Packet Switching

Packet switching is a digital network communications method that groups all transmitted data, irrespective of content, type, or structure into suitably-sized blocks, called packets.

The network over which packets are transmitted is a shared network which routes each packet independently from all others and allocates transmission resources as needed. The principal goals of packet switching are to optimize utilisation of available link capacity, minimize response times and increase the robustness of communication. When traversing network adapters, switches and other network nodes, packets are buffered and queued, resulting in variable delay and throughput, depending on the traffic load in the network.

Network resources are managed by statistical multiplexing or dynamic bandwidth allocation in which a physical communication channel is effectively divided into an arbitrary number of logical variable-bit-rate channels or data streams. Each logical stream consists of a sequence of packets, which normally are forwarded by a network node asynchronously using first-in, first-out buffering. Alternatively, the packets may be forwarded according to some scheduling discipline for fair queuing or for differentiated or guaranteed quality of service, such as pipeline forwarding or time-driven priority (TDP). Any buffering introduces varying latency and throughput in transmission. In case of a shared physical medium, the packets may be delivered according to some packet-mode multiple access scheme.

Packet Switched Networks are now pervasive as they are being utilised to support core telecommunications, 3G/4G mobile communications and of course LAN/WAN solutions. Extensive testing is required to test all aspects from the physical media through protocol and routing capability to network security.

Livingston provides a range of equipment that can help installers and maintenance engineers and network operators measure and therefore manage their network service levels and performance:

For further information please see the following information from two of our key suppliers:

• Ethernet Testing Overview
• Fundamentals of Ethernet
• Metro Ethernet Test

Below is listed some of the equipment that we have available. If you cannot find what you need, please give us a call, as we are very interested in finding the right solution to meet your needs.

