The first 8 Gb/s fibre channel protocol analyser?

Finisar has introduced the Xgig 8 Gb/s Fibre Channel solution, built upon the Xgig test tool platform, for testing and analysing real-time traffic across all major high-speed storage protocols.

Finisar, a leader in fibre optic and test-and-measurement solutions for high-speed data networks, claimed the industry's first comprehensive 8 Gb/s Fibre Channel (FC) test solution designed specifically for development and testing of advanced storage systems.

The Xgig 8 Gb/s FC solution is built upon Finisar's Xgig test tool platform, a versatile and comprehensive tool for testing and analysing real-time traffic across all major high-speed storage protocols.

Backed by a powerful combination of advanced features and expert analysis tools, the Xgig 8 Gb/s FC solution accelerates the design of new 8 Gb/s FC equipment for SAN's.

It also simplifies troubleshooting when these SAN systems are deployed into enterprise storage operations.

Fibre channel is expected to dominate SAN infrastructures in most data centres well beyond 2010.

With the availability of 8 Gb/s FC, OEMs can deliver more performance and new capabilities which will enable a wider range of SAN applications.

However, as this 8 Gb/s standard is implemented across a myriad of new solutions, vendors will be challenged to ensure their products meet the performance, reliability and interoperability requirements expected by enterprise end customers.

Leading companies rely on Finisar's Xgig storage test tool platform's comprehensive capabilities to ensure their products meet or exceed standards set within the industry.

"Increasingly data-rich applications are driving the explosive growth within the storage industry.

Finisar's Xgig test platform is a critical component in the implementation of new standards and technologies," said Dave Buse, general manager of Finisar's Network Tools division.

"By leveraging our protocol expertise and heritage of innovation, our customers can reduce product design time and costs without sacrificing product reliability and quality, thus improving their chances for leadership in this important and growing market".

The powerful Xgig storage test tool platform features full 8 Gb/s line rate monitoring, yet is backward compatible with legacy 4, 2, and 1 Gb/s rates.

Thus, it enables the entire spectrum of FC devices to be tested with a single test tool.

Additionally, the Xgig platform is multi-function, supporting other important FC testing tools including BERT (Bit Error Rate Tester), jammer, and data generation in a single integrated solution.

Finisar's multi-function architecture allows the identical hardware to be leveraged across all stages of development resulting in significant design time reductions and cost savings.

"As the leader and innovator of fibre channel switching technology, Brocade leverages test tools from our technology partners to develop and validate our products," said Dan Crain, chief technology officer for Brocade.

"Brocade is using the Finisar Xgig platform in our 8Gbit/sec fibre channel test and development efforts to accelerate delivery of this new technology to the market and our customers".

The Xgig platform is multi-protocol, supporting the latest standards including 6 Gb/s SAS and SATA as well as 10 Gb/s FC and Ethernet.

With significant industry acceptance of tiered storage solutions, storage vendors can now correlate high-speed analysis across the full spectrum of storage devices to ensure end-to-end functionality and performance, regardless of protocol.

Finisar's Xgig is the only platform available to support this wide selection of integrated protocol and test capabilities.

Additional features include support for scrambling, an expanded 8 Gigabyte (GB) trace buffer, and an array of enhanced trigger and search capabilities designed to help engineers more quickly identify and resolve errors.

The Xgig storage test tool platform with 8 Gb/s Fibre Channel protocol analyser is currently available.

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