IXIA Xcellon-Flex Load Modules
This chapter provides details about Xcellon-Flex family of load modules specifications and features.
The Xcellon-Flex family of high speed load modules delivers high-density, high-performance test solutions. Xcellon, the architecture behind these load modules, features aggregation of multi-core CPUs and high memory to meet testing needs for high-scale performance.
The Xcellon-Flex family consists of the following load modules:
- 10GbE Accelerated Performance
- 10GbE Full Emulation
- A 10/40 Gigabit Ethernet Accelerated Performance
- A 40 Gigabit Ethernet Full Emulation
The card names are FlexAP10G16S, FlexFE10G16S, FlexAP1040SQ, and FlexFE40QP.
The Accelerated Performance load module provides architecture for layer 2-7 performance testing, providing ultra-high-scale session and protocol emulation per port. The Full Emulation load module is for layer 2-3 mid-range protocol emulation and scale capacity testing for switches and routers. The Xcellon-Flex Combo 10/40GE Accelerated Performance load module provides both 10GE SFP+ and/or 40GE QSFP+ ports in a single chassis slot. It uses aggregation technoloAgy to combine CPU power and memory, and provides ultra-high networking protocol scalability. The 4x40GE Full Emulation load module has a rich layer 2-7 feature set and is well suited for mid-range protocol emulation and scale testing. The load module is ideal for manufacturers of large-port-count, converged data center switches.
The Xcellon-Flex family load module is shown in the following figure:
Figure: Xcellon-Flex Module-FlexAP10G16S

The Xcellon-Flex family load module is shown in the following figure:
Figure: Xcellon-Flex Module-FlexFE10G16S

Figure: Xcellon-Flex Module-FlexAP1040SQ

Figure: Xcellon-Flex Module-FlexFE40QP

Part Numbers
The part numbers are shown in the following table.
Model Number | Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|
FlexAP10G16S |
944-1060 |
10 Gigabit Ethernet Accelerated Performance Load Module, 16-Port LAN, SFP+ interface with full performance L2-L7 support. |
FlexFE10G16S |
944-1061 |
10 Gigabit Ethernet Full Emulation Load Module, 16-port LAN, SFP+ interface with L2-3 support. |
FlexAP1040SQ |
944-1062 |
10/40 Gigabit Ethernet Accelerated Performance Load Module, 16-Ports of SFP+ interfaces and 4-ports of QSFP+ 40GE interfaces with full performance L2-7 support, for XM12-02 (941-0009) High Performance rackmount chassis and XM2-02 (941-0003) portable chassis, requires one or more SFP+ transceiver options: 10GBASE-SR/SW (948-0013), or 10GBASE-LR/LW (948-0014). |
FlexFE40QP |
944-1065 |
40 Gigabit Ethernet Full Emulation Load Module, 4-ports of QSFP+ 40GE with L2-3 support. |
Specifications
The load module specifications are contained in the following table.
