NetAlly
LinkRunner 10G

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The LinkRunner 10G is a high-performance portable Ethernet tester for Multi-Gig and 10 Gig networks (copper and fiber) that simplifies validation and configuration, and streamlines workflows by combining essential functions into a single, portable, ruggedized unit.


Benefits:
As a light-weight, handheld, multi-function instrument, LinkRunner 10G is perfect for remote site validation and troubleshooting, eliminating the need to purchase multiple testers, and the need to carry a fragile laptop PC or tablet. Advanced apps make the user’s workflow more efficient, by expanding the usage of the instrument beyond testing, allowing the user to check trouble tickets, run speed tests, configure networked devices, and complete other tasks with its smartphone-like features.

Multi-Gig Link Validation

The Wired Link Test shows advertised and actual speed and duplex to diagnose mismatch issues. On links over 1G, each pair channel is graded based on the minimum SNR observed, to verify copper media for Multi-Gig capability (1 / 2.5 / 5 / 10Gig) and provide root cause diagnosis when link speed downshifting occurs.


Benefits:
Investment in Multi-Gig infrastructure is wasted if the cable plant cannot support the desired speed. But diagnosis of link “downshifting” is difficult, often leading to finger-pointing between cabling contractors and equipment vendors. LinkRunner 10G’s SNR measurement on active links provides root-cause evidence when link speed issues occur.

VLAN Identification & Analysis

The LinkRunner 10G Wired AutoTest automatically identifies and lists VLANs supported by the connected switch port by analyzing the VLAN IDs of the traffic received. The LinkRunner 10G continues to show the distribution of traffic by VLAN until another wired AutoTest has executed, or the link to the switch port is severed.


Benefits:
Proper VLAN configuration of switch ports has become important to the operation and security of the modern network so that various traffic can be properly isolated. The LinkRunner 10G wired AutoTest provides the visibility and documentation of VLAN configuration of switch port automatically that makes this previously complex verification task simple.

Switch Visibility

The LinkRunner 10G AutoTest automatically detects the nearest connected switch port by analyzing the xDP (CDP, LLDP, and EDP) protocols received. The LinkRunner 10G reports the content of the first xDP packet received as the nearest switch in the AutoTest result. It continues to monitor the xDP traffic received, and lists the source devices and the content of xDP traffic in the Switch Test detail.


Benefits:
The LinkRunner 10G wired AutoTest provides quick visibility to the configuration of the nearest switch port connected in most cases. Even when it is connected to a switch that has the xDP traffic function disabled or set to be transmitted very infrequently, the LinkRunner 10G can still provide visibility to the nearest xDP-supporting devices. There is no need to use a protocol analyzer to verify xDP configuration, which is much easier for network technicians to handle. 

Capture

The LinkRunner 10G can capture up to 10G line-rate to create a PCAP file of up to 1Gigabyte. Packet slicing and filtering are supported, and PCAP files can be uploaded to the Link-Live Cloud Service for easy sharing.


Benefits:
Having the power of 10G line-rate capture (with NO dropped packets) in the palm of your hand means you are always equipped to gather the evidence needed for in-depth troubleshooting and problem escalation.

Performance

The LinkRunner 10G Performance app provides point-to-point performance testing with a UDP traffic stream through its wired network interface against up to eight NetAlly hardware/software endpoints. This test quantifies network performance in terms of target throughput rate, loss, latency, and jitter at a specified throughput.

iPerf testing is available to test the network throughput for TCP/UDP streams to an iPerf v3.0 server, such as the NetAlly Test Accessory.

Benefits:
The Performance and iPerf apps verify SLA of critical network links when deploying NBASE-T or 1G/10G links to support critical device, e.g. 10G servers, NAS, and high-speed WiFi access points, ensuring you’re getting the bandwidth you expect.

LANBERT™ Media Qualification App
The LANBERT media qualification app for the LinkRunner AT 4000 provides a simple and fast method of assessing the quality of transmission and available bandwidth in your copper and fiber cable plant. When used with another LANBERT-compatible NetAlly tester (or a Loopback), LANBERT generates and measures the transmission of line rate Ethernet frames over your network cabling infrastructure (while taking into consideration Digital Signal Processing), qualifying its ability to support 1G on fiber and 10M/100M/1G on copper links.

Benefits:
With the insatiable growth in bandwidth, plus the increasing number of IoT devices at smart offices and homes, network professionals must have confidence that their network cabling will transport all data error-free and at the maximum speed possible. LANBERT allows you to understand the real capabilities of your existing network, preventing unnecessary cabling upgrades.

With the expanding deployment of Multi-Gig switching (typically to feed greater bandwidth to WiFi 6 access points), users are finding that their cable plant may not support the desired speed. Cable quality, length, installation workmanship, and noise in the environment all can contribute to “downshifting” to lower-than-expected speeds.

Link Validation

LinkRunner 10G verifies copper media for Multi-Gig capability (1G/2.5G/5G/10Gig) and provides root-cause diagnosis when link speed downshifting occurs by measuring the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Links out of spec are flagged with a warning.

LANBERT™ Media Qualification app

The LANBERT Media Qualification app generates and measures the transmission of line rate Ethernet frames over your network cabling infrastructure, in order to determine the maximum error-free bandwidth, possibly preventing costly and unnecessary cabling upgrades.

Two LinkRunner 10G units (or one unit paired with an EtherScope nXG or CyberScope) and the Network Performance Test (NPT) app can be used to stress critical network links, such as switch ports to servers/storage/WiFi access points, uplinks or WAN links, with up to eight simultaneous data streams at up to 10G line-rate. It verifies the link’s compliance to service level agreements (SLA) based on throughput, packet loss, QoS, delay and jitter.

Network Performance Test (NPT) app

This performance test can be run at up to full line-rate in order to measure the top-end bandwidth and quality of your network from end-to-end, or for particular network segments. It can also be utilized to bench-test switches for optimal configuration prior to rollout into production. For troubleshooting on a production network (where excessive test traffic could be detrimental), many users will configure the NPT app with a low stream of traffic (even just 64Kbps) in order to characterize network quality, identify possible packet loss, delay and jitter, and validate QoS.

LANBERT™ Media Qualification app

LANBERT™ Media Qualification app generates and measures the transmission of line rate Ethernet frames over your network cabling infrastructure, qualifying its ability to support 1G/10G on fiber and 100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10G on copper links.

• The Link-Live™ collaboration, reporting, and analysis platform stores test results and site data uploaded for automated reporting and documentation.

• Simplifies report generation across media types for network deployment documentation.

• Reduces results management overhead for multiple testers and users.

• Enables seamless collaboration between site personnel and remote experts.

• Attach photos, user comments to each result, adding context for future changes and troubleshooting.

• For asset management, ability to associate serial numbers of installed devices, and/or cable/wall jack label to specific test results.