ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Spirent Communications (NYSE:SPM) and (LSE:SPT), a worldwide provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems for next-generation network technologies, today introduced the industry's first 10-Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) over copper test interface based on 10GBASE-CX4, the IEEE draft standard 802.3ak. The test interface runs on Spirent's award-winning SmartBits 10-Gigabit TeraMetrics XENPAK module. Spirent's CX4 provides a low-cost alternative to today's more expensive optical interfaces, making it an ideal solution to help speed the adoption of 10-Gigabit Ethernet.

"As of today, 10GbE over copper will cover distances less than 15 meters. Adoption of CX4 will help drive further sales of 10GbE that will trickle down into further deployment of GbE up to the desktop," said Sean Lavey, analyst with IDC. "The adoption of CX4 will be an important trend to follow especially for large datacenter switching designs where some uplinks are short, up to 15 meters."

Used by network equipment manufacturers, carriers, and enterprises to test and deploy switches and servers, Spirent's new 10GbE over copper test interface provides automated performance and interoperability testing and provides multiple key measurements such as packet loss, latency, frame sequencing and load balance. The 10GbE over copper interface is the latest addition to Spirent's award-winning 10GbE test system family, designed to accelerate the deployment of 10GbE technology with wire-rate traffic generation, measurement, statistical analysis and data capture.

"Spirent has taken the lead to develop a 10Gig Copper test interface that will help us ensure 10GBASE-CX4 compliance with Broadcom's high-speed BCM8022 Retimer and XGS Switching products to the draft IEEE802.3ak standard," said Mike Furlong, SerDes product line manager at Broadcom Corp. "We view 10GBASE-CX4 as the ideal choice for low-cost, high-speed uplinks on 10/100/1000Mbps stackable switches in the wiring closet or Enterprise data center."

With its 10GbE copper test interface, Spirent continues to supply the 10-Gigabit Ethernet market with comprehensive testing. Because the 10GBASE-CX4 upper layer interface definition is similar to the earlier IEEE 802.3ae standard of 2001, vendors will be able to bring low cost 10GbE over copper interfaces to market faster.

"The introduction of the 10GBASE-CX4 compliant test solution further proves that Spirent is committed to being first-to-market with innovative 10GbE test systems that will help our customers accelerate the deployment and use of the low-cost 10GBASE-CX4 interface," said Mark Fishburn, vice president of technical strategy, Spirent Communications.

Spirent's performance analysis systems are used by network equipment manufacturers and service providers worldwide. Spirent's test solutions simulate real-world conditions in the lab to test network equipment and applications prior to deployment in a real network. These test solutions cover every element of a telecommunications network, from LAN switch devices to web applications, mobile handsets to global positioning systems, and from converged networks to simulated carrier networks. Spirent's solutions allow customers to reduce time-to-market for new services and equipment, lower development costs and minimize risk, and improve interoperability and scalability.

Spirent Communications