• Deployment, validation and troubleshooting of access and metro Ethernet services
• Comprehensive testing across 10 Mbit/s to 10 Gbit/s network environments

• Accelerate Ethernet service activation with bidirectional EtherSAM (ITU-T Y.1564) and RFC 2544 test suites, multistream traffic generation, Through mode and bit-error-rate (BER) testing
• Experience unprecedented configuration simplicity with hybrid touchscreen/keypad navigation and data entry
• Increase technician autonomy and productivity with intelligent discovery of remote EXFO Ethernet testers, as well as in-service testing via dual-port Through mode
• Eliminate errors in data interpretation with revolutionary new GUI on 7-inch TFT screen, historical event logger, visual gauges and 3D-icon depictions of pass/fail outcomes
• Simplify reporting with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity capabilities
• Integrated applications to test VoIP services, and additional IP test utilities including VLAN scan and LAN discovery via EXpert VoIP and EXpert IP test tools
• Support for packet capture and analysis, wireless troubleshooting and TCP throughput testing
• Housed in the compact, lightweight FTB-1 Platform, which is equipped with long-duration battery pack, for extended field testing operations

The Ultra-Portable Choice for High-Speed Ethernet Testing

The ongoing deployment of GigE and 10 GigE circuits across access and metro networks demands a testing solution that seamlessly adapts to either operating environment—without sacrificing portability, speed or cost—in order to guarantee the performance and quality of service (QoS) metrics of these services.

Leveraging the powerful, intelligent FTB-1 handheld platform, the NetBlazer series streamlines processes and empowers field technicians to seamlessly transition between 10/100/1000/10000 interfaces to rapidly adapt to a variety of networking environments.

Powerful and Fast

The NetBlazer series is a portfolio of fully integrated 10 Mbit/s to 10 Gbit/s handheld Ethernet testers. Available in three hardware configurations, each FTB-860x offers the industry’s largest TFT screen with unprecedented configuration simplicity via hybrid touchscreen/keypad navigation. Platform connectivity is abundant via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet or USB ports, making it accessible in any environment.

The Testing You Need for Any Ethernet Application

• Performance assessment of Carrier Ethernet services
• Installation, activation and maintenance of metro Ethernet networks
• Deployment of active Ethernet (point-to-point) access services
• In-service troubleshooting of live traffic

Setting a New GUI Standard: Unprecedented Simplicity in Configuration Setup and Navigation

Intelligent Situational Configuration Setup

• Guides technicians through complete, accurate testing processes (suggestion prompts, help guides, etc.)
• Reduces navigation by combining associated testing functions on a single screen
• Intelligent autodiscovery allows a single technician to perform end-to-end testing

Dedicated Quick-Action Buttons

• Remote discovery to find all the other EXFO units
• Laser on/off
• Test reset to clear the results and statistics while running a test
• Report generation
• Save or load test configurations
• Quick error injection

Assorted Notifications

• Clear indication of link status for single or dual ports
• Negotiated speed display for single or dual ports
• Optical power status available at all times for single or dual ports
• Pass/fail indication at all times for all tests

Streamlined Navigation

• Remote discovery button available at all times; no reason to leave your current location to scan for a remote unit
• Testing status can be maximized to fill the entire screen by simply clicking on the alarm status button; whether the unit is in your hand or across the room, test results can be easily determined with a simple glance at the display screen
• RFC 2544 configuration is maximized in a single page; no need to navigate through multiple screens to configure individual subtests
• RFC 2544 results and graphs are also maximized in a single page; no need to navigate through multiple screens to view individual RFC subtest results

Rapid, Accurate Test Results at Your Fingertips

Key Features

Intelligent Network Discovery Mode

Using any NetBlazer series test set, you can single-handedly scan the network and connect to any available EXFO datacom remote tester. Simply select the unit to be tested and choose whether you want traffic to be looped back via Smart Loopback or Dual Test Set for simultaneous bidirectional EtherSAM and RFC 2544 results. No more need for an additional technician at the far end to relay critical information—the NetBlazer products take care of it all.

Smart Loopback Flexibility

The Smart Loopback functionality has been enhanced to offer five distinct loopback modes. Whether you are looking to pinpoint loopback traffic from a UDP or TCP layer, or all the way down to a completely promiscuous mode (Transparent Loopback mode), NetBlazer has the flexibility to adjust for all unique loopback situations.

