IXIA CloudStorm Load Modules
This chapter provides details about CloudStorm 100GE load modules specifications and features.
Ixia's CloudStorm family of load modules is the first multi-terabit application and security test solution. It breaks the SSL and DDoS test barriers, achieving over 960Gbps of traffic with strong encryption and ciphers or 2.4 terabit DDoS throughput in a single chassis.
Each CloudStorm load module supports two native QSFP28 100GE interfaces with an innovative architecture that allows concurrent emulation of complex applications, unprecedented SSL encrypted applications, and a large volume of DDoS traffic to validate your network infrastructure is high performing and secure.
The CloudStorm product family consists of 100GE load modules that have two variants, fusion (IxLoad and BreakingPoint) and non-fusion (IxLoad only). A key feature of CloudStorm 100GE load modules is the fusion between IxLoad and BreakingPoint applications—the industry-leading test solutions for application delivery and security resiliency testing.
CloudStorm supports the following:
- BreakingPoint software application which runs on the fusion variant of the load module and IxLoad which runs on the non-fusion variant
- QSFP28 interfaces
- hardware-based SSL acceleration delivering 4X encryption performance
Key Features
The key features of CloudStorm load modules are as follows:
Massive Scale Real-World Traffic Conditions
CloudStorm delivers 3X-application and 4X-SSL-emulation scale over any other test system. It helps NEMs shortening their development cycles, and enterprises and data center operators find the right balance between mitigating security risks and delivering high end-user application performance.
SSL Acceleration
CloudStorm provides hardware-based SSL acceleration to deliver 80G of encrypted traffic with strong encryption and chiphers.
Multi-user Environment
CloudStorm's multi-user environment leverages the per port user ownership model for all ports on the test modules installed into the chassis.
Emulate Multi-terbit DDoS
CloudStorm emulates multi-terbit DDoS and botnet attacks to future-proof security solutions.
Unified Application and Security Test Platform
CloudStorm provides a unified application and security test platform with layers 2-7 capabilities and support for BreakingPoint and IxLoad software.
Platform Support
CloudStorm provides cloud-grade L4-7 application performance with fully integrated L2/3 stateless traffic support. It exercises the systems under test in real world conditions, helping the customers to easily identify the performance and interoperability issues. The modular architecture of the solution allows linear performance scaling to multi terabit, by populating an Ixia’s XGS12-HSL chassis with multiple CloudStorm load modules—up to 12.
CloudStorm is compatible with XGS12-HSL, a 12-slot chassis platform and XGS2-HSL, a 2-slot chassis platform. The Chassis platform architecture supports easy setup and management of high scale, multi-user system.
For more information on XGS12 and XGS2, see the following:
Load Modules
Each CloudStorm load module supports two native QSFP28 100GE interfaces with an innovative architecture that allows concurrent emulation of complex applications, unprecedented SSL encrypted applications, and a large volume of DDoS traffic to validate your network infrastructure is high performing and secure.
The dual-port capabilities of CloudStorm enable 100GE inline devices like firewalls to be tested with a single card. The CloudStorm load module also includes a mission control center CPU (MCC) equipped with dedicated memory and a solid-state drive (SSD) to accelerate boot time and reduce test configuration time.
The CloudStorm family consists of the following models:
- CloudStorm 100GE 2-port QSFP28
- CloudStorm Fusion 100GE 2-port QSFP28
Each of these load modules are described as follows:
CS100GE2Q28
CloudStorm CS100GE2Q28 is a 2 port 100-Gigabit Ethernet, load module with QSFP28 interface. It provides support for native QSFP28 100GE pluggable multi-mode optical transceiver or single-mode optical transceiver. It is compatible only with XGS12-HSL and XGS2-HSL chassis. This load module supports only IxLoad software application.
The CS100GE2Q28 load module is shown in the following figure:
Figure: CloudStorm Module-CS100GE2Q28

CS100GE2Q28NG
CloudStorm CS100GE2Q28NG is a 2 port 100-Gigabit Ethernet, fusion load module with QSFP28 interface. It provides support for native QSFP28 100GE pluggable multi-mode optical transceiver or single-mode optical transceiver. It is compatible only with XGS12-HSL and XGS2-HSL chassis. This load module supports both IxLoad and BreakingPoint software applications.
