TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Demonstrates Unique 40/100G Ethernet Test Solution at ECOC 2009

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced it will demonstrate a next-generation optical transceiver test solution at ECOC 2009 that shows the 40/100G Ethernet test setup using a 40G CFP optical transceiver module supplied by Finisar. This new solution will prepare customers for the new Ethernet IEEE standard planned for ratification in June 2010. Finisar is a global technology leader for fiber optic subsystems and components that enable high-speed communications for networking, storage, wireless, and cable TV applications.

This is one of the many 40G/100G Agilent demonstrations at ECOC 2009 and it will show a Finisar 40G Ethernet CFP optical transceiver module controlled by Agilent’s PXIT line of products along with the new N775x high-density integrated optical multichannel attenuators.

Agilent’s PXIT modular family, unique in the manufacturing test industry for having both a combined bit error ratio tester (BERT) and a digital communication analyzer (DCA), can now be used for testing 40G/100G Ethernet optical transceivers.

The Ethernet ecosystem, which consists of enterprise networks and datacenters, the Internet backbone and Internet exchanges, as well as research and content networks, is under significant bandwidth pressure. An ever-increasing number of users with an ever-increasing number of technologies (FTTX, xDSL, WiMAX™) are accessing the network for more and more services such as YouTube, Facebook and iTunes.

The IEEE 802.3ba, the new Ethernet standard at both 40GbE and 100GbE, addresses this bandwidth pressure and is planned for ratification in June 2010.

CFP is a Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) that defines a hot-pluggable optical transceiver form factor to enable 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s applications, including next-generation High Speed Ethernet (40 GbE and 100 GbE). Pluggable CFP transceivers will support the ultrahigh bandwidth requirements of data communications and telecommunication networks that form the backbone of the Internet.

The new Agilent high-density multichannel attenuators combine multiple functions for setting attenuation and power levels, and power measurement at the same time in a small form factor to reduce CAPEX and floor space.

In addition, Agilent will display its recently announced optical test products:

• Bit Error Ratio (BER) Test for Agilent N4391A Optical Modulation Analyzer. This optical modulation analyzer tests 40/100G transmitters and links operating with advanced modulation formats, in addition to testing of bit error ratio (BER). The new BER Test will work with any PRBS and with user defined data to test special bit patterns which might cause problems in the transmission system.
• Next Generation Fibre Channel x16 Transceivers Testing. This solution provides precision optical analysis for current and future systems with the industry standards DCA-J and J-BERT. Experience calibrated jitter injection of random and periodic jitter required for receiver tolerance testing as well as using your choice of PRBS and user pattern sequences.

"40/100G Ethernet is indispensable for both the network core and for data centers,” said Juergen Beck, general manager of Agilent’s Digital Photonic Test business. "Agilent’s products for optical transceiver test are leading and designed to meet the challenges of these 40 to 100G Ethernet devices. With our optical transceiver test solution, we further enhance our PXIT manufacturing test platform for optical transceivers, addressing the need for reduced cost of test and providing the most complete manufacturing solution for optical transceivers up to 40 and 100G.”

Additional information about Agilent’s optical transceiver test solutions is available at www.agilent.com/find/oct.

A backgrounder on optical component test technology and Agilent’s test solutions is available at www.agilent.com/find/oct_backgrounder.

A video about the PXIT solution is available at www.agilent.com/find/pxit_video.

Agilent’s webcast series for Photonic Test, called "How to Be Ready for 40/100G Optical Networks and Components,” is part of Agilent’s Photonic Webcast Series.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Agilent N21xxB PXIT modular family with the combined bit error ratio tester (BERT) and digital communication analyzer (DCA) is available now at a starting price of $80,000.

Prices for the Agilent N775xA and N776xA Series range from $6,700 to $14,800. All models are available now.

Agilent’s Digital Test Standards Program

Agilent’s solutions for digital applications are driven and supported by Agilent experts that are involved in the various international standard committees. We call it the Agilent Digital Test Standards Program. Our experts are active in the Joint Electronic Devices Engineering Council (JEDEC), PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG®), Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO), USB-Implementers Forum (USB-IF), Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Alliance, Ethernet standards (IEEE 802.3), Optical Internetworking Forum(OIF), and many others. Our involvement in these standards groups and their related workshops, plugfests and seminars enables Agilent to bring the right solutions to the market when our customers need them.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company’s 18,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $5.8 billion in fiscal 2008. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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