The primary difference is that for each pair of ports, Linktropy simulates a single link and Netropy simulates multiple virtual links. This is easiest to explain for the Linktropy 5500 and Netropy N60 which each have a single pair of ports.

All traffic that enters the Linktropy 5500 on one port has the same configured conditions (bandwidth, latency, loss, etc.) applied before exiting the opposite port. If a latency of 50 ms is configured, all packets get delayed by 50 ms. This keeps configuration incredibly simply and intuitive - just fill in the bandwidth, delay, and loss of the link on the browser-based form, apply changes, and your link is configured.

However, some users need to apply different conditions to different flows. For example, you might want to simulate a headquarters or datacenter connected to multiple remote sites. Or you may want to isolate traffic from a single server to test a particular application. Or perhaps you want to run multiple tests in parallel for side-by-side comparison. Netropy offers this flexibility by creating multiple virtual links, or paths, between each pair of ports. Each pair of ports can be configured with up to 15 separate links. Each link is configured with its own bandwidth, latency, and loss parameters. Packets entering each port are directed to the appropriate link by IP source and destination address range (IPv4 or IPv6), VLAN ID, or MPLS label.

In addition to the single port pair Linktropy 5500 and Netropy N60, both Linktropy and Netropy are available in models with multiple port pairs. It is easiest to think of each port pair as a separate emulation device. For example, the Linktropy 7500 PRO, which includes 4 port pairs, is essentially equivalent to having four Linktropy 5500 units.

Beyond the distinction of single link vs. multi-link, Netropy includes additional features for advanced requirements not found on Linktropy. For example, Netropy can emulate RED queuing in addition to drop-tail and simulate periodic and burst packet loss conditions in addition to random and BER loss.

Linktropy 7500 PRO can simulate one link through each of four port pairs. Netropy N60 can simulate up to 15 links through a single port pair? The price is the same. But there are some differences:

Netropy N60 can emulate 15 separate links compared to 4 for the Linktropy 7500 Pro. If you need more than four links, Netropy is the obvious choice.

With only one set of GigE ports, the Netropy N60 is limited to 1 Gbps in each direction aggregated over all the links. The Linktropy 7500 PRO can simulate 1 Gbps on each link. If you need to simulate multiple 1 Gbps links, Netropy is the better choice.

If neither of the above criteria determine the choice, then it becomes a matter of feature set and preference. Linktropy is designed for absolute ease-of-use while Netropy is designed for to be more feature-rich to meet the needs of advanced users.

Whether Linktropy or Netropy is more suitable depends on your specific requirements for numbers of links, total emulated bandwidth, and special features. If you require any assistance, please call us and we'll be happy to recommend the most appropriate and cost-effective model for your testing needs.

Until Apposite developed the Linktropy and Netropy products, there were only two alternatives for network simulation: high-end telecoms products and software-based emulators. High-end telecoms simulators are designed to test WAN connection equipment rather than application performance and the products are focused primarily on the needs of telecoms professionals. Their prices put them out of range of most IT departments while their complexity make them difficult to use without extensive training.

Software-based emulators can be inexpensive, or even free, but the systems are extremely limited in precision and performance, rendering them useless as a reliable test tool.

The founders of Apposite Technologies recognized the need for a better solution. Linktropy and Netropy WAN Emulators are the culmination of a mission to offer a professional-quality WAN emulator designed for the needs of enterprise networking. The products had to have the precision and performance of the high end products, at a price suitable for IT departments and application developers with limited budgets and many priorities, and quick and intuitive to install and operate without training.

Pricing is based on the maximum emulation speed, with multiple versions of each model available to best match individual testing needs.

The Linktropy 5500 is available in 2 Mbps, 10 Mbps, 45 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 1 Gbps versions, with U.S. prices ranging from $4000 to $12,500.

The Linktropy 7500 PRO is available in 10 Mbps, 45 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 1 Gbps versions, with U.S. prices ranging from $10,000 to $20,000.

The Linktropy 10G is available for $35,000 to $38,000 depending on interface options.

The Linktropy Mini2 is available for $1975 and handles speeds up to 100 Mbps.

The Netropy N60 is available in 2 Mbps, 10 Mbps, 45 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 1 Gbps versions, with U.S. prices ranging from $8,000 to $15,000.

The Netropy N80 is available in 10 Mbps, 45 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 1 Gbps versions, with U.S. prices ranging from $12,500 to $22,500.

The Netropy 10G is available for $35,000 to $38,000 depending on interface options.

International prices may vary. Contact Apposite for pricing of the specific model and speed best suited to your needs.

