INDUSTRY

CALABASAS, CA -- Ixia (Nasdaq: XXIA), a leading provider of high-speed, multiport network performance analysis and optimization systems, joined with the Internet2 consortium in announcing plans for a new University Equipment Donation program. Ixia, an industry sponsor of Internet2, will donate traffic generation and performance testing equipment to more than 40 participating Internet2 universities and colleges during 2002, with additional donations anticipated in 2003. "Testing is a fundamental step in the development of any new networking technology," explained Guy Almes, chief engineer for Internet2. "In teaming with Ixia on this equipment donation program, Internet2 is assisting member universities to expand the breadth of their Internet research and development activities, as well as encourage hands-on testing and experimentation by students." As part of its commitment to furthering advancements in Internet research and development, Ixia formed the Ixia University Partners Program (IxUPP). The University Equipment Donation effort is part of the IxUPP and is offered in collaboration with Internet2. Through the IxUPP Ixia also provides state-of-the-art hardware and software to several Ixia-sponsored university Test Labs for their use in conducting interoperability and performance tests of Internet vendor-ware. Current sponsored university test labs include: North Carolina State University’s Centennial Networking Lab, the University of Florida’s Network Services Interoperability Lab, the University of Hawaii’s Advanced Network Computing Lab, and the University of New Hampshire’s Interoperability Lab, Weber State University, and Widener University. Product discounts are also available to non-profit, academic institutions as part of the IxUPP. "The Ixia University Partner Program demonstrates Ixia’s commitment to universities and our belief that through expanding student and researchers’ access to quality test gear, we are contributing to the future Internet workforce and technology base," explained Eran Karoly, Ixia’s vice president of marketing. The initial phase of this program will include donation of IXIA 1600 chassis and Multilayer Gigabit Ethernet cards to more than 40 universities and colleges. Applications for the current round of donations are being accepted through September 6, 2002 on the Internet2 website at http://www.internet2.edu/html/ixia.html. Criteria for selecting recipient universities include: upcoming plans for testing of routers, switches or other Internet-related systems; requirements by researchers for traffic generation, performance analysis, or protocol conformance testing equipment; as well as use of the equipment in hands-on undergraduate or graduate student course work. Shipment of equipment to recipient universities is expected to begin in late September 2002. Over 190 universities and colleges in the United States are Internet2 members and will be eligible for periodic donations of Internet test equipment and software by Ixia. Most of these universities are classified as doctoral / research universities by the Carnegie Foundation’s classification of higher education institutions and are actively involved in Internet related research and development efforts.