Ixia has announced the ability to generate and analyze IPTV video traffic over emulated IP network topologies. Using the new Aptixia IxNetwork 5.20 application running on the Optixia hardware platform, test engineers can now test the routing control plane and simultaneously stress the data plane by directing both real-world video traffic and packet-based network traffic over the emulated topologies. The end result is a test tool that can better characterize the performance of routers/switches that deliver IPTV services by emulating all critical network elements prior to deployment.

The real application traffic generation capability of IxNetwork 5.20 provides the means to accurately determine the performance of real IPTV applications running on real networks. Traditionally, the validation of routers and switches combines emulating peer routers, and testing only packet forwarding performance at Layers 2 and 3 over the range of emulated routes. To identify problems encountered when delivering real video and to ensure Quality of Experience (QoE) from the perspective of an IPTV subscriber, realistic IPTV traffic must be used.

IxNetwork characterizes the performance and scalability of routers, switches, and other Layer 2/3 forwarding devices by running large-scale routing protocol emulations and generating realistic video traffic. Technologies supported include IP routing, MPLS, Multicast and Bridging.