Network test equipment performs functional testing of network devices such as Ethernet line cards to ensure that they receive and transmit data correctly. In an Ethernet test, Ethernet traffic or data is routed from the network to the Ethernet board under test and then sent to the network test instrument. 10/100 Ethernet Media Access Controllers (MACs) send data to the Network Traffic Acquisition and Analysis Module, which is used to accurately analyze the acquired data. The Network Traffic Generation Module also generates Ethernet traffic to the 10/100 Ethernet card under test, which is then accurately tested by the network tester and the Network Traffic Acquisition and Analysis Module. This is how the Network Tester ensures that two different sources of Ethernet cards are receiving and transmitting data accurately. Cable Tester
The most sensitive aspect of a 10/100 Ethernet tester is the cost per port, and the high density and low cost of the Cyclone device is ideal for this type of design and business need. The Cyclone device can be combined with Altera's IP cores, such as the 10/100 Ethernet Media Access Controller, to shorten the design cycle. The Nios embedded soft-core processor can be used to provide control functions for the entire system. Therefore, the combination of low-cost Cyclone devices and IP cores can shorten the development cycle, reduce development costs, and accelerate the time-to-market of new products. In addition, integrating the functions of independent devices into a single Cyclone device can also reduce the number of independent devices on the board, reduce development time, and effectively reduce the cost of the product.