TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Introduces Industry-First Advanced Sw

TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Introduces Industry-First Advanced Switching Interconnect Protocol Analyzer and Exerciser

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    SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2005--

Test Solution Provides Comprehensive Design Verification for New High-Speed Data Plane Standard
    Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced the first system protocol-test solution for Advanced Switching Interconnect (ASI), a switched-fabric interconnect standard supported by more than 60 companies in the communications, storage and computer markets.
    The Agilent E2980A enables design and verification engineers to quickly and thoroughly test ASI chipsets from first silicon through board turn-on to overall system verification. Software and hardware engineers in R&D, validation and quality assurance can test either single or multiple ASI interfaces with complete test coverage, reducing the risk of expensive, time-consuming rework.
    ASI is a switched-fabric standard based on PCI Express technology that allows computer components such as CPU nodes and IO nodes to be interconnected in a variety of topologies. Protocol tunneling allows any protocol to be embedded in ASI. The standard incorporates definitions for quality of service with peer-to-peer or multicast communications. It also defines load/store and queuing protocols. The Agilent E2980A is the industry's first solution that provides protocol analysis as well as protocol exercising features for ASI. It is ideal for bring-up and debug, validation and compliance testing of ASI components and systems.

    The Agilent E2980A series system protocol-test solution provides the following capabilities:

--	Complete test coverage with ASI packet generation via the protocol exerciser, and ASI protocol decoding via the protocol analyzer.
--	The protocol exerciser acts as an active ASI device that can generate and respond to all types of ASI packets and sequences of packets.
--	Comprehensive design verification and corner-case scenarios with flexible control of parameters on all layers of the ASI protocol, together with sophisticated error-insertion capabilities.
--	Emulation of large ASI fabrics, enabling the testing of BIOS software, drivers and switches.
--	The protocol analyzer with dynamic triggering, search/filter capabilities and sophisticated usability and traffic representations enabling fast debug, detailed root-cause analysis and device-performance analysis.
--	Multiple ways to connect to the device under test with either slot interposer probing or midbus probing.
--	Coverage of ASI x1, x4 and x8.

    "The Agilent system protocol tester offers the ideal universal platform to adopt new interconnect standards, offering our customers the right tools from the start," said Siegfried Gross, vice president and general manager for Agilent's Digital Verification Solutions division. "It helps developers bring better-quality ASI products to market more quickly."

    The E2980A is based on Agilent's N2X modular protocol test platform that offers the following benefits:

    -- Multi-protocol test can be used with ASI, PCI Express and
    Fibre Channel applications.

    -- Multi-port test capability allows system-level switch/fabric
    testing.

    -- Simultaneously records traffic and transactions on the ASI bus
    and time-correlates them for PCI Express test applications.

    -- Exerciser's DCOM and TCL interfaces customize test automation.

    -- Universal and flexible platform protects capital investment,
    as customers who already own an E2960 PCI Express analyzer or
    exerciser can simply upgrade their system with a software
    package.

    U.S. Pricing and Availability

    The Agilent E2980A can be ordered now, with shipments starting in May 2005. The protocol exercisers are priced starting at $62,000, and the protocol analyzers start at $58,000. Customers who already own an E2960A for PCI Express can upgrade to an E2980A for ASI starting at $29,000.
    More information about the Agilent E2980A for ASI is available at www.agilent.com/find/ASI. Photos of the product are available at www.agilent.com/find/E2980A_images.

    About Agilent Technologies

    Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

    NOTE TO EDITORS: Sales information is available by calling +1 800 452 4844, item number 7972. Please do NOT use editor contact or corporate telephone numbers for sales and product information.
    Information in this news release applies specifically to products available in the United States. Product availability and specifications may vary in other markets.
    If you choose to review this item, your readers will receive the quickest response to their inquiries by mailing them to Agilent Technologies, Test and Measurement Organization, 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd., MS 54LAK, Santa Clara, CA 95052.
    Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news.

--30--AC/sf*

CONTACT: Agilent Janet Smith, 970-679-5397 janet_smith@agilent.com or Weber Shandwick, for Agilent Annie Lennon, 503-552-3747 alennon@webershandwick.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE TRADESHOW SOURCE: Agilent Technologies Inc.

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