EXFO, Telescent pair for monitoring, diagnostics of reconfigurable networks

Telescent, which produces automated fiber-optic cross-connects for data centers and other network applications, and test technology provider EXFO have partnered to combine their expertise. The combination has resulted in the addition of EXFO-produced diagnostic capabilities to Telescent’s Gen 4 Network Topology Manager (G4 NTM), an automated interconnect system. The G4 NTM can now provide proactive monitoring of network infrastructure leveraging a remote-controlled, reconfigurable fiber-optic patch-panel.

Telescent’s robotic patch panel system enables automated fiber management while EXFO’s remote fiber testing system adds visibility of reconfigured optical circuits, the companies say. When an add, move, or drop is requested, the Telescent robot grabs one end of the fiber and weaves it around the other fibers in the system to the requested port in a manner that avoids blocking or knotting, according to the company. Capacity can scale to over 1,000 duplex ports per system. Meanwhile, test equipment such as power meters, visible and infrared light sources, and optical time domain reflectometers (OTDRs) now can be included with the Telescent system to enable certification and monitoring of any fiber when requested.

The enhanced G4 NTM can be used to support metro and long-haul network infrastructure as well as data center networks, the companies assert.

“Combining EXFO’s market-leading technology solutions with Telescent’s industry-leading automatic connectivity platform empowers network operators to streamline operations with greater efficiency and accuracy for metro and long-haul connectivity,” said Mark Nixon, senior vice-president, adaptive service assurance at EXFO. “We are committed to transforming the way companies deploy network infrastructure - empowering the future of software-defined network automation - wherever networks are deployed.”

“With EXFO, Telescent is bringing even more network diagnostic solutions to our customers, further enhancing remote monitoring, management, and enabling automatic cross connects to advance the way companies deploy and manage new network routes,” added Anthony Kewitsch, CEO of Telescent. “It is exciting to be able to work with the best technology developers in the industry to bring the future of software-driven network management to our clients today.”

Telescent announced Mox Networks as a customer for its robotic interconnection system last November. “As a company that builds, owns, operates, and services dark fiber networks for large-scale bandwidth solutions, finding a vendor that streamlines the maintenance and upkeep of our deployments - while future-proofing our network - is of utmost importance,” commented Allen Meeks, chief operating officer at MOX Networks. “With most long-haul networks largely built 15-20 years ago, the opportunity to deploy Telescent’s platform in our brand-new network allows us to reconfigure all of our network infrastructure - on the fly. In addition, with in-ground cables getting larger, a platform with a high-port-count patch panel is crucial. By deploying Telescent along with EXFO OTDRs, we are now able to test and monitor traces and power measurements, marry the information with historical data, and gain near exact visibility into the quality of our network and operations seamlessly and effectively.”

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