Keysight Introduces Velocity 4900 Layer-1 Switches for Test Labs

As the scale and complexity of next-generation network technologies increase, test teams face immense pressure to accelerate validation without compromising accuracy. Yet, many test laboratories still rely on manual cabling and physical topology changes, leading to underutilized equipment and preventing full integration into automated development pipelines. To address this physical connectivity bottleneck, Keysight Technologies has launched the Velocity 4900 Series. This new line of Layer 1 automation switches replaces manual testbed configurations with software-controlled connectivity, enabling engineers to dynamically provision complex testing topologies through an intuitive graphical user interface.

Automating the Physical Test Environment
The Velocity 4900 Series enables test organizations to securely share expensive or scarce laboratory resources remotely across different locations. By automating the setup and teardown of physical test environments, engineers can provision or recreate configurations in seconds rather than days. This capability improves equipment utilization, reduces the risk of manual connection errors, and expands overall test coverage. The switches provide true Layer 1 forwarding via an ultra-low-latency transparent switching matrix, and include port tapping for diagnostics as well as "one-to-many" traffic replication for broader testing scenarios.

High Port Density and Media Configuration
The initial release includes two models tailored to different infrastructure requirements. The Velocity 4902 is a high-speed automation switch featuring 72 QSFP28 ports that support 288 connections with breakouts, enabling Ethernet speeds from 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to 100 gigabits per second (Gbps). The Velocity 4906 is a high-density platform offering 288 SFP28 ports for speeds from 100 Mbps to 25 Gbps. Both fixed-form-factor platforms support port-based media configurations, including single-mode fiber, multimode fiber, direct-attach copper cables, and active optical cables.

Additional Context: Layer-1 Switching in CI/CD Workflows
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement.

In continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) software development models, code changes are automatically built, tested, and deployed. While software testing is easily automated, validating physical networking infrastructure—especially for high-bandwidth AI and 6G applications—traditionally requires physically swapping fiber optic cables between test generators and device prototypes. Layer 1 automation switches eliminate this physical bottleneck. Unlike standard Ethernet switches (Layer 2/3) that process MAC addresses or IP packets and introduce switching latency, a true Layer 1 switch acts as a transparent electrical or optical crosspoint. It forwards raw bitstreams without interpreting the protocol, ensuring deterministic, ultra-low latency. This transparency allows test instruments to "see" the Device Under Test (DUT) exactly as if they were connected by a direct physical patch cable, enabling automated zero-touch physical layer validation within a CI/CD pipeline.

Edited by industrial journalist Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.

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