Yes. The licensed speed is the maximum emulated WAN bandwidth that can be configured. For example, if you purchase a 100 Mbps version of the Linktropy 5500, you can emulate any WAN link speed up to 100 Mbps.

The licensed speed is the maximum bandwidth that can be configured for each link (path). For example, if you purchase a 10 Mbps version of the Netropy N60, you can configure 15 separate links of up to 10 Mbps each. Of course, you can configure one link at 10 Mbps, another at 2 Mbps, a third at 512 Kbps, etc.

Upgrading to a higher speed version of the same Linktropy or Netropy model requires only a new license key. The upgrade price is the difference in price between the versions, plus a nominal service fee.

All three models have the same feature set and differ only in physical capacity, ports, and number of links emulated. The Linktropy 5500 emulates a single link up to 1 Gbps (depending on bandwidth version) through two GigE ports. The Linktropy 7500 PRO emulates 4 separate gigabit links up to an aggregate maximum of 4 Gbps through eight GigE ports.
The Linktropy 10G emulates two 10 Gbps links and one 1 Gbps link.

The Linktropy Mini2 is a portable, low cost version of the Linktropy product, available for only $1975, designed to emulate basic WAN bandwidth, latency, and loss conditions for product demonstrations and application development.

The Mini2 was designed for portability and cost and offers only a subset of the features found on the other Linktropy models. Performance and precision of the Mini2 are appropriate for product demonstration and basic testing rather than the high precision of the other Linktropy models designed for lab testing. However, the Mini2 is far superior to any software or freeware WAN emulator and includes the same easy-to-use Linktropy GUI and link monitor. See the Linktropy Mini2 web page for more details.

Originally, there were two models in the 7500 series, the "7500" and the "7500 PRO", built on the same chassis. The 7500 emulated a single link up to 1 Gbps while the Pro emulated four separate links up to 1 Gbps. With the introduction of the 5500 model capable of emulating a single link up to 1 Gbps, production of the 7500 model was discontinued. This left the 7500 PRO in production with a somewhat cryptic name, but removing the PRO designation risked confusing people looking for the discontinued 7500.

Purchase of all Linktropy and Netropy models other than the Mini2 includes a full year of warranty, support, and maintenance. All firmware upgrades and new features are included. After the first year, an annual maintenance contract is available for 15% of the purchase price.

Yes. Both Linktropy and Netropy were designed with satellite and other long latency conditions in mind and can handle delays of up to 10 seconds in each direction.

No. Linktropy and Netropy simulate the conditions of the wide area network. They are not traffic generators. However, both product lines can simulate background traffic based on a configured link utilization rate and burst size to model the effect of competing traffic and bandwidth availability on application performance.

Users who have registered their unit are notified by e-mail whenever firmware updates become available. Firmware images are posted on the support section of the Apposite website for downloading. (A current maintenance contract is required to log onto the site.) The firmware is then installed via the GUI. See the Product Registration Page to register a unit.

Yes. Product User's Guides, Quick Start Guides, and Hardware Guides are all available in PDF form from the Guides & Documentation Page.

No. The performance, precision, and accuracy needed for a network emulator requires fine-grained control of the operating system and I/O subsystems that is not possible using a standard, unmodified operating system with unknown components and drivers.

Linktropy and Netropy products are designed for anyone who needs an accurate, easy-to-use, cost-effective way to test the performance of applications over the WAN, including:

• Corporate IT managers and network administrators
• Application and equipment vendors
• Military network developers
• Sales and SE professionals
• Networking equipment resellers and system integrators
• Q/A teams
• Test labs

Linktropy and Netropy simulators are used by network managers across a wide range of industries with a need to test applications performance, including retail, media, banking, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, publishing, and oil. In addition, Linktropy and Netropy products are used by many of the leading network equipment and application developers, including Cisco, Juniper, Microsoft, Riverbed, IBM, HP, NetApp, EMC, BlueCoat, and Citrix, as well as software developers, test labs, and military network designers. A few of the more than 1000 Apposite customers are listed on our Clients page.

Apposite certified Visio stencils for all the Linktropy and Netropy models are available free of charge from Altima Technologies. They can be downloaded by clicking on the following link: http://www.altimatech.com/ncpmfg/index.asp?mfgacronym=APPS#

Linktropy and Netropy network simulators are designed to be extremely easy to use, with an intuitive, browser-based GUI. Training is absolutely unnecessary.

No. Apposite is a product development company. We do not offer consulting or testing services.

'Linktropy' is short for Link+Entropy since the product is designed to add entropy to a clean link.

"Apposite" is pronounced similar to "opposite" but starting with an "a" sound. It means "highly pertinent or appropriate" (Merriam-Webster), hence our slogan: Apposite products, apposite prices, Apposite Technologies.