Keysight Technologies is actively responding to the demand for optical interconnects (fiber and cable) and 800GE Ethernet interconnects required to build rapidly growing AI, machine learning (ML), and HPC network infrastructure.

Keysight has launched the 'Interconnect and Network Performance Tester 800GE Solution', a test and validation platform that provides multi-port, multi-user, and various speeds for testing artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), data center interconnect (DCI), and network infrastructure.

Demand for optical interconnects (fiber and cable) and 800GE Ethernet interconnects required to build AI, machine learning (ML), and HPC network infrastructure is growing rapidly, and the DCI market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.6% through 2030, according to Grand View Research.

To support this growth, data center providers are focusing on latency, throughput, operational simplicity, intelligence, and security. Testing is critical because manufacturers and end users of silicon chips, optical transceivers, cables, and networking equipment trust that their products have been stress-tested in real-world environments that realistically simulate how they will perform in real-world networks.

The 800GE Benchtop Interconnect and Network Performance Tester delivers new capabilities in a quiet, portable, energy-efficient platform that addresses the unique test requirements of network equipment manufacturers, silicon chip (ASIC), optics and cable manufacturers, cloud service providers, and data center operators.

The system is lightweight and portable, with a built-in handle for easy transport within the lab or to other labs. Manufacturers can take the unit to events or customer sites to demonstrate product testing processes, unlike traditional rack-mounted test systems that are difficult to move. It also provides office-level quiet operation, with noise levels of just 60 dBA. It supports high-power optical receivers that consume up to 30 watts.

The system offers 2-port or 4-port models with multi-user, multi-port, and variable speeds, and allows 2 to 4 users per chassis to run tests simultaneously. Parallel testing optimizes resource utilization and test throughput, reduces test times, and covers a wider range of scenarios and configurations. It can test Ethernet speeds from 50GE to 800GE PAM4 at Layers 1 to 3 on all ports.

Keysight's IxExplorer software is bundled with the 'Interconnect and Network Performance Tester 800GE Benchtop' chassis and provides hardware management through an intuitive, easy-to-use graphical user interface. This GUI allows multiple users to operate remotely simultaneously by connecting a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, or by connecting the computers to a test network.

IxNetwork software can be used to simulate realistic network traffic and control plane protocols on hardware platforms, providing an automated test system for benchmarking the performance and scale of layer 2 and 3 network devices and protocols.

The platform leverages Keysight’s AI Data Center solution to accelerate AI training completion times and reduce costs. It emulates large-scale workloads, provides insights into collective communication performance, and simplifies the benchmarking process with flexible simulation-based testing and pre-packaged applications.

“The rapid growth of AI and HPC infrastructure is driving unprecedented demand for innovative test solutions, and Keysight is committed to leading this effort,” said Ram Periakaruppan, vice president and general manager of Keysight’s network test and security solutions. “The new 800GE benchtop system is a significant leap forward, enabling the industry to confidently validate and deploy the next generation of high-speed networks.”

“With the growing demand for high-performance solutions in AI, HPC and ML, Luxshare’s collaboration with Keysight paves the way for future innovation,” said Mike Gao, general manager of Luxshare-Tech’s Optical Business Unit. “The combined expertise of our two companies is creating advanced products that meet evolving customer needs, including the 800G DR8 LPO transceiver, which enables higher data rates and performance with constrained power consumption (less than 8W).”