SEPTEMBER 7, 2006 -- MRV Communications (search MRV) has announced a partnership with Spirent Communications (search Spirent Communications) to incorporate MRV's Media Cross Connect and LX 4000T console server into the Spirent Test Automation Lab.
The Spirent Test Automation Lab integrates test lab inventory control, configuration management, scheduling, test planning, test execution, and reporting for local, distributed, or fully automated remote control. It allows for complex tests to be performed repeatedly--using fully automated hardware setup and software configuration--to deliver consistent results, quickly isolate problems, and ensure a successful product or service launch, say Spirent representatives. The Automation Lab also supports reusability of test procedures through the full life cycle, from development to manufacturing. The benefit to test labs is improved test efficiency over manual lab configuration, potentially saving carriers, enterprises, and network equipment manufacturers millions of dollars in costs, claims the test vendor.
A key component of lab automation is fiber-optic connectivity that is configurable and scalable as well as console control over key pieces of hardware. The MRV Media Cross Connect provides the connectivity, supporting a range of network protocols, from low-speed to 10-Gigabit Ethernet and 4-Gigabit Fibre Channel devices. MRV reports that its complete out-of-band management system based on its LX 4000T console server empowers the Spirent Test Automation Lab with complete, secure, out-of-band control of hardware and the ability to power cycle the equipment if it freezes up for any reason.
"Our goal with the Spirent Test Automation Lab is to usher in the next generation of lab management-streamlining test lab procedures to help our customers reap great savings from the increased efficiency," explains Neil Anderson, vice president of global services for Spirent Communications. "MRV is an excellent infrastructure partner for this program because its products are universal and offer great value, but also because the company is committed to this market, and it shows in how well they've worked with us on this project." I
"With experience in test labs of some of the industry's leading network equipment manufacturers and carriers, we're confident of the value offered by our solution in this application," contends NoamILotan, MRV president and CEO. "Our partnership with a world-leader like Spirent and its cutting-edge automation solution gives us additional market access and visibility and will help MRV to expand its share of this market."
The MRV Media Cross Connect is a programmable digital cross-connect that permits port-to-port connectivity using SFP interfaces and delivering per-port bandwidth up to 10 Gbits/sec with an overall system bandwidth that exceeds 1 Tbit/sec. With the flexibility of an SFP platform, the cross-connect supports multimode and singlemode fiber and both CWDM and DWDM, reports MRV. The cross-connect transparently supports any combination of communication protocols, including SONET (OC-3 to OC-48), Ethernet (10/100/1000/10,000), Fibre ChannelI(1/2/4), iSCSI, and evenIproprietary protocols.
MRV says its LX Series family of RoHS-compliant console servers provides redundancy and security features necessary for the out-of-band networking needs of both enterprises and carriers. Other capabilities in MRV's integrated Out-of-Band Networking solution include remote power management for intelligent power distribution and maximum operational uptime and sensor networking to provide control of the physical and environmental infrastructure.
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