New network test appliance from BreakingPoint

By Janet Harris

Startup company, BreakingPoint Systems, is launching the BPS-1000 network test appliance, which aims to give customers an accurate picture of how their networking equipment will perform in the real world.

The device can detect security vulnerabilities in routers, load balancers and other devices. It also enables users to see how their networking equipment performs under a high volume of networking traffic.

BreakingPoint offers customers a service called Strike Pack, which tests to see if about 2,500 attacks are blocked on the network.  Some of the attacks not yet been publicly reported.

BreakingPoint has started shipping its first few systems to network equipment manufacturers, who are using it to test their own products.

The company also hopes to sell the equipment to enterprise customers, especially in the Internet and financial services markets, where it would be useful to help networking administrators ensure that service level agreements with networking vendors are being fulfilled.

The BPS-1000 could be used to evaluate new network applications such as VOIP systems before they are rolled out.