Global Pass/Fail Analysis

The NetBlazer series provides real-time pass/fail status via text or icons. Clicking on the pass/fail indicator maximizes this important status to full screen, providing instant, easily understood notification whether the unit is in the technician’s hands or across the room.

Remembering the Last IP or MAC Addresses

Field technicians have enough things to worry about and don’t always have the luxury of time to enter the same IP or MAC address test after test. The NetBlazer series remembers the last 10 MAC, IPv4 and IPv6 addresses as well as J0/J1 traces for 10G WAN, even after the unit has been rebooted.

Traffic Generation

Unparalleled analog visual gauges combined with user-defined thresholds show instantaneously whether or not the test traffic is in or out of expected ranges.

Additionally, bandwidth and frame size can be modified on-the-fly without navigating away to a different page, giving technicians instantaneous reaction on the gauges. Traffic generation brings together over 10 critical stats in a very visual and organized fashion, ensuring that technicians can quickly and easily interpret the outcome of the test.

Multistream Configuration

Configuring multiple streams with proper COS and QOS bits can be a complex task. NetBlazer makes it simpler, with all streams easily selectable and configurable from one location. With large icons located throughout the stream pages, configuration becomes as simple as a touch of a finger. Technicians can define one configuration profile and apply it to all the background streams simultaneously. From there, it is just a matter of making slight tweaks as needed rather than complete configuration profiles per stream.

Through Mode

Through mode testing consists of passing traffic through either of the NetBlazer’s two 100/1000 Base-X ports or the two 10/100/1000 Base-T ports for in-service troubleshooting of live traffic between the carrier/service provider network and the customer network. Through mode allows technicians to access circuits under test without the need for a splitter.

Supporting 10 Gigabit Ethernet

The 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface is available in both 10 GigE LAN and 10 GigE WAN modes via a single SFP+ transceiver. All Ethernet testing applications—from BER testing to the full EtherSAM suite—are available for both IPv4 and IPv6. Unique to the 10 GigE WAN interface is the ability to send and monitor SONET/SDH J0/J1 traces and the path signal label (C2). The WAN interface can also monitor SONET and SDH alarms and errors.

EtherSAM: The New Standard in Ethernet Testing

Until now, RFC 2544 has been the most widely used Ethernet testing methodology. However it was designed for network device testing in the lab, not for service testing in the field. ITU-T Y.1564 is the new standard for turning up and troubleshooting Carrier Ethernet services. It has a number of advantages over RFC 2544, including validation of critical SLA criteria such as packet jitter and QoS measurements. This methodology is also significantly faster, therefore saving time and resources while optimizing QoS.

EXFO’s EtherSAM test suite—based on the ITU-T Y.1564 Ethernet service activation methodology—provides comprehensive field testing for mobile backhaul and commercial services.

Contrary to other methodologies, EtherSAM supports new multiservice offerings. It can simulate all types of services that will run on the network and simultaneously qualify all key SLA parameters for each of these services. Moreover, it validates the QoS mechanisms provisioned in the network to prioritize the different service types, resulting in better troubleshooting, more accurate validation and much faster deployment. EtherSAM is comprised of two phases, the service configuration test and the service performance test.

Service Configuration Test

The service configuration test consists of sequentially testing each service. It validates that the service is properly provisioned and that all specific KPIs or SLA parameters are met.

Service Performance Test

Once the configuration of each individual service is validated, the service performance test simultaneously validates the quality of all the services over time.

EtherSAM Bidirectional Results

EXFO’s EtherSAM approach proves even more powerful as it executes the complete ITU-T Y.1564 test with bidirectional measurements. Key SLA parameters are measured independently in each test direction, thus providing 100 % first-time-right service activation—the highest level of confidence in service testing.

EXpert Test Tools

EXpert Test Tools is a series of platform-based software testing tools that enhance the value of the FTB-1 platform, providing additional testing capabilities without the need for additional modules or units.

• The EXpert VoIP Test Tools generates a voice-over-IP call directly from the test platform to validate performance during service turn-up and troubleshooting.
  • Supports a wide range of signaling protocols, including SIP, SCCP, H.248/Megaco and H.323
  • Supports MOS and R-factor quality metrics
  • Simplifies testing with configurable pass/fail thresholds and RTP metrics
• The EXpert IP Test Tools integrates six commonly used datacom test tools into one platform-based application to ensure field technicians are prepared for a wide-range of testing needs.
  • Rapidly perform debugging sequences with VLAN scan and LAN discovery
  • Validate end-to-end ping and traceroute
  • Verify FTP performance and HTTP availability