Packet Switching

	Agilent Technologies-N4010A 2.4GHz & 5GHz WLAN Tester	Details >>
	Agilent Technologies-N5541A N2X Network Performance Tester	Details >>
	Agilent Technologies-N5551A N2X 4-port 10/100/1000 Electrical/Optical Interface	Details >>
	Agilent Technologies-N5555A N2X Packets and Protocols Test Solution	Details >>
	Anritsu-5610-000-UTA UTA module with 10GigE LAN application	Details >>
	Anritsu-5700-001-GIGE CMA5000 GigE Module	Details >>
	Anritsu-CMA3000 Portable all-in-one tester	Details >>
	Anritsu-CMA5000 Telecomm Analyser Mainframe This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1440	Details >>
	Anritsu-CMA5000 10GigE 10 GigE LR Module	Details >>
	Anritsu-MD1230A Data Quality Analyser Mainframe	Details >>
	Anritsu-MD1230B IP/Ethernet/POS Analyzer	Details >>
	Anritsu-MD1231A IP Network Analyser Mainframe	Details >>
	Anritsu-MP1590A Network Performance Tester	Details >>
	Anritsu-MP1800A Signal Quality Analyzer	Details >>
	Anritsu-MT8850A Bluetooth Test Set	Details >>
	Anritsu-MT8852A Bluetooth Test Set with Audio	Details >>
	Anritsu-MT8860C WLAN Test Set	Details >>
	Anritsu-MU120101A Ethernet Module for MD1230A (10M/100M)	Details >>
	Anritsu-MU120102A Gigabit Ethernet Module for MD1230A	Details >>
	Anritsu-MU120111A 10/100M Ethernet Module	Details >>
	Anritsu-MU120112A Gigabit Ethernet Module	Details >>
	Anritsu-MU120122A Gigabit Ethernet Module	Details >>
	Anritsu-MU120138A 4-ports 10GbE Module	Details >>
	Calnex-Paragon Sync In-line Impairment Solution	Details >>
	ConnTech-2000 ESCON Analyser This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 2200	Details >>
	Digital Lightwave-NIC Plus + 10GigE SONET SDH Transmission Analyser with Ethernet	Details >>
	EXFO-AXS-200/635 xDSL2 and Ethernet Test Set	Details >>
	EXFO-AXS-200/850 Ethernet Test Set This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 2070	Details >>
	EXFO-AXS-200/855 Multilayer Access Test Set This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 4780	Details >>
	EXFO-FTB-200 Portable Mainframe This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 3860	Details >>
	EXFO-FTB-400-4 Universal Test Platform 4 Slot	Details >>
	EXFO-FTB-400-8 FTB-400 with 8 Back Universal Test Plat This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1060	Details >>
	EXFO-FTB-500-8 Universal Test Platform 8 Slot	Details >>
	EXFO-FTB-8130NGE STM64 module with optional 10GigE, 1,2,4 &10G FC	Details >>
	EXFO-FTB-8510 Gigabit Ethernet Test Module 10/100/1000 Base This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 3240	Details >>
	EXFO-FTB-85100G 100G/40G Ethernet Test Module—FTB-85100G Packet Blazer	Details >>
	EXFO-FTB-8510B Dual Port 10/100/1000 Ethernet Tester	Details >>
	EXFO-FTB-8520 SAN Test Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 3310	Details >>
	EXFO-FTB-8535 10G Fibre Channel Characterisation Module	Details >>
	EXFO-RTU-310 IP Services Test Head (1GBE)	Details >>
	EXFO-RTU-310G IP Services Test Head (10GE)	Details >>
	Fluke Networks-Etherscope Network Assistant	Details >>
	Fluke Networks-Etherscope II LAN and WLAN Analyser	Details >>
	Fluke Networks-Optiview Pro GigE Network Analyser	Details >>
	Frederick Engineering-ParaScope GigE Advanced Test Set for 10/100/Gigabit Ethernet	Details >>
	Ixia-LSM1000XMV16-01 16 Port Dual-PHY 10/100/1000 Load Module	Details >>
	Ixia-LSM1000XMV8--01 8 Port Dual-PHY 10/100/1000 Load Module	Details >>
	Ixia-XM2 2 Slot Mainframe	Details >>
	JDSU-C1000 Multi Services Application Module, Single port 10 Mb/s to 10 Gb/s & STM-1 to STM-64 This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 19170	Details >>
	JDSU-C1004 Dual port(one port 10 Mb/s to 10 Gb/s, one port 10 Mb/s to 2.5 Gb/s) Module	Details >>
	JDSU-C8015TM STM-1/4/16/64 & 1/10Gb Ethernet Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 13630	Details >>
	JDSU-C8424 10Gb Ethernet, 1310/1550nm Module	Details >>
	JDSU-C8525 STM-1/4/16/64 + 1Gb Ethernet Analyzer	Details >>
	JDSU-C8530 STM-1/4/16/64 + 1/10Gb Ethernet Analyzer	Details >>
	JDSU-C8542 10 Gigabit LAN/WAN Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 7840	Details >>
	JDSU-CHST-M35 10/100/1000 Ethernet Test Module	Details >>
	JDSU-FST-2802 Gigabit Ethernet Performance Analyser This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 3400	Details >>
	JDSU-HST-3000 Handheld Service Tester This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 6170	Details >>
	JDSU-MTS-4000 MTS-4000 Multiple Services Test Platform This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1630	Details >>
	JDSU-MTS-6000A (T-Berd-6000A) Compact Network Test Platform	Details >>
	JDSU-MTS-8000 Mainframe This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 3700	Details >>
	JDSU-MTS-8000 + 10Gig Ethernet 10GigE Test Set	Details >>
	JDSU-ONT-100G Test Solution Supporting 40GE/100GE/OTU4	Details >>
	JDSU-ONT-50 Optical Network Tester with 2.5/2.7 & 10/10.7 G Modules	Details >>
	JDSU-ONT-503 Optical Network Tester Mainframe (Jitter)	Details >>
	JDSU-ONT-506 Optical Network Tester Mainframe	Details >>
	JDSU-SmartClass - Ethernet 1-Port 10/100/1000 & Gig-E Tester This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1280	Details >>
	JDSU-SmartClass Home Full VDSL & HPNA Tester	Details >>
	JDSU-SmartClass TPS Triple-Play Services Tester	Details >>
	Navtel Communications-01-105950A Interwatch M7 Portable Platform This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 770	Details >>
