Keysight debuts industry’s most versatile 1.6T Platform

Keysight Technologies the Interconnect Test System (ITS), an advanced software solution, and the Interconnect and Network Performance Tester 1600GE (INPT-1600GE) hardware traffic emulator it runs on. This cohesive solution validates AI infrastructure, network components, and data center interconnects from 200GE to 1600GE, expanding on the capabilities of the recently announced Interconnect and Network Performance Tester 800GE benchtop. The ITS software runs on both the 800GE and 1600GE Interconnect and Network Performance Tester platforms.

For decades, validating network interconnect performance required a manual, time-consuming process with limited or no automation and needed advanced programming skills to write scripts. That process also lacked a centralized system to organize and store interconnect data and reports, making tracking and replicating tests and configurations difficult. With the increasing diversity and scale of AI and data center interconnects, these traditional test methods cannot accurately predict and measure the reliability of today’s complex production networks.

The new Interconnect and Network Performance Tester 1600GE, with ITS software, delivers a holistic system that can organize, store, and use data intelligently to automate interconnect validation in high-speed Ethernet networks and AI data centers. Benefits of the solution include:

Adaptable and versatile high-speed Ethernet platform – The INPT-1600GE platform is lightweight and office quiet, supporting high power consumption optical receivers up to 40 watts. Available as a portable benchtop unit or rackmount chassis, both models support 1x1600GE, 2x800GE, 4x400GE, and 8x200GE to validate a broad range of Ethernet devices and interconnects that use 212Gb/s electrical lane interfaces. The benchtop model has a built-in handle for easy movement inside or outside the lab. The INPT-1600GE assesses the reliability, stability, and interoperability of silicon chips, optical transceivers, active cables, and networking equipment at speeds from 200GE to 1600GE PAM4 for layers 1 through 3 on any port.

Redefines interconnect data storage and organization – The ITS software includes a first-of-its-kind, US patent pending Interconnect Library (IL) that introduces a new way to organize, retrieve, and use interconnect data, including Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS) data. CMIS standardizes how high-speed interconnects are programmed and how the data is retrieved and used in networking systems. This cutting-edge library organizes all data and creates a comprehensive record that can be used to create and execute new tests. Once a record is created, it is automatically added to the IL self-serve database, where users can retrieve, reuse, edit, and update records. This dramatically increases productivity and accelerates the creation of automated test suites without advanced programming.

Optimize interconnect validation efficiency – The browser-based ITS software includes a robust and fast graphical user interface (GUI) that allows multiple users to simultaneously run or schedule tests using the application’s advanced multi-user test scheduler. Using this tool increases test case throughput, allowing more tests to run unattended by a greater number of users.

Automated report generator – Allows users to report on all the data from the IL records, including test results and CMIS data that includes PASS/FAIL information. This helps streamline the development process for interconnects and can also be used for manufacturing test applications using automated reports.