Ixia and its partners have announced the formation of the TesLA Alliance (IP Test Lab Automation), which Ixia said will provide an open, multi-vendor automation framework that allows members to offer integrated IP test automation solutions for their customers.

The Alliance members will build and market compatible solutions that enable interoperation between their respective solutions in customer quality assurance (QA) labs. Ixia said that TesLA aims to provide customers with a framework and a set of tools to raise productivity, improve ROI and accelerate time to market.

And TesLA's open, unified IP test automation framework also promotes the use of efficient, standardized tests.

The founding TesLA members are Apcon, Codenomicon, Fanfare, Ixia, Mu Dynamics, QualiSystems and Shunra.

According to Ixia, TesLA’s benefits are as followed:

• Multi-vendor interoperability – TesLA ensures that test equipment from multiple vendors is fully interoperable; testing of network devices and systems can be performed utilizing the best equipment from multiple vendors, seamlessly.
• Maximize ROI – TesLA's unifying framework increases the utilization of CAPEX investments, both for systems under test and test equipment; the open framework promotes a reduction in OPEX expenses that reduces the cost of deploying new technologies as they arrive.
• Minimize time to market – TesLA's combination of complementary automation products increases end-to-end test automation and creates an environment capable of truly unattended testing; this unattended testing allows more testing in less time with better coverage and increased utilization of hardware.
• Optimize end-user satisfaction – Through more robust testing with the use of TesLA members' products, customers will be able to deliver better products with fewer problems and significantly increase end-user satisfaction and product reputation.

The TesLA framework is based on Ixia's Test Conductor IP test automation solution. Ixia's iSimCity proof-of-concept lab will provide the facilities for interoperability testing by all alliance members, Ixia said.

"Customers are being asked to do more with fewer resources and less time, and automation plays a critical role in helping them efficiently and effectively overcome this challenge," said Dave Kresse, CEO at Mu Dynamics. "Ixia's broad range of load-based testing expertise complements Mu's focus around removing reliability, availability and security concerns to effectively eliminate downtime and quality issues in NGN IP Services."

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