Keysight Technologies has announced platform additions to Ixia’s network, application and security test portfolio, which includes IxNetwork, IxLoad and BreakingPoint test solutions. Designed to simplify and accelerate testing for network equipment manufacturers, service providers and enterprises, these solutions support testing of emerging technologies such as TLS 1.3 encryption, QUIC video streaming, Microsoft Azure public cloud testing and IPv6 segment routing to simplify network infrastructure testing and enable end-to-end network programmability.

Key features and benefits

  • Common platform improvements ensure ease of use: Ixia enhanced its IxOS common test platform, which is the underlying operating system, to enable users to run the chassis management interface on an IPv6 or a dual-stack network. The company also simplified the platform with auto-discovery and bulk updates, chassis chaining across Windows/Linux and an enhanced multi-user experience in shared test beds. A new quick response code feature presents details about the test system with a scan from a mobile device for convenient asset management.
  • Network performance testing anywhere, any time: IxNetwork, a network infrastructure validation solution, enables network equipment manufacturers, service providers and enterprises to perform Layer 2-3 network performance testing. Users can now run the same rigorous tests from anywhere, at any time, through a new HTML5 web user interface. The lightweight user interface simplifies the user workflow, enables collaboration, offers flexible deployment and addresses security concerns with Windows-based applications. IxNetwork Web Edition combined with a Linux API server and a REST API Browser provides a streamlined, modern automation framework that accelerates testing, enabling users to stay at the cutting edge.
  • Testing that optimises the quality of experience: IxLoad provides scalable multiplay service emulations to validate application delivery platforms to help service providers and enterprises optimise end users’ quality of experience. IxLoad now offers complete support for TLS 1.3 including a symmetric pre-shared key and zero round-trip time for comprehensive TLS 1.3 validation. IxLoad tests video delivery services to validate scale and quality of streaming over the new Quick UDP internet connections. IxLoad Virtual Edition (VE) enables testing of application delivery networks and service chaining in virtual environments by simplifying test topologies and improving performance through rapid validation of virtual network functions and rapid deployment of NFV architectures running on private and public clouds (Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services [AWS]. IxLoad also offers a lightweight web user interface with an integrated REST API Browser for a simplified workflow and rapid development and execution of automation scripts in a Windows-free environment.
  • TLS 1.3 support for cybersecurity testing: It offers seven times the TLS test performance than its previous version, BreakingPoint application. The network security testing solution, combined with CloudStorm, enables customers to validate performance and security efficacy of TLS inspection devices with mixed applications and cyberthreats cloaked in TLS. The solution also supports the use of REST API and API browsers to improve automation and build robust DevOps testing practices for validation of updates and change management. BreakingPoint VE is now supported on Microsoft Azure public cloud in addition to AWS, enabling organisations to tackle cloud migration with confidence and optimise costs by testing their cloud performance and security prior to deployment. In addition, the recently announced BreakingPointQuickTest offers the power of BreakingPoint in pre-packaged test suites to rapidly evaluate the performance and effectiveness of security devices and assess the cybersecurity readiness of networks and devices.