Feature | Everest 10GE Full Feature | Everest 10GE Reduced Feature | Everest Combo | Everest 40GE Only |
---|---|---|---|---|
Load Modules |
FlexAP10G16S |
FlexFE10G16S |
FlexAP1040SQ |
FlexFE40QP |
Number of ports per module |
16 |
16 |
4 |
4 |
Number of chassis slots per module |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Maximum ports per chassis |
XM12 High Performance: 128 XM2Desktop: 16 |
XM12 High Performance: 128 XM2Desktop: 16 |
XM12 High Performance: 96-ports 10GE SFP+ and 24-ports 40GE QSFP XM2Desktop: 16-ports 10GE SFP+ or 4- ports 40GE QSFP |
XM12 High Performance: 24-ports 40GE QSFP+ XM2Desktop: 4-ports 40GE QSFP+ |
Note: XM12 High Performance chassis is required for the simultaneous operation of 128 ports in a single chassis. If a standard XM12 chassis (941-0002) is used with these load modules, conversion to the High Performance model is required. A field replaceable power supply upgrade kit (943-0005) is available for this purpose. When one or more FlexAP10G16S or FlexFE10G16S load modules is installed in an XM12 High Performance chassis, the maximum total number of load modules that may be installed at one time in a single chassis is 8. The XM2 portable chassis (941-0003) supports up to 16 ports (1 load module) of the FlexAP10G16S FlexFE10G16S modules. No other load module is installed in the XM2 chassis when a FlexAP10G16S or FlexFE10G16S load module is installed. |
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XGS12-SD Chassis (940-0011) |
12 load modules: 192-ports of 10GbE |
12 load modules: 192-ports of 10GbE |
12 load modules:
|
12 load modules: 48-ports of 40GbE |
XGS12-HSL Chassis (940-0016) |
12 load modules: 192-ports of 10GbE |
12 load modules: 192-ports of 10GbE |
12 load modules:
|
12 load modules: 48-ports of 40GbE |
XGS12-SDL Chassis (940-0015) |
12 load modules: 192-ports of 10GbE |
12 load modules: 192-ports of 10GbE |
12 load modules:
|
12 load modules: 48-ports of 40GbE |
XGS2-SD Chassis (940-0010) |
2 load modules: 32-ports of 10GbE |
2 load modules: 32-ports of 10GbE |
2 load modules:
|
2 load modules: 8-ports of 40GbE |
XGS2-HSL Chassis (940-0014) |
2 load modules: 32-ports of 10GbE |
2 load modules: 32-ports of 10GbE |
2 load modules:
|
2 load modules: 8-ports of 40GbE |
XGS2-SDL Chassis (940-0013) |
2 load modules: 32-ports of 10GbE |
2 load modules: 32-ports of 10GbE |
2 load modules:
|
2 load modules: 8-ports of 40GbE |
XG12 Chassis (940-0005) |
10 load modules: 160-ports of |
10 load modules: 160-ports of 10GbE |
10 load modules:
|
10 load modules: 40-ports of 40GbE |
XM12 HP Chassis (941-0009) |
10 load modules: 160-ports of 10GbE |
10 load modules: 160-ports of 10GbE |
10 load modules:
|
10 load modules: 40-ports of 40GbE |
XM2 Chassis (941-0003) |
2 load modules: 32-ports of 10GbE |
2 load modules: 32-ports of 10GbE |
2 load modules:
|
2 load modules: 8-ports of 40GbE |
Supported transceivers |
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Per-port CPU speed and memory |
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Capture buffer size |
256 MB |
64 MB |
256MB (10GE), 1GB(40GE) |
256 MB |
Frame Size |
Minimum Frame Size at Line Rate: 48 - No UDF 60 - UDF enabled Minimum Frame Size - may not be at Line Rate: 48 Maximum Frame Size: P0: 9216B others 2500B |
Minimum Frame Size at Line Rate: 48 - No UDF 60 - UDF enabled Minimum Frame Size - may not be at Line Rate: 48 Maximum Frame Size: P0: 9216B others 2500B |
Minimum Frame Size at Line Rate: 48 - No UDF 60 - UDF enabled Minimum Frame Size - may not be at Line Rate: 48 Maximum Frame Size: P0: 9216B others 2500B |
Minimum Frame Size at Line Rate: 60 Minimum Frame Size - may not be at Line Rate: 60 Maximum Frame Size: P0: 9216B others 2500B |
Inter-burst gap: min-max |
10: 6400ns-429s in 800ns steps100: 640ns-42.9s in 80ns steps1000: 64ns-16.7ms in 16ns steps Advanced Scheduler: 10: 0.419s 100: 0.0419s 1000: 0.0167s |
10: 6400ns-429s in 800ns steps100: 640ns-42.9s in 80ns steps1000: 64ns-16.7ms in 16ns steps Advanced Scheduler: 10: 0.419s 100: 0.0419s 1000: 0.0167s |
10: 6400ns-429s in 800ns steps100: 640ns-42.9s in 80ns steps1000: 64ns-16.7ms in 16ns steps Advanced Scheduler: 10: 0.419s 100: 0.0419s 1000: 0.0167s |