The CS100GE2Q28NG load module is shown in the following figure:
Figure: CloudStorm Module-CS100GE2Q28NG

Part Numbers
Part Numbers for CloudStorm Load Modules and supported adapters are provided in the following table.
Model Number | Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|
CS100GE2Q28 |
944-1232 |
2-ports of 100GE with the QSFP28 physical interface. |
CS100GE2Q28NG |
944-1231 |
2-ports of 100GE with the QSFP28 physical interface. |
Specifications
The load module specifications are contained in the following table.
Feature | CloudStorm 100GE | CloudStorm Fusion 100G |
---|---|---|
Load Modules |
CS100GE2Q28 |
CS100GE2Q28NG |
Hardware, Load Module Specifications |
||
Physical Interfaces |
2-port, 100GE QSFP28 |
|
Transceiver Support |
QSFP28 SR4 and LR4 (pluggable transceivers) |
|
Memory |
128GB |
128GB |
Hardware Encryption Offload |
Yes |
Yes |
Hardware-Based Traffic Capture (for BreakingPoint) |
N/A |
2GB per 100GB interface |
Capture Memory (for IxLoad) |
Maximum between 2GB or 2 Million packets, per interface |
Maximum between 2GB or 2 Million packets, per interface |
FPGA Offload |
Yes |
Yes |
IPv4, IPv6, UDP, TCP |
Hardware checksum generation |
|
Load Module Dimensions |
16.4" (L) x 12.0" (W) x 1.3" (H) 417mm (L) x 305mm (W) x 33mm (H) |
|
Operating Temperature Range |
41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C), ambient air |
|
Chassis Capacity |
||
Cards per Chassis |
|
|
Port Density |
|
|
XGS12 and XGS2 Chassis Bundles |
|
|
Transceiver and Cable Support
The transceiver and cable support for CloudStorm load modules is provided in the following table:
Hardware | Transceiver/Cable Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|
|
QSFP28-SR4-XCVR |
QSFP28 100GBASE-SR4 100GE pluggable optical transceiver, MMF (multimode), 850 nm, 100 m reach |
QSFP28-LR4-XCVR |
QSFP28 100GBASE-LR4 100GE pluggable optical transceiver, SMF (single mode fiber), 1310 nm, 10 km reach |
|
942-0088 |
QSFP28 passive, copper, Direct Attach Cable (DAC), 3 meter length |
|
942-0092 |
QSFP28 Active Optical Cable (AOC), multimode fiber, 850 nm, 3 meter length |
Application Support
The Ixia application support for CloudStorm load modules is provided in the following table:
Hardware | Application Support |
---|---|
CloudStorm CS100GE2Q28 |
IxOS, IxLoad, TCL API |
CloudStorm Fusion CS100GE2Q28NG |
IxOS, IxLoad, BreakingPoint, TCL API |
Mechanical Specifications
Front Panel
The Front panel of the CloudStorm load module is shown in the following figures (applies to Fusion and non-Fusion versions):
Figure: Front panel of 100GE Fusion CloudStorm CS100GE2Q28NG
Figure: Front panel of 100GE CloudStorm CS100GE2Q28
LED Panel
There are 3 tricolor LEDs per port. The LED panel specifications for CloudStorm are provided in the following table.
Speed Mode | LED1: TX LED | LED2: RX LED | LED3: MODE LED |
---|---|---|---|
100GE |
Port Inactive/No Power=Off Link Down (all)=Solid Red Link Up (all)=Solid Green Tx Active=Blinking Green |
Port Inactive/No Power=Off Rx Active with Errors=Blinking Red Rx Active=Blinking Green |
Mode=Off Card Fault=Solid Red |
Remove and Insert SSD on CloudStorm
You can remove the Solid State Drive (SSD) on the CloudStorm load module and insert it back when needed.
To remove the SSD: Bend the top of the retainer away from the SSD card. The SSD will spring upward. Now pull the SSD card straight out.
The SSD edge connector on the MCC card is shown in the following figure.
To insert SSD, do the following:
- Align SSD edge connector with SSD connector on the MCC card.
- Insert SSD edge connector and push SSD downward towards the MCC card.
- With your finger, bend the top of the retainer away from the SSD card and push the SSD downward until it hits the retainer. Now release the retainer. If the SSD card is properly seated, the top of the retainer will capture the SSD card.
- The SSD card is now properly placed on the MCC card.