Keysight Technologies is targeting the persistent bottleneck of manual physical connectivity in network testing by introducing the Velocity 4900 Series. This new line of Layer 1 automation switches aims to bridge the gap between physical test environments and modern, software-driven development cycles. By replacing manual cabling with software-controlled configurations, the company is positioning these switches as a foundational step for organizations attempting to integrate physical lab infrastructure into automated continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) workflows. This move addresses the growing pressure on engineering teams to validate increasingly complex networks required for AI and 6G technologies, where traditional, manual topology changes often result in underutilized equipment and delayed product release cycles.
Velocity 4902 and 4906 Hardware Specifications
The Velocity 4900 Series debuts with two distinct models designed to handle different density and speed requirements within a modernized test lab. The Keysight Velocity 4902 serves as a high-speed option, supporting Ethernet speeds ranging from 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to 100 gigabits per second (Gbps). This model features 72 QSFP28 ports, which can support up to 288 connections when utilizing breakouts, offering flexibility for high-speed functional and performance testing. In contrast, the Keysight Velocity 4906 is a high-density solution featuring 288 SFP28 ports. This model supports Ethernet speeds from 100 Mbps to 25 Gbps, allowing organizations to automate a larger portion of their existing lab inventory within a compact, fixed-form-factor platform.
Both hardware models utilize an ultra-low-latency, fully transparent switching matrix to provide true Layer 1 forwarding. The series is designed to be media-agnostic, supporting single-mode fiber, multimode fiber, direct-attach copper, and active optical cables, with the ability to configure port speed and media on a per-port basis. Beyond simple connectivity, the switches include capabilities for port tapping to assist with diagnostics and monitoring, as well as one-to-many traffic replication. This replication feature is intended to allow for broader test coverage and more efficient reuse of existing traffic-generation resources across the testing environment.
Integrating Physical Labs into CI/CD Workflows
Keysight is positioning the Velocity 4900 Series as a mechanism to transform stagnant physical testbeds into dynamic, programmable assets. Currently, many engineering teams rely on manual cabling to change network topologies, a process that can take hours or even days. The Velocity 4900 Series seeks to reduce this timeframe to seconds or minutes by allowing engineers to create, save, and reproduce physical test topologies through a software-controlled interface. This capability is intended to facilitate the automation of testbed setup and teardown, which is a critical requirement for organizations attempting to align physical testing with the rapid iterations of automated development pipelines.
Furthermore, the series aims to solve the problem of resource scarcity and geographic isolation in large-scale engineering organizations. Through software-controlled management and an intuitive graphical user interface, authorized users can remotely access and share expensive or scarce test equipment across different teams and locations. This remote access is designed to improve overall equipment utilization and reduce the need for redundant hardware purchases. By integrating with the broader Keysight Velocity portfolio, these switches are intended to enable more advanced functions, such as resource reservation, lab orchestration, and full-scale test automation, providing a scalable path for incremental lab modernization.
Key Takeaways
- The Velocity 4902 supports Ethernet speeds up to 100 Gbps and includes 72 QSFP28 ports capable of 288 connections via breakouts.
- The Velocity 4906 provides high-density connectivity with 288 SFP28 ports supporting speeds up to 25 Gbps.
- Initial deliveries for the new series are planned for January 2027.
TechInsyte's Take
In our view, Keysight is making a calculated move to address the "physicality gap" in the DevOps movement. While software-defined networking and CI/CD pipelines have matured rapidly, the physical layer in many enterprise test labs remains a manual, analog hurdle that prevents true end-to-end automation. By introducing the Velocity 4900 Series, Keysight is betting that the complexity of AI and 6G infrastructure will force enterprises to treat their physical testbeds with the same programmable rigor they apply to their cloud environments. This isn't just about replacing cables; it is about attempting to turn hardware into a software-addressable resource. If successful, this could shift the lab from a collection of isolated instruments into a unified, orchestrated component of the broader digital infrastructure, though the 2027 delivery timeline suggests a long runway for enterprise adoption.
Questions & Answers
How does the Velocity 4900 Series impact the speed of network topology changes?
The series aims to replace manual cabling with software-controlled Layer 1 connectivity, allowing engineering teams to provision, modify, and tear down complex physical test topologies in seconds or minutes, rather than the hours or days typically required for manual setups.
What specific media and connection types are supported by these switches?
The switches support single-mode fiber, multimode fiber, direct-attach copper, and active optical cables. They also offer port tapping for diagnostics and one-to-many traffic replication to improve the efficiency of traffic-generation resources.
Can these switches help reduce capital expenditure on testing equipment?
Keysight suggests the series can improve equipment utilization by allowing organizations to pool scarce or expensive instruments and make underused assets available to remote teams, potentially reducing the need for unnecessary equipment duplication.
What is the deployment timeline for the new Velocity 4902 and 4906 models?
The Keysight Velocity 4902 and 4906 are available for order immediately, with the company planning initial deliveries to begin in January 2027.
Source: Keysight
