In today’s fast-evolving telecommunications landscape, efficient installation, activation, and troubleshooting of Ethernet and transport networks are critical. To meet these demands, EXFO offers the MAX-800 Series and MAX-840 portable testers latest solutions designed for high-speed network testing from 10M up to 400G Ethernet.

MAX-800 Series

The MAX-800 Series stands out as a versatile and user-friendly tool that helps technicians and engineers ensure reliable network performance. This series supports Ethernet and transport testing with speeds ranging from 10M up to 100G. The testers are designed for portability, ease of use, and rapid deployment, making them ideal for field work during installation, service activation, and troubleshooting.

Key Features of the MAX-800 Series

The MAX-800 Series delivers a comprehensive range of capabilities:

Broad Protocol Support: Testing support includes legacy protocols like DSn/PDH, ISDN, SONET/SDH, Optical Transport Network (OTN), and modern Ethernet interfaces up to 100 Gbit/s.

Ethernet Service Activation: The series features EtherSAM testing based on ITU-T Y.1564, enabling fast and accurate service activation with clear pass/fail results.

Quad-Port Testing: Some models offer up to four independent 100GE port tests simultaneously, which improves efficiency for technicians working with multiple links.

Layer-2 Transparency and BER Testing: These tests help validate data integrity and network transparency.

Built-In Connectivity: With multiple connectivity options such as Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular 3G/4G LTE, users can easily connect and transfer test data.

Intuitive Interface: The 8-inch multitouch color screen features an industry-leading GUI that simplifies operation and speeds up report generation.

Choosing the Right MAX-800 Model

The MAX-800 Series includes five models tailored to different testing needs:

MAX-860: Supports Ethernet testing up to 1 Gigabit Ethernet (1GE).

MAX-860G: Supports Ethernet testing up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GE).

MAX-880: Supports Ethernet up to 10GE and transport testing up to 10G, including DSn/PDH, ISDN, SONET/SDH, and OTN.

MAX-890: Supports Ethernet testing up to 100GE and transport testing up to 100G.

MAX-890Q: A high-end model supporting dual-port independent testing up to 100GE and 4x100GE Layer 2 testing.

All models support core Ethernet tests such as RFC 2544, EtherSAM, EtherBERT, traffic generation and monitoring, and Smart Loopback.

The Power of EtherSAM Testing

A standout feature of the MAX-800 Series is EtherSAM, EXFO’s Ethernet service activation methodology aligned with ITU-T Y.1564 standards. EtherSAM allows technicians to quickly validate Ethernet services, covering all service-level agreement (SLA) parameters in a single test. This reduces deployment time and avoids repeat testing by delivering instant, accurate visibility into service performance metrics. It is especially useful in mobile backhaul and commercial Ethernet service testing.

Legacy and Transport Network Testing

While Ethernet dominates modern networks, legacy systems like DSn/PDH and SONET/SDH remain prevalent, especially in metro and access networks. EXFO’s MAX-800 Series continues to support these protocols for installation, commissioning, and maintenance activities. Features include bit-error-rate (BER) measurement, service disruption time (SDT) analysis, and advanced signal characterization.

Additionally, the MAX-800 Series offers extensive testing capabilities for Optical Transport Network (OTN) deployments. Engineers can evaluate critical metrics such as BER, SDT, round-trip delay (RTD), and OTN overhead, making this series a versatile tool for both traditional and next-generation networks.

MAX-840: Your Gateway to 400G Ethernet Testing

As network speeds accelerate, the demand for testers capable of handling 400G Ethernet is rising. The MAX-840 meets this demand with a compact, modular design that allows users to start testing up to 100G and upgrade to 400G as needed. It supports a full range of Ethernet tests, including EtherBERT, RFC2544, Fibre Channel testing (1X to 32X), and more.

Key Features of the MAX-840

The MAX-840 boasts several advanced capabilities:

Flexible Speed Options: Test from 1G to 400G Ethernet, with the option to start at lower speeds and upgrade later.

Comprehensive Protocol Support: Including Fibre Channel testing, which is essential for storage networks.

iOptics Intelligent Testing: Automated validation of pluggable optics transceivers and cables (AOC and DAC), enabling quick and reliable diagnostics.

Support for Latest Transceiver Standards: Including SFP28, QSFP28, QSFP-DD, QSFP112, and OSFP.

Cloud Integration: The EXFO Exchange cloud-hosted platform allows test result uploads, sharing, and team collaboration in real-time.

Applications and Benefits

Both MAX-800 and MAX-840 testers find applications in various network environments:

Core and Metro-Edge Networks: Ensuring high-performance Ethernet and transport links.

Data Center Testing: Verifying high-speed data transmission and storage connectivity.

4G/5G Backhaul: Supporting modern mobile network infrastructure.

Service Activation: Accelerating deployment and validation of new Ethernet services.

Benefits include automating test result management, improving compliance, boosting team collaboration, and providing detailed reporting to unlock actionable insights.

The EXFO MAX-800 Series and MAX-840 provide comprehensive, scalable, and portable testing solutions that meet the evolving needs of network professionals. From legacy transport networks to cutting-edge 400G Ethernet, these tools ensure fast, accurate, and reliable testing for installation, activation, and troubleshooting.

With intuitive interfaces, powerful testing suites like EtherSAM, and cloud connectivity, they enable technicians and engineers to deliver high-quality network services with confidence and efficiency.

Who We Are?

We are a technology-driven solutions provider specializing in Timing & Synchronization, Test & Measurement, Remote Fiber Testing & Monitoring, GPON Protocol Analysis, GbE Testers, Ethernet Network Testers and Network Performance & Cybersecurity.

With a strong focus on innovation and reliability, we aim to empower service providers, data centre, utilities, enterprises and research institutes with state-of-the-art tools and systems. Our solutions are designed to ensure accuracy, visibility, and security across complex network infrastructures.

At the core of our mission is a consistent drive to introduce the latest technologies and expand our product and service offerings. We stay ahead of industry trends to meet—and exceed—the evolving demands of our customers and the markets we serve.

Whether it's optimizing network performance, ensuring precise synchronization, or enhancing fiber monitoring and security, we deliver solutions that offer measurable value and long-term reliability.