The FTB-1 version 2, available in standard (FTB-1v2) or Pro (FTB-1 Pro) models, is a light-weight compact test platform allowing field technicians to carry out dedicated optical, Ethernet, multiservice and radio frequency (RF) interference test applications simply and efficiently, thanks to its ultra-powerful processing and highly intuitive interface.
The growing demand for more bandwidth and the proliferation of data centers and inter-data-center connectivity is fueling the growth of 100G networks. Network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) are responding with solutions that are better suited to the mass deployment of 100G in the network with the inclusion of high-speed pluggable CFP4 and QSFP28 interfaces that lower costs and offer increased port density.
EXFO’s FTBx-88200NGE Power Blazer is the first test solution to offer integrated CFP4 and QSFP28 interfaces, making it ready for the 100G network evolution.
From development in the lab to troubleshooting in the field, EXFO’s FTBx-8870/8880 Power Blazer features a full suite of test capabilities with a range of technologies up to 10G.
EXFO’s EtherSAM test suite—based on the ITU-T Y.1564 Ethernet service activation methodology—provides comprehensive field testing for mobile backhaul and commercial services, including critical service-level agreement (SLA) criteria such as packet jitter and quality-of-service (QoS) measurements.
Key SLA parameters are measured independently in each test direction, providing 100% first-time-right service activation—the highest level of confidence in service testing.
Sequential testing of each service to validate that it is properly provisioned and that all specific key performance indicators (KPIs) or SLA parameters have been met.
Once the configuration of each individual service has been validated, the service performance test simultaneously validates the quality of all the services over time.
The FTBx-8870/8800 CPRI protocol feature verifies that a remote radio head (RRH) is fully operational and that the correct small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceivers are installed and properly connected.
Since most storage area networks (SANs) cover large distances, and because Fibre Channel has stringent performance requirements, it is imperative to test each phase of network deployments to ensure appropriate service levels. In addition to full wire-speed traffic generation at the FC2 layer, the FTX-8870/8880 modules also support:
The FTB-4 Pro delivers all the power of a high-end platform in a go-where-you-need field-testing tool.
Whether motivated by cost, power requirements, space or increased demand for bandwidth, pluggable transceivers are evolving rapidly. Predicting how long an existing transceiver will be required before another comes along to take its place is tough—making the obsolescence of today’s hardware simply a waiting game.
Another challenge is that network operators and data centers still need to support existing technologies, but also be ready to address new rates and technologies without always doing forklift upgrades. Whether we consider SFP and SFP+ (for rates up to 10G) or QSFP28 and CFP4 (for 100G) or SFP28 (for 25G rates), it’s clear that integrating all these into a network—as well as testing and validating them—is a huge task. The smart move is to allocate budget for versatile—not limited—solutions.
Introducing a new concept for the latest Power Blazer modules: EXFO’s Open Transceiver System (OTS). The OTS is an innovative, evolutionary design enabling any transceiver (now or future) to fit into an EXFO test solution. Benefits include:
• Experience ultimate flexibility—swap out OTS modules right in the field, lab or on the production floor, choosing only the ones needed for whichever applications, rates or technologies under test.
• Save tens of thousands of dollars by eliminating the necessity to completely replace an expensive testing module. Instead, change a less costly OTS module and extend the life of testing equipment.
• Support multiple transceiver types simultaneously with a future-proof architecture designed to handle both current and upcoming high-speed transceiver technologies as they are developed and launched.
From left to right they are: Dual SFP28, Single CFP4, Dual QSFP28, Sync
To keep pace with bandwidth demands, network operators are supporting higher transmission rates and data centers are upgrading both the capacity and number of their facilities. The industry standards’ bodies are pushed to develop more and faster Ethernet speeds, such as 400GE, to support trends like IoT, cloud, big data, and 5G.
Network infrastructure planners must deal with skyrocketing demands for more bandwidth, including in the data center interconnect (DCI) or even in core and metro networks. Network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) continue to push the limits of technology, developing increasingly innovative 400G solutions. Service providers are constantly expanding their networks, looking for more efficient and cost-effective ways to deploy those high-speed circuits.
Enter the compact FTBx-88460 Power Blazer modules. Offering a complete suite of 400G ecosystem testing capabilities, they address the requirements of early adopters and transition smoothly from in-lab innovation to testing in the field.
These new Power Blazer modules deliver an optimized and portable testing solution. Insert modules into the FTB-4 Pro for the most compact 400G solution on the market—easy to transport both within and outside the lab environment.
For rackmount applications, FTBx-88460 Power Blazer Series solutions are compatible with EXFO’s LTB-8 Rackmount Platform. Featuring the ability to support up to two modules running simultaneously, they are the industry’s only solutions that can test up to 800G—ideal for testing today’s complex and bandwidth-hungry networks.
The FTBx-88460 Power Blazer Series offers advanced Ethernet testing capabilities, including forward error correction monitoring and validation. The Power Blazer’s 400G Ethernet testing capabilities include:
Flex Ethernet is a key technology for data centers, helping them deliver links that are faster than emerging 400G solutions. The Flex Ethernet (FlexE) supports one or more bonded 100GBASE-R PHYs supporting multiple and mixed Ethernet MAC clients operating at rates of 5, 10, 25, 40, 50, 100 or up to 400 Gbit/s. It also supports sub-rate links (i.e., 10G, 25G and 50G) which are essential for data centers but also for carriers that need to isolate their traffic..
