MANHASSET, N.Y. — Automated test solutions vendor Fanfare is extending its partnership with Agilent Technologies to offer joint customers the ability to integrate their test assets while automating complex system testing.

Fanfare's test automation software called iTest will be more tightly integrated with Agilent's N2X multiservices test software, the companies said. The move should accelerate the configuration and automation of test scenarios for network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and service providers, according to Fanfare.

The Agilent N2X is used by NEMs and service providers to validate the performance and scalability of next-generation network equipment. It is designed to test IP-forwarding devices that deliver video, VoIP, data services and business VPNs.

"Prior to our collaboration, the testing was more of a manual task," said David Gehringer, vice president of marketing for Fanfare. "With this expansion of our relationship, Agilent customers will benefit from our automation software."

"The current version of Fanfare's iTest supports the latest Agilent N2X software release, and we will continue the integration of our two products," Gehringer added.

Fanfare's iTest orchestrates system testing by executing simultaneous commands to different network devices to simulate network testing. Integrating Agilent's N2X with iTest will ease the process of automating test assets for service providers, the partners said.