Ixia, Partners Form Alliance on Open IP Framework

A group of test and quality assurance companies, led by Ixia (XXIA), formed the aptly-named TesLA Alliance today in order to develop an open, multivendor, IP Test automation framework.

The IP Test Lab Automation (TesLA) Alliance will build and market compatible solutions that enable seamless interoperation between their respective solutions in customer quality assurance (QA) labs. Ixia hosted TesLA Alliance briefings and product demonstrations today at its iSimCity proof-of-concept lab in Santa Clara, Calif.

One of the goals of the alliance is to establish a common framework that will allow members’ customers to automate their end-to-end testing. The founding TesLA members are APCON, Codenomicon, Fanfare, Ixia, Mu Dynamics, QualiSystems and Shunra.

A typical networking lab deployment can contain test equipment from multiple, disparate vendors driving the need for seamless integration and interoperability among the various tools. As a result, IP test automation has moved to center stage. It is the only way quality can be assured after product upgrades, network modifications and software patches, according to the group’s literature.

“Ixia and its partners share a common vision for TesLA to further improve the efficiency and effectiveness of IP service and network testing to help customers deliver superior quality products and gain accelerated time-to-market advantages,” said Atul Bhatnagar, president and CEO of Ixia.

The TesLA open automation framework ensures interoperability among members’ products, making it easy for customers to improve efficiency and productivity. TesLA’s open, unified IP test automation framework will promote the use of efficient, standardized tests.

In addition to multi-vendor interoperability, the TesLA alliance will increase the utilization of CAPEX investments for systems under test and test equipment. It also will promote a reduction in OPEX expenses that decreases the cost of deploying new technologies that deliver better products with fewer problems.

The TesLA framework is based on Ixia’s Test Conductor IP test automation solution. Ixia’s iSimCity proof-of-concept lab will provide the facilities for interoperability testing by all alliance members. By joining the alliance, member companies have agreed to increase the depth and breadth of their interoperability with all alliance members’ IP testing products.

Tom Ryan, CEO of Fanfare, said, “Together we will create a versatile automation platform that increases the overall value for our joint customers through collaborative, complementary innovations in our products.”

Members’ solutions cover the spectrum of test lab technologies, including: lab management solutions, emulation, functional testing, security, traffic generation and system configuration.

David Chartier, CEO of Codenomicon, said security, vulnerability and robustness test methodologies are indispensable for today’s complex networks and devices.

MU Dynamics also addresses security. Dave Kresse, CEO of Mu Dynamics, said, “Ixia’s broad range of load-based testing expertise compliments Mu’s focus around removing reliability, availability and security concerns to effectively eliminate downtime and quality issues in NGN IP Services.”

Shunra Software CEO, Thomas Charlton, said this new alliance is a response to market demand for easy and actionable performance testing that results in faster deployment and a better user experience for joint customers.

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