IxAccess: Overview

Ixia's IxAccess test suite provides an easy-to-use tool for comprehensive performance and scalability analysis of edge aggregation devices. By emulating PPPoX client sessions, L2TPv2 and L2TPv3 tunnels, and running data traffic over them, the testing of devices such as Broadband Remote Access Servers (B-RAS), DSLAMs and edge routers is substantially simplified - eliminating the need to configure thousands of individual clients and sessions.

The IxAccess test suite runs in conjunction with the Ixia TXS Gigabit, ATM and LSM 10 Gigabit Ethernet Load Modules. All PPPoX client/server variants (PPPoE, PPPoA, PPPoEoA, PPPoEo802.1q) and Layer 2 Tunneling Protocols variants (L2TPoE, L2TPoA) are supported for both Layer 2 Access Concentrator (LAC) and L2TP Network Server (LNS) testing. DHCP may be used to assign addresses to IP clients. Customer Edge and Provider Edge Routers that support L2TPv3 are tested through L2TPv3 and pseudo-wires (Ethernet, ATM and Frame Relay) emulation.

Evaluation and characterization of large-scale value-added services over broadband networks is available by integrating IxAccess with IxChariot®. Real-world applications can be emulated with IxChariot® without the need to install and maintain extensive client/server networks. The combination solution of IxAccess and IxChariot® offers the ability to assess the behavior of different applications by emulating hundreds of protocols across thousands of emulated network users.