Features - Enterprise Data Insights:

MaXXan, SPIRENT 1ST TO TEST 160-PORT INTELLIGENT STO SWITCH

MaXXan Systems Inc, an industry leading provider of intelligent storage networking solutions, and Spirent Communications, a worldwide provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems for next-generation network technologies, have announced the successful testing of the MaXXan MXV320 intelligent switch across all of its 160 ports. This industry's first test was completed using Spirent's SmartBits 6000B system, which allows simulation of real-world environments in the lab before deploying equipment or services into the live network.

The MaXXan MXV320 intelligent switch combines a director-class switch with an embedded application card that integrates powerful storage applications from industry-leading software vendors. The programmable switch scales from 5 to 320 ports and can re-configure Fibre Channel to FCIP ports. The industry's first ASAN (Applications-in-a-SAN) architecture of the MXV320 integrates business-critical storage applications that are delivered and managed centrally rather than being distributed outside the SAN.

Spirent's 1 and 2 Gbps SmartBits SmartMetrics Fibre Channel modules enabled MaXXan's engineers to categorize the reliability and quality of the MXV320 platform. The Fibre Channel modules for the SmartBits 6000B chassis emulated different attached devices such as servers and storage systems to deliver high quality testing in the most complex environment. MaXXan was able to fully-load 160 ports of the MXV320 to test various aspects of the intelligent switch.

"When running development and QA tests it is important to test the switch in a real-world environment," says Mike Witkowski, chief technology officer of MaXXan. "The Spirent equipment allowed us to easily test data throughput and fabric services scalability across all of the 160 ports. The successful results of this rigorous test prove that we are offering our customers an intelligent, enterprise-class switch with unmatched scalability."

"It was great to be part of the testing of this high-port intelligent storage switch," said Mark Fishburn, vice president of technical strategy for Spirent Communications. "The high scalability, reliability and quality of the robust MaXXan MXV320, which incorporates mission-critical storage applications on one platform, will allow end-users to extend their networks as their storage needs grow."