	Pendulum Instruments AB-2261 Wireless LAN Spectrum Analyser	Details >>
	Radcom-Performer High Performance Protocol Analyser	Details >>
	Sage Instruments-925 Handheld Voice Service Tester This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 5290	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-Avalanche 290 Portable layer 4-7 test solution	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-CM-1G-D12 HyperMetrics 12-port Gigabit Ethernet Test Modules	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-CM-1G-D4 HyperMetrics 4-port Gigabit Ethernet Test Modules This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 18050	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-CV-10G-S2 HyperMetrics™ CV 2-PORT 10 Gigabit Ethernet Test Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 32390	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-EDM-1003B 12 Port Dual Media 10/100/1000 Interface Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 15840	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-EDM-2001B 4 Port Dual Media Gigabit Ethernet Module	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-EDM-2003B 10/100/1000 Dual Media, 12 port Test Module	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-FBC-3602A Fibre Channel 1G/2G 2-port module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 2310 $ 2500	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-GEM M1 Ethernet Network Impairment Emulator This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 3860	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-LAN-3101A 10/100 Mbps Ethernet SmartMetrics Card This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1010 $ 2100	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-LAN-3101B 10/100 Mbps Ethernet SmartMetrics Card This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1190 $ 2100	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-LAN-3201B. 1 Port GigE Smartmetrics Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1520 $ 2400	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-LAN-3201C 1 Port GigE Smartmetrics Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1540	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-LAN-3310A 2 Port GigE XD Smartmetrics Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 2770 $ 4000	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-LAN-3320A Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 Base 2-port Smart Metric module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 3860 $ 4300	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-LAN-3321A Dual Port TeraMetrics 10/100/1000 Base Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 3310 $ 4800	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-LAN-3324A Smartmetrics XD 4 port GigE module	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-MSA-2001B 10-Gigabit Ethernet Multiple MSA Test Solution	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-Smartbits 6000B 12 Slot Mainframe This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 4780	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-SMB 6000C Smartbit 12 slot Mainframe This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 5530	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-SMB-600 Smartbits 600 Mainframe This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 4310 $ 4400	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-SPT-2000 Portable High End (10) Gig/Ethernet performance test system This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 21750	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-SPT-9000A TestCenter 9U Mainframe This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 30230	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-XFP-2001B Single Port 10GigE Interface Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 46750	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-XFP-3730A Smartmetrics 10 GigE 1 Port Module	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-XFP-3731 Terametrics 10 GigE Single Port Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 9250 $ 14000	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-XLW-3720A Smartmetrics 10 Gigabit Ethernet Module	Details >>
	Spirent Communications-XLW-3721A 1 Port 10 GigE Terametrics Module	Details >>
	Sunrise Telecomm-SSMTT-28B Sunset MTT 10/100 ethernet module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1030	Details >>
	Sunrise Telecomm-SSMTT-29B Gigabit Ethernet Module This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1290	Details >>
	Sunrise Telecomm-SSMTT-29E Gigabit Ethernet Module	Details >>
	Sunrise Telecomm-SSMTT-30Z Fibre Channel Module 4G This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 3400	Details >>
	Sunrise Telecomm-STT Portable Scalable Multi Technology Test System	Details >>
	Sunrise Telecomm-Sunset MTT Colour Chassis This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 310	Details >>
	Sunrise Telecomm-Sunset MTT-29 Portable Gigabit Ethernet Tester	Details >>
	Tektronix-TF-GBE-ATP Ethernet Test Package	Details >>
	Trend Communications-Aurora Tango Gigabit Ethernet Tester This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 1990	Details >>
	Trend Communications-Multipro IP Test Platform This product is also available for ex-rental purchase: $ 4010	Details >>
	Trend Communications-Unipro GbE Gigabit Ethernet Tester	Details >>
	Trend Communications-Unipro VoIP VoIP Tester	Details >>