Apr 29 2008
Ixia, a leading, global provider of IP performance test systems, will showcase its "Green IT" testing initiatives for network equipment and data centers at Interop Las Vegas, booth (#2011) and with partner companies throughout the exhibition area.
Ixia will demonstrate a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) testing solution, a fully automated, comprehensive, turnkey benchmarking system for measuring power efficiency in relation to network and application load. The solution, trademarked IxGreen™, offers accurate and repeatable validation of individual data center elements, with the emphasis on power consumption. Thereby enabling data center managers to achieve their eco-efficient data center goals which, in addition to cooling and power savings, includes consolidation of data center elements, server and software virtualization, remote management/administration and a reduced carbon footprint.
In a March 2008 “Green IT Survey,” IDC reports that the number one driver for the adoption of Green IT is the economic incentive gained by reducing operational costs. IDC also says half the data center managers interviewed cited power and cooling costs as one of the top three areas of IT operational expenditure. Surveys conducted by IDC and the Aperture Research Institute (ARI) show that the Green IT initiative not only can make a positive environmental impact, but also has proved to be a major contributor to total savings and cost of ownership for data centers. However, ARI reported that 42 percent of data center managers said they had no way to check the validity of Green IT testing or to benchmark rival solutions.
Ixia’s PoC IxGreen solution provides the necessary benchmarks to help data center managers better evaluate network elements and system architectures. With the capability to generate real-world data center application traffic, the Ixia PoC solution can test multiple traffic profiles from different industry verticals including Financial, Retail, or even Oil & Gas. A “performance-per-power” metric, the IxGreen Index is then generated which has a contextual basis in the industry of choice. The highest benchmark value indicates the most energy-efficient, greenest option.
“Looking beyond Interop, Ixia will continue to push the boundaries of innovation in Green IT testing,” said Atul Bhatnagar, president and CEO of Ixia. “Our goal is to provide solutions that benefit the environment, reduce energy consumption and offer real business value for our customers.”
Ixia also unveils the industry’s highest density and most affordable layer 2-7, 10-gigabit Ethernet (GbE) IP testing solution for high-density 10 GbE switches designed for deployment in next-generation data centers. Ixia’s new 10 GbE IxYulkon™ load module and XM12 chassis also provide a greener alternative than the closest competitor with four times the port density in one-quarter the laboratory space and as little as one-half the power consumption.
Ixia also is powering green certification from Miercom, a consulting firm specializing in networking and communications-related product testing and analysis. Miercom began conducting the industry’s first comprehensive green certification testing earlier this year, and announced its first appointees at Interop. Miercom performs these tests using Ixia solutions.
“Ixia test solutions are designed to fully load and exercise layer 2-7 products, which is important for us because we have a reputation for thorough, real-world methodologies,” said Rob Smithers, founder and president of Miercom.