Single-instrument solution that conducts both performance testing and network monitoring - 27 March 2002

Single-instrument solution that conducts both performance testing and network monitoring
27 March 2002, Test & Measurement

Anritsu has introduced the MD1230A Data Quality Analyzer, that it claims is the world's first test instrument that can conduct highly accurate router performance testing and networking monitoring in one single cabinet. With the ability to measure nearly every physical interface and network layer, the MD1230A is an effective means for network developers to conduct both network performance and QoS evaluations. The MD1230A also serves network managers who must monitor realtime in-service traffic for bandwidth utilisation and impairments such as latency and packet jitter.

The MD1230A can analyse a full range of physical interfaces from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps through separate interface modules. Any combination of five interface modules can be installed within a single MD1230A cabinet. Additionally, up to eight MD1230A analysers can be connected in a cascade via Ethernet, all of which can be controlled from a single MD1230A. The number of ports can be expanded to a maximum of 320 10/100M Ethernet ports.

For network maintenance, the MD1230A analyses in-service traffic in realtime. The MD1230A can perform measurements on packet inter-arrival time, which is extremely important in mission critical applications such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and Video on Demand (VoD). Packet latency between long distances can be measured by using the MD1230A GPS option.

To monitor Ethernet and IP traffic, the MD1230A can conduct traffic monitoring of up to 64 dataflows in realtime. A user-edited 32 bit data pattern filter allows for the measurement of filtered traffic. Users can edit the packet data for each of the Ethernet, SONET/SDH, PPP, IPv4, IPv6, MPLS, VLAN, IP, TCP, and UDP protocols at full wire speed.

The MD1230A conducts full physical Layer 2/3/4 protocol analysis. The interface modules have a built-in 256 Mbyte capture buffer that does not drop packets, even at the full wire rate of 10 Gbps says the manufacturer. Each of the Ethernet, PPP, LCP, MPLS, VLAN, ARP, IPX, IPv4, ICMP, IPv6, TCP, UDP, IGMP, RIP, BGP4, and DHCP protocols can be decoded and the captured frames displayed.

Adding to the MD1230A's appeal, especially in maintenance applications, is the analyser's size. It measures only 320(W) x 177(H) x 350(D) mm and weighs less than 15 kg. The MD1230A is also designed with a built-in screen to view measurement results, and uses Windows 98 as its operating system (OS) for ease of use. The Windows 98 OS also allows the user to remotely operate the MD1230A from a PC across a wide variety of network connections.