10: 6400ns-429s in 800ns steps100: 640ns-42.9s in 80ns steps1000: 64ns-16.7ms in 16ns steps Advanced Scheduler: 10: 0.419s 100: 0.0419s 1000: 0.0167s |
Streams per port |
512 |
256 |
512 |
256 |
Table UDF |
1 million entries |
256 K entries |
1 million entries |
1 million entries |
Advanced scheduler streams per port |
512 |
256 |
512 |
256 |
Latency |
20 ns resolution |
20 ns resolution |
20 ns resolution |
2.5 ns resolution |
Ambient Operating Temperature Range |
5-30 |
5-30 |
5-30 |
5-30 |
Transceiver Type |
SFP+ |
SFP+ |
SFP+ |
QSFP+ |
Direct Attach Copper |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
LED |
2 LED per Port |
2 LED per Port |
1 LED per Port |
4 LED per Port |
ppm Adjust range |
+/-100ppm |
+/-100ppm |
+/-100ppm |
+/-100ppm |
ppm Adjust port/card |
Card |
Card |
Card |
Card |
10GbE Interface protocols |
10GbE LAN |
10GbE LAN |
IEEE802.3ae 10GE LAN, IEEE802.3ba 40GBASE-R LAN |
IEEE802.3ae 10GE LAN, IEEE802.3ba 40GBASE-R LAN |
Data Center Protocol Upgrades (optional feature) |
FCoE, Priority-based Flow Control (IEEE 802.1Qbb) and LLDP/DCBX support |
Priority-based Flow Control (IEEE 802.1Qbb) |
||
Multi-core processors |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Aggregation capability |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Layer 2-3 routing protocol emulation |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Layer 4-7 application traffic testing |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Number of transmit flows per port (sequential values) |
Billions |
Billions |
Billions |
Billions |
Number of transmit flows per port (arbitrary values) |
1 million |
32 K |
||
Number of transmit flows per port (PGID) |
1 million |
1 million |
||
Trackable receive flows |
1 million |
64 K |
1 million |
64 K |
Table UDF |
1 million entries |
256 K entries |
1 million entries |
1 million entries |
Packet flow statistics |
Track 1 million flows |
Track 64 K flows |
||
Transmit engine |
Wire-speed packet generation with timestamps, sequence numbers, data integrity signature, and packet group signatures. |
Wire-speed packet filtering, capturing, realtime latency and inter-arrival time for each packet group, data integrity, and sequence checking. |
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Receive engine |
Wire-speed packet filtering, capturing, real-time latency and inter-arrival time for each packet group, data integrity, and sequence checking |
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User defined field features |
Fixed, increment or decrement by user defined step, value lists, range lists (supported in all 10 GE mode), cascade, random, and chained |
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Filters |
48-bit source/destination address, 2x128- bit user-definable pattern and offset, frame length range, CRC error, data integrity error, and sequence checking error (small, big, reverse) |
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Data field per stream |
Fixed, increment (byte/word), decrement (byte/word), random, repeating, and userspecified |
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Error generation |
CRC (good/bad/none), undersize, oversize |
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Latency self-calibration |
Ability to calibrate and remove inherent latency |
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Link Fault Signaling |
Link state indicator for No Fault, Local Fault, and Remote Fault. |
Link state indicator for No Fault, Local Fault, and Remote Fault. |
FlexAP1040SQ (10GE and 40GE): Generate local and remote faults with controls for the number of faults and order of faults, and the ability to select the option to have the transmit port ignore link faults from a remote link partner. FlexAP1040SQ (10GE and 40GE): Reports the following PCS statistics:
|
Generate local and remote faults with controls for the number of faults and order of faults, and the ability to select the option to have the transmit port ignore link faults from a remote link partner. |
Transmit line clock adjustment |
