RFC-2889 with VLAN Switching Benchmark Test Package

The RFC-2889 with VLAN Switching Benchmark Test Package is an essential tool enabling network testers to measure the performance of Layer 2 switches and the networks on which they will be deployed. A component of the Spirent TestCenter, the test package provides a framework to test modern layer switches within the guidelines of well-established standards.

 
IPTV Test Package

IPTV is a primary component of triple play (voice, video and data). It is the ability to provide television content and other services such as Video on Demand (VoD) to broadband subscribers using IP. A single broadcast can be sent to a worldwide audience enabling new types of service offerings and revenue opportunities. A common metric for IPTV is the ability of devices to switch channels quickly (referred to as channel zapping). Channel zapping helps determine how much time users wait for video (channel gap) and if there are multiple IPTV streams at the same time (channel overlap).

 
IPTV and Triple Play Best Practices
Performance, Scalability and Quality of Experience Testing

Spirent Communications is currently assisting service providers in the deployment of many of the major IPTV solutions in Europe, Asia and North America. Spirent is in a unique position to understand, accumulate and disseminate knowledge in this rapidly changing industry. Spirent’s engagement with early adopters provides an evolving set of tests, which are current with rapidly changing solutions. Spirent brings years of experience and contributions to standards-based industry tests to define maximum per formance, Quality of Service (QoS) and now Quality of Experience (QoE).

 
Multicast Routing Base Package

The Multicast Routing Base Package is a Spirent TestCenter System component that helps service providers, large enterprises and network equipment manufacturers quickly evaluate and troubleshoot multicast routing protocol and forwarding behavior and performance in devices and networks. It supports emulation of the most common multicast routing protocols, PIM-SM and PIM-SSM.

 
DHCP Base Package

The DHCP Base Package helps service providers and network equipment manufacturers validate subscriber scalability in an unmatched port density solution. This integrated component of the Spirent TestCenter simplifies large-scale test configurations to identify issues involving equipment selection, setting competitive service level agreements and planning growth with confidence. Service providers use the DHCP Base Package to determine the correct amount of equipment necessary for meeting their customers’ needs—avoiding over- and under-deployment.

 
PPPoX Base Package

The PPPoX Base Package helps service providers and network equipment manufacturers validate subscriber scalability in an unmatched port density solution. This integrated component of the Spirent TestCenter simplifies large-scale test configurations to identify issues involving equipment selection, setting competitive service level agreements and planning growth with confidence. Service providers use the PPPoX Base Package to determine the correct amount of equipment necessary for their customers’ needs—avoiding over- and under-deployment.

 
MPLS/LDP/RSVP-TE Base Package

MPLS enables revenue-generating services to be overlaid on top of connectionless IP networks, but the deployment of these protocols can be daunting and risks high if the service cannot be properly delivered. The Spirent TestCenter MPLS Base Package can emulate a variety of realistic and worst-case conditions as well as provide benchmark measurements to ensure a high-performance and stable base for these services.

 
L2TPV3-DEPI Base Package

The L2TPv3-DEPI package is a Spirent TestCenter System component that enables equipment manufacturers and test consortiums to develop tests that can quickly evaluate and troubleshoot the functionality of any Modular Cable Modem Termination System (M-CMTS) or Edge Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (EQAM) device.

 
Multiple Spanning Tree Base Package

The Multiple Spanning Tree base package provides the emulation of Multiple Spanning Tree (MST) Protocol as defined by IEEE Standard 802.1s-2002 and 802.1q-2003. This package works seamlessly within Spirent TestCenter, leveraging ease of use, interactive capability and meaningful results presentation. This module supports Multiple Spanning Tree functional and performance tests for Layer 2 loop prevention, load balancing and convergence. While the appropriate protocol messaging is emulated, Layer 2 traffic can also be generated to verify the device-under-test’s (DUT) port state and forwarding performance.

 
IGMP/MLD Host IP Multicast Base Package

The Multicast Base Package is a Spirent TestCenter System component that helps service providers, large enterprises and network equipment manufacturers quickly evaluate and troubleshoot host-to-router multicast behavior and the performance of networks and networking devices. The Multicast Base Package includes the emulation of multicast registration protocols including IGMPv1/v2/v3 and MLDv1/v2.

 
STP/RSTP Base Package

The Multiple Spanning Tree base package provides the emulation of Multiple Spanning Tree (MST) Protocol as defined by IEEE Standard 802.1s-2002 and 802.1q-2003. This package works seamlessly within Spirent Test Center, leveraging ease of use, interactive capability and meaningful results presentation. This module supports Multiple Spanning Tree functional and performance tests for Layer 2 loop prevention, load balancing and convergence.