IXIA Impairment Load Modules
This chapter provides specification and details of Ethernet Impairment Modules (EIM). This family of load modules consist of the following cards:
- EIM1G4S 1G Ethernet LAN Impairment Module
- EIM10G4S 10G Ethernet LAN Impairment Module
- EIM40G2Q 40G Ethernet LAN Impairment Module
The Impairment load modules have a single-slot form factor and are inserted into a high-density XM2 or XM12 chassis to provide 2 to 12 modules per chassis configuration. The load modules offer 4x1GE, 4x10GE, or 2x40GE Ethernet interfaces that can emulate 64, 32, or 8 unidirectional network clouds respectively.
The high density 1GE, 10GE, and 40GE Impairment test modules are ideal for emulating real-life network impairments. The modules can emulate a WAN environment and simulate network characteristics, such as delay, delay variation, and impairments, such as packet loss, duplication, and re-ordering.
EIMs support the Impairment feature in IxNetwork and IxLoad applications that provides a quick and easy way to set up impairments, across multiple emulated WAN links. Using EIM ports, IxNetwork and IxLoad is capable of generating a number of impairments, for example packet drops, latency, or packet re-ordering, which replicates real-life WAN traversal conditions, whereby packet flows are impaired in different modes when traversing a network.
The EIM40G2Q load module is not supported in IxLoad.
For more information on the Impairment feature, refer to chapter on `Network Impairment' in the IxNetwork Help and IxLoad Help.
The key features of EIM are as follows:
- High density 1GE, 10GE, and 40GE load modules
- Realistic, high-scale WAN emulation
- Hardware-based impairment generation
- Integration with traffic generation, protocol emulation and analysis
- Scale port counts with high port density
- Simulate ultra-high latency: 500ms on each 40GE link, 600ms on each 10GE link and 6 sec. on each 1GE link at line rate traffic
- Leverage a single hardware chassis for traffic load modules
- Use IxNetwork for integrated traffic generation and impairment
- Quickly configure traffic flows and apply impairment
- Automate tests
- Analyze measurements with StatViewer interface
- Achieve 1GE, 10GE and 40GE line-rate impairment on all frame sizes (64 to 9180 byte frames) with no packet loss
The 1/10GE EIM load module is shown in the following figure:
Figure: ImpairNet 1/10GE Load Module
The 40GE EIM load module is shown in the following figure:
Figure: ImpairNet 40GE Load Module
Part Numbers
The part numbers are shown in the following table.
Model Number | Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|
EIM1G4S |
944-1081 |
ImpairNet EIM1G4S Gigabit Ethernet LAN Impairment module, 1-slot with 4-ports of SFP interfaces. For XM12-02 (P/N 941-0009) High Performance and XM2-02 (P/N 941-0003) portable chassis, SFP transceivers are required. Options for transceivers include SFP-LX, SFP-SX, and SFP-CU (for RJ45 copper support). |
EIM10G4S |
944-1082 |
ImpairNet EIM10G4S 10 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Impairment module, 1-slot with 4-ports of SFP+ interfaces. For XM12-02 (P/N 941-0009) High Performance and XM2-02 (P/N 941-0003) portable chassis, SFP+ transceivers are required. Options for transceivers include 10GBASE-SR/SW (948-0013), or 10GBASE-LR/LW (948-0014). |
EIM40G2Q |
944-1083 |
ImpairNet EIM40G2Q 40 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Impairment module, 1-slot with 2-ports of QSFP+ interfaces. For XM12-02 (P/N 941-0009) High Performance and XM2-02 (P/N 941-0003) portable chassis QSFP+ 40GBASE-SR4 transceivers (P/N 948-0028) is required. |
Specifications
The load module specifications are described in the following table:
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Number of ports per module |
4-ports |
Number of chassis slots per module |
1 |
Chassis support |
The EIM load modules are supported on the following XM2 chassis:
Note: Earlier models of XM2 chassis require factory upgrade for compatibility with EIM load modules. |
Module support |
Up to 12 modules per XM12 Chassis Up to 2 modules per XM2 Chassis |
SFP+ transceiver support |
Available with 1GE SFP, Electrical SFP RJ45 1GE Transceiver, and 10GE SFP+ Ethernet interface options |
Traffic Selection and Impairment Configuration |
|
Supported Impairments |
|
Multi-core processor technology |
Yes |
Operating temperature range |
41°F to 86°F (5°C to 30°C), ambient air |
Minimum Delay |
|
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Interface Options |
QSFP+ |
Ports/Module |
1 port pair per module |
Module/Chassis |
|
Traffic Selection and Impairment Configuration |
|
Supported Impairments |
|