GENEVA -- Polatis, the performance leader in optical layer connectivity, today announced the addition of a programmable shutter to the software features available on its ultra-low loss DirectLight™ optical matrix switches. The feature allows users to introduce repeatable, precisely-timed disconnections on multiple fiber paths through the optical switch with individually programmable shutter intervals between 10ms to 10,000ms.

Equipment suppliers, carriers and service providers need ways to precisely characterize network responses to routine line faults and major outages. Often, the ability of a system to detect not only permanent fibre breaks but also momentary service interruptions is key to assuring the highest levels of network availability. Polatis switches are routinely used to manage connectivity in system integration laboratories at line rates up to 100Gb/s and beyond.

"The new Polatis multi-port shutter function makes it easy for our systems test customers to validate performance of the network physical layer and control plane when stressed with single and multiple optical line faults," said Nick Parsons, Polatis VP Engineering and CTO. "Previously, it has been difficult, expensive, and time consuming to generate multiple simultaneous outages in today's complex optical networks. The programmable shutter feature greatly simplifies the generation of both hard and transient fibre faults to automate testing of network fault detection, reconfiguration and recovery."

Polatis Inc.