Ability to adjust the parts per million (ppm) line frequency over a range of the following
|
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IPv4, IPv6, UDP, TCP |
Hardware checksum generation and verification |
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Frame length controls |
Fixed, random, weighted random, or increment by user-defined step |
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Operating temperature range |
41°F to 86°F (5°C to 30°C), ambient air Note: When an Xcellon-Flex load module is installed in an XM12 chassis, the maximum operating temperature of the chassis is 30°C (86°F) ambient air temperature. |
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40 GE Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) test features |
|
|
|
IEEE 802.3ba compliant PCS transmit and receive side test capabilities |
Per PCS lane, transmit lane mapping |
|
|
|
Supports all combinations of PCS lane mapping: Default, Increment, Decrement, Random, and Custom |
Per PCS lane, lane marker, or lane marker and payload error injections |
|
|
|
Ability to inject errors into the PCS Lane Marker and simultaneously into PCS Lane Marker and Payload fields by the user. This includes the ability to inject sync bit errors into the Lane Marker and Payload. User can control the PCS lane, number or errors, period count and manage the repetition of the injected errors. |
Per PCS lane, receive lanes statistics |
|
|
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PCS Sync Header and Lane Marker Lock, Lane Marker mapping, Relative lane skew measurement (up to 104 microseconds), Sync Header and PCS Lane Marker Error counters, indicators for Loss of Synch Header and Lane Marker, BIP8 errors. |
Mechanical Specification of FlexAP10G16S/FlexFE10G16S Load Modules
Front Panel
The Front panel of FlexAP10G16S/FlexFE10G16S load module is shown in the following figure:
Figure: Front panel of FlexAP10G16S/FlexFE10G16S

Led Panel
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
LED1 |
TX |
|
10GE Link up = Solid Green |
|
10GE TX Active = Blinking Green |
|
10GE TX Error = Blinking Red |
|
Inactive = Off |
LED2 |
RX |
|
Loopback = Solid Green |
|
10GE RX Active = Blinking Green |
|
10GE RX Error = Blinking Red |
|
Link Down = Solid Red |
|
Port Inactive = Off |
When port is in aggregation mode (the PCPU resource is used by other port), TX/RX LEDs are inactive (i.e. off). The aggregation egress port will have normal TX/RX LED operation.
Mechanical Specification of FlexAP1040SQ Load Modules
Front Panel Production 944-1062-02
The Front panel of FlexAP1040SQ load module is shown in the following figure:
Figure: Front panel of FlexAP1040SQ
Led Panel Production 944-1062-02
The Led panel of FlexAP1040SQ load module is shown in the following figure:
Figure: Led panel of FlexAP1040SQ
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
10GE Mode |
1 LED/Port where LED number matches port number |
Blinking Green |
Tx/Rx Activity |
Blinking Red |
Rx Error |
Solid Red |
Link down |
Solid Green |
Link up |
Solid Yellow |
Loopback |
Off |
Port is inactive |
When port is in aggregation mode (the PCPU resource is used by other port), TX/RX LEDs are inactive (i.e. off). The aggregation egress port will have normal TX/RX LED operation.
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
40GE Mode | LED/Port aligned from top/down defined as follows:
|
Definition matches the 40G Only definition.
Mechanical Specification of FlexAP40QP4 Load Modules
Front Panel
The Front panel of FlexAP40QP4 load module is shown in the following figure:
Figure: Front panel of FlexAP40QP4

Led Panel
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
| LED/Port aligned from top/down defined as follows:
|
LED1 | TX |
| 10GE TX Active = Blinking Green |
| 10GE TX Error = Blinking Red |
| Inactive = Off |
LED2 | RX |
| 10GE RX Active = Blinking Green |
| 10GE RX Error = Blinking Red |
| Port Inactive = Off |
LED3 | Link |
| Link up = Solid Green |
| Link Down = Solid Red |
| Internal Loopback = Solid Yellow |
| Line Loopback = Solid Blue |
| Port Inactive = Off |
LED4 | Error |
| Remote Faults = Blinking Yellow |
| Local Faults = Solid Red |
| Port Inactive = Off |