CALABASAS, Calif. -- Ixia (Nasdaq: XXIA), a leading provider of high-speed, multiport network performance analysis and network monitoring systems, introduced today the industry's most compact and comprehensive 40 Gigabit Bit Error Rate Testing (BERT) solution. This new Ixia Load Module is targeted to meet the needs of component suppliers and system vendors for the emerging OC-768 market. The Ixia 40 Gigabit BERT Load Module offers an innovative modular design enabling testing of 40 Gigabit parallel and serial devices, and can be operated from within Ixia’s existing 400T portable chassis or 1600T tabletop/rack-mount chassis."Ixia has developed a 40 gigabit BERT solution that will enable 40 gigabit component and system vendors to not only validate the performance of their devices, but also speed their time to market through advanced testing methodologies,” said Josh Goldstein, director of product management for Ixia. "Ixia’s 40 Gigabit BERT Load Module is the first to offer an SFI-5 compliant, 17-channel parallel interface, as well as a high-quality 40 Gbps serial interface. These interfaces share a base load module architecture and are enabled through hot-swappable modules, making the Ixia 40 Gigabit BERT the most flexible, cost-effective, and feature-rich test solution available."Manufacturers of 40 gigabit components such as MUX/DEMUX circuits, FEC encoders, SERDES, TIAs, Laser Drivers, and SFI-5 compliant devices such as optical transponders, need a bit error rate tester that delivers a high-quality input signal to the device under test and can analyze the received signal for the bit error rate, jitter, and condition of the eye-pattern. The ability to home in on problem areas found during transmission of specific portions of the PRBS pattern is critical to reducing design time and delivering a quality component. The Ixia 40 Gigabit BERT Load Module performs these important tests and automates much of the process through an easy-to-use graphical interface.The Ixia BERT Load Module is offered with a choice of input/output modules. For testing SFI-5 or parallel interface devices, parallel input/output modules are available which simultaneously transmit and analyze 16 data channels at 2.5Gbps and one SFI-5 de-skew channel. For devices with serial interfaces, serial input/output modules are available, with optional programmable frequency and amplitude and extended dynamic range options for those who require even more sophisticated testing capabilities.In a separate release:Ixia (Nasdaq: XXIA), a leading provider of high-speed, multiport network performance analysis and optimization systems, joined with the Internet2 consortium in announcing plans for a new University Equipment Donation program. Ixia, an industry sponsor of Internet2, will donate traffic generation and performance testing equipment to more than 40 participating Internet2 universities and colleges during 2002, with additional donations anticipated in 2003. “Testing is a fundamental step in the development of any new networking technology,” explained Guy Almes, chief engineer for Internet2. “In teaming with Ixia on this equipment donation program, Internet2 is assisting member universities to expand the breadth of their Internet research and development activities, as well as encourage hands-on testing and experimentation by students.” As part of its commitment to furthering advancements in Internet research and development, Ixia formed the Ixia University Partners Program (IxUPP). The University Equipment Donation effort is part of the IxUPP and is offered in collaboration with Internet2. Through the IxUPP Ixia also provides state-of-the-art hardware and software to several Ixia-sponsored university Test Labs for their use in conducting interoperability and performance tests of Internet vendor-ware. Current sponsored university test labs include: North Carolina State University’s Centennial Networking Lab, the University of Florida’s Network Services Interoperability Lab, the University of Hawaii’s Advanced Network Computing Lab, and the University of New Hampshire’s Interoperability Lab, Weber State University, and Widener University. Product discounts are also available to non-profit, academic institutions as part of the IxUPP. The initial phase of this program will include donation of IXIA 1600 chassis and Multilayer Gigabit Ethernet cards to more than 40 universities and colleges. Applications for the current round of donations are being accepted through September 6, 2002 on the Internet2 website at http://www.internet2.edu/html/ixia.html. Criteria for selecting recipient universities include: upcoming plans for testing of routers, switches or other Internet-related systems; requirements by researchers for traffic generation, performance analysis, or protocol conformance testing equipment; as well as use of the equipment in hands-on undergraduate or graduate student course work. Shipment of equipment to recipient universities is expected to begin in late September 2002.Ixia