AXS-200/850 - Ethernet test set

Built for metro Ethernet networks

For decades, Ethernet has proven itself to be a flexible and scalable networking technology. Much less expensive than a SONET/SDH or DSn/PDH interface of the same bandwidth, Ethernet also supports high bandwidths with fine granularity, which is not available with traditional SONET/SDH connections. Another advantage of an Ethernet-based access network is that it can be easily connected to the customer network (corporate and residential).

Applications

Using EXFO’s AXS-200/850 Ethernet Test Set, field technicians can effectively install, qualify and troubleshoot metro Ethernet networks thanks to powerful test capabilities:

Traffic generation and monitoring testing

Thanks to the AXS-200/850 traffic generation and monitoring tools, technicians can monitor the following key QoS statistics in real time: throughput, frame loss, sequencing, packet jitter and latency.

Bidirectional RFC 2544 testing

The industry-standard RFC 2544 benchmarking methodology defines a series of tests—throughput, latency, back-to-back and frame loss—allowing service providers to perform proper circuit and service-level agreement (SLA) validation.

BER testing

Signal integrity is generally expressed by the bit error rate (BER) value. When it comes to testing bit error rates, the AXS-200/850 has users covered, as it measures BER in various types of circuits and can effortlessly test end-to-end up to layer 4 networks.

QoS testing

The AXS-200/850 is ideally designed for performing quality of service (QoS) verification on metro Ethernet circuits. It offers VLAN priorities and specific settings (types of service, differentiated services), helping service providers ensure QoS expectations are met.

Cable testing

With the help of the Wiremap test, field technicians can check for continuity problems as well as for MDI and MDIX compatibility. Also, knowing the length, distance to fault, propagation delay and skew further ensures that the physical cabling is within the IEEE 802.3 standard specifications.

Radically simple QoS testing

The AXS-200/850 traffic generation and monitoring tools make it fast and simple to test packet jitter, real-time latency, throughput, sequencing and frame loss. Speedometer-like gauges with built-in user-definable pass/fail thresholds give you immediate and accurate results at a glance—no need to shuffle through pages of information to find out why a test is failing. Frame loss, out-of-sequence LED indicators notify you of any current or historical defects. Whether incremental or large changes to the bandwidth or frame size are required, on-the-fly traffic generation adjustments are provided for quick and instant results without having to stop testing and look for other pages to make these adjustments.

Regardless of the network under test, it is always necessary to verify that it can handle the allocated bandwidth and expected QoS. With this critical data and simplified results page you can quickly and easily determine whether the network under test conforms to their customers’ expectations.

Intelligent network discovery mode

Using an AXS-200/850, you can access multiple EXFO datacom remote testers. One click lets you scan the network and choose from a list of all available EXFO datacom testers on the network. Simply select the unit to be tested with and choose whether you want traffic to be looped back via Smart Loopback or Dual Test Set for simultaneous bidirectional RFC 2544 results. No more need for an additional technician at the far end to relay critical information—the AXS-200/850 takes care of it all.

Rugged, lightweight and designed for front-line technicians

EXFO’s AXS-200/850 Ethernet Test Set was designed according to the real-life challenges brought by Ethernet testing. Its user-friendly features shorten the learning curve for both expert and entry-level technicians and enable them to complete their test cycles quickly and efficiently.

Pass/Fail testing

Thanks to built-in pass/fail thresholds, the AXS-200/850 delivers clear-cut assessment of test results. What’s more, thresholds can be modified for testing rate-limited services.

Results display

Test results are presented according to three formats:

• Pass/fail results based on default or user-configured thresholds
• Sneak-peek results during tests
• Complete results down to their associated frame sizes

Event logger

The Event logger functionality allows users to pinpoint exactly when and how their tests are failing. Key features include:

• Color coded events
• Broken pass/fail thresholds are presented with both the expected and duration of exceeded threshold values
• Pass/fail status is provided at the conclusion of the log
• Events displayed in full context such as Bit Error, Link Down, etc.

Quick configuration recall

With the AXS-200/850, the user no longer needs to search for previously entered MAC or IP addresses. The AXS-200/850 remembers the last three IP and MAC addresses, allowing for an instantaneous entry of address information.

Print report

The AXS-200/850 supplies users with a print report that contains complete test results, which can be viewed and saved internally or off the unit via a USB memory stick or network connection.

LED indicators

Platform LEDs offer crucial information for pass/fail results, laser on/off, errors or alarms, test running and link status.