FlexE testing capabilities include:
The following transceivers are supported on the FTBx-88460: QSFP-DD (TA4), CFP8 (TA4), QSFP28
Whether motivated by cost, power requirements, space or increased demand for bandwidth, pluggable transceivers are evolving rapidly. Predicting how long an existing transceiver will be required before another comes along to take its place is tough—making the obsolescence of today’s hardware simply a waiting game.
Another challenge is that network operators and data centers still need to support existing technologies, but also be ready to address new rates and technologies without always doing forklift upgrades. New high-speed transceivers (pluggables) are being designed to be smaller and consume less power in order to meet the requirements of delivering high port density at a low cost. Whether it’s QSFP-DD, OSFP, or even COBO, it’s clear that in the upcoming 400G world, integrating all these into a network—as well as testing and validating them—is a huge task. The smart move is to allocate budget for versatile—not limited—solutions.
EXFO’s Open Transceiver System (OTS)
Introducing a new concept available on the FTBx-88460 Power Blazer module: EXFO’s Open Transceiver System (OTS). The OTS is an innovative, evolutionary design enabling any transceiver (now or future) to fit into an EXFO test solution. Benefits include:
Support for multiple transceiver types
The FTBx-88460 Power Blazer module supports the transceiver types listed below.
QSFP-DD support
OSFP support
CFP8 support
Consolidated data management and post-processing tool that increases reporting productivity for connector endface inspection and all types of optical-layer testing including optical link mapping (iOLM), OTDR, ORL, loss, PMD and chromatic dispersion.
EXFO Connect completely redefines integrated testing with its cloud-hosted solution. Equipped with a powerful database and application technologies, EXFO Connect provides an automated, secure environment that links together your EXFO test instruments and centralizes captured data across your organization. With its powerful correlation engine, EXFO Connects enables you to convert captured data into actionable information through customized test-data reporting and features that streamline test operations from build-out to maintenance.
EXFO Connect’s Test Equipment Manager is an automated application that centralizes the management of all EXFO test instruments. It’s a repository for software loads, licenses and platform profiles to help managers handle constant demands for software updates. It keeps track of equipment and ensures field technicians are equipped with up-to-date capabilities.
An automated application, EXFO Connect’s Test Data Manager provides a secure and centralized environment in which test data is collected, archived and referenced for future use. With test results at their fingertips, managers can create birth certificates, generate reports and set benchmarks. Plus, with database backup, no data is ever lost.
FTB Anywhere™ is a shared test licenses capability for the award-winning FTB platform ecosystem. This unique approach in delivering advanced test applications enables network operators to purchase a certain number of cloud-hosted licenses that can be shared instantly with their technicians, wherever they are. Operators can thus equip all their technicians with any required test functionality at a fraction of the cost of upgrading their full fleet of test units and simplify equipment-management logistics, while avoiding costly delays.
With EXFO Connect’s Contractor Mode, service providers allow contractors to securely connect their test sets to a segregated area of their EXFO Connect server. The contractors’ technicians can download test procedures, configuration files as well as other helpful information, like how-to videos, to ensure faster job completion. Once the job is done, the technicians simply upload the test results, making the files immediately available to the service provider. Consider workflow automation optimized.
EXFO Connect allows service providers to remotely control all their FTB based test sets. This is a very useful feature when a technician is having trouble out in the field and needs support. This feature makes all technicians, regardless of skill set, capable of handling any situation.
In Contractor Mode, service providers can also control a contractor’s test set. Since not all technicians have the same level of experience, service providers can step in and provide support whenever needed to ensure that they get the right test results.
These flexible, extendable application programming interfaces (APIs) enable complete workflow automation from work-order upload to test-data filtering and download. Service providers can accelerate work-order assignment and accuracy, and harness the full value of the generated test data in order to optimize network efficiency—all this in a highly automated, secure and centralized environment.
EXFO Connect enables you to improve business processes by managing your entire fleet of FTB and MaxTester units to leverage all the data collected by your technicians or contractors. The MaxTester 600 Series of wideband copper and DSL testers and the MaxTester 700B/C Series of handheld OTDRs offers a subset version of the EXFO Connect functionalities currently available for the FTB Ecosystem.
Network transformations are driving fiber deeper everywhere. This means that good enough testing is no longer good enough – inefficient, error-prone manual processes will take their toll on revenues. Did you know that admin and reporting tasks can take up half of the time of technicians on a field job? On the backend, processing high volumes of test results also ties up a lot of management time. With more to do in less time, reviewing results is often what is ditched first. When spot-checking becomes the only option, it is vital that you can trust your results, your technicians and contractors.
Consolidated data management and post-processing software to boost reporting productivity for connector endface inspection and for all types of optical-layer testing (e.g., optical link mapping–iOLM, OTDR, ORL, IL, PMD and CD)
