Xena TimeSynch
For One-Way Latency (OWL) measurements,
synchronized traffic start and accurate timestamping.
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Ethernet Test Tools
XenaTimeSynch is a feature that enables multiple Xena testers to synchronize their local time to each other. This can be used for One-Way Latency (OWL) measurements between two test chassis, synchronized traffic start between multiple chassis and accurate timestamping of captured packets in exported PCAP files.
The timing network consisting of the Xena testers can be flexibly configured to support multiple scenarios. One tester may serve time to the other testers (and any other host on your network) using NTP or PTP. Alternatively, each tester can obtain its own time from an external NTP, PTP or GPS source.
XenaTimeSynch uses an advanced time synchronization solution called TimeKeeper from the company FSMLabs. TimeKeeper synchronizes the local time on each Xena test chassis and must therefore be installed as a separate service on each Xena chassis and is configured and monitored through the ValkyrieManager.
Xena TimeSynch Top Features:
- Wire-speed traffic generation and analysis
- High precision solution for chassis time synchronization
- Used for OWL measurements, synchronized traffic start and timestamping
- Can use any combination of NTP, PTP or RFC 868 TIME
- Legacy Xena testers can be retro-fitted with ValkyrieTimeSynch (GPS requires factory refit)
- Compatible with Valkyrie1564 (ITU-T Y.1564) test methodology
One Way Latency Reveals Hidden Problems
One-way delay and delay variation (jitter) measurements are important parameters for testing the quality of sevice (QoS) of real-time applications such as VoIP, telepresence and transactional services. High-level precision is required for both wireline (Ethernet access) and wireless backhaul networks for 4G (WiMAX / LTE), and typical SLA specifications call for unidirectional jitter below 1-5ms and latency in the 3-10ms range.
Service providers often use one-way measurements to check their SLAs, since round trip delay metrics frequently fail to identify QoS issues in asymmetrical access networks where download speeds typically exceed upload. Since a round-trip delay measurement aggregates send and receive path delays, unidirectional issues can escape detection or exacerbate troubleshooting efforts. One-way measurements can quickly identify and quantify these issues if conducted with sufficient precision and accuracy.
ValkyrieTimeSynch ensures the test modules can measure with micro-second precision. Both the ubiquitous Network Time Protocol (NTP) and the newer, more precise IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) are supported and can be mixed as appropriate for the network.
Xena offers a choice of two chassis 1U and 4U that can be equipped with an extensive range of copper and optical Gigabit Ethernet test modules supporting all Ethernet speeds 1GE, 2.5GE, 5GE, 10GE, 25GE, 40GE, 50GE, 100GE, 200GE and 400GE.
The chassis and test modules are controlled via Xena’s ValkyrieManager, a Windows GUI client provided for ad-hoc test execution, and remote management of test equipment located in multiple locations. Also included are standalone applications for automated RFC 2544, Y.1564, RFC 2889 and RFC 3918 testing.
Finally, an open TCP/IP-based text API lets users automate testing from any software environment, using Tcl, Python, Perl, VBA and Java wrappers to convert to/from the generic Xena Command Line Interface (CLI) format.
The Xena Networks test equipment can handle the widest range of lab-based test scenarios – performance testing, functional testing, QoS and so on – with a minimum of fuss.
Pricing is considerably lower than the industry leaders – especially when you factor in our policy of including 3 years’ free software upgrades and HW warranty, plus free training and tech support
Xena is repeatedly praised for being user-friendly. The hardware is easy to install and configure, and the intuitive software really does make life simpler for test engineers
Valkyrie reflects its Scandinavian roots – a quality product loaded with smart “no-fuss” features that delivers great value, from a company that sincerely cares about customer satisfaction.
Why choose Xena?
Xena offers a full-featured Layer 2-3 stateless traffic generator and analysis platform. It is used to configure and generate Ethernet traffic at all speeds up to 400GE, and analyze how network devices and services, perform in response, making it perfect for most lab-based data-plane test scenarios.
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