Agilent Technologies introduced the industry's first verification test application for devices governed by IEEE 802.3 clauses for 25-Gb/s Ethernet. The N1081Series IEEE 802.3 KR/CR application helps design and validation engineers accelerate the process of turning on and debugging serial communications systems by automating the execution of physical-layer tests using the Agilent 86100D digital communications analyzer.

Devices covered in IEEE 802.3 clauses operate at 10 GB/s and 25 GB/s and have one, four or 10 parallel lanes. Examples include 10GBASE-KR, 100GBASE-KR4 and 40GBASE-CR4 devices. These network devices are subject to an extensive list of test parameters, many of which are challenging to meet without appropriate design and validation tools.

The Agilent N1081A, N1082A, N1083A and N1084A IEEE 802.3 compliance and debug applications are optimized for engineers who design and validate high-end computing and server applications and the semiconductors that are used in them. Applications in the N1081 Series provide automated eye, waveform and jitter tests. The measurements provide detailed insight into how to improve device performance, time to market and manufacturing yields.

Engineers can easily debug device and channel issues using Agilent's extensive test configuration choices and customized automation features. The new software allows engineers to take advantage of the industry's lowest intrinsic jitter offered by the Agilent 86108B precision waveform analyzer. Together, the software and hardware help designers improve yields.

"Our new IEEE 802.3 10-G/25-G solutions help engineers test the many parameters that affect the performance of their high-speed serial networks," said Jay Alexander, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Oscilloscope and Protocol Division. "The combination of the N1081Series applications, 86100D mainframe and 86108B module provides the highest accuracy and fastest solution available for designers to achieve the best yields and margins in their 802.3 10-G/25-G system designs."