Network Devices Certification Program
A Certification Program for networking products, including bridges, switches, and NIC cards, is vital as it assures customers of standardized quality, compatibility, and performance. This validation fosters trust and confidence, ensuring that these foundational components reliably support network infrastructure, ultimately leading to smoother operations and increased efficiency.
Our current Network Devices Certification Program is based on the following:
- Avnu Network Device Certification
- 802.1BA Bridge
- ProAV Bridge (Replaced by 802.1BA)
To learn more about the Certification Program follow the links below:
Authorized Test Labs
Avnu has Certification testing at new Registered Test Facilities (RTF) around the world. These well-recognized, globally dispersed test labs offer lower shipping times, competitive pricing models, and streamline the process for members seeking to certify products and make communications between testing sites and vendors seamless. These additional test sites and locations give Avnu Alliance greater ability to scale testing capacity to meet demand, while also allowing device manufacturers to enter products into testing with less lead time prior to release.
Avnu Alliance Certification Testing must be conducted at an Avnu-approved Recognized Test Facility. These test facilities have been selected, evaluated, and audited by Avnu and found to meet the requirements to conduct Avnu Certification Testing in accordance with Avnu Policies defined by the Avnu Certification Work Group. The scope of testing for each Recognized Test Facility is captured in the table below.
Founded in 1991, Allion has accumulated over 30 years of testing experience. Headquartered in Taiwan with branches in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and South Korea, we are able to provide convenient, top-quality services wherever you are. Allion offers professional services in research, design, quality, and production. Our services include standard certification and compliance testing, product ecosystem scenario testing, test fixture design, and IIoT solutions. https://www.allion.com/
Excelfore is accelerating vehicle data services, with in-vehicle networking protocol stacks including Ethernet TSN, SOME/IP, DoIP and UDS (client), and has established a full lab within the company’s Japan engineering center to test Avnu members’ products for conformance and interoperability with the Avnu specifications. Excelfore also provides innovative cloud-to-vehicle solutions including the eSync OTA, eDatX data aggregation, eLearn analytics platforms. https://excelfore.com/last-meter-connect/
Granite River Labs (GRL) is a leading provider of end-to-end testing, certification and compliance services and related proprietary instrumentation and software solutions to support development and commercialization of sophisticated connected devices. GRL enables engineers to solve tough design and validation challenges worldwide. GRL believes in providing affordable test services to help hardware developers implement digital interface technologies as they become faster, more complex, and more challenging to test. https://graniteriverlabs.com/
Steps for Certification:
- Become an Avnu Alliance member, and pay the applicable annual membership fee.
- (Optional) Purchase Avnu’s Express Test Tool to help in the development of your product prior to going to test lab.
- Applicant registers product with Avnu Alliance using the Certification Management System.
- Upon approval of the above and confirmation of member’s status, Avnu’s Technical Programs Manager will inform the Applicant and the Recognized Test Facility (RTF) of Applicant’s choice of the product assigned TestID (TID), test versions, CRSL version, and other information.
- Remit payment of Avnu Product Registration fee to Avnu Admin.
- RTF executes required conformance test cases ensuring tests are executed correctly. After testing is complete, RTF issues preliminary test report(s) for review by the Applicant.
- If the device fails, the Applicant is notified of the failure and reason. The Applicant and RTF collaborate to determine whether the Product needs to be fixed or a Waiver should be submitted. The Applicant will work with the RTF and Avnu Technical Programs Manager as outlined in the Certification Process Flow to fix the product and retest, or have the failure waived.
- If the device passes, the RTF generates a Certification report for review by the Applicant and Avnu Technical Programs Manager. If the Avnu Technical Programs Manager approves of the passing Certification report, certification of conformance is granted to the Product and the CertificationID (CID) is issued.
More information about the Avnu Certification process can be found on the members-only site (login required).
Certification Test Tools
Avnu Express Test Tool
Avnu Alliance has introduced a test tool to streamline the certification process for vendors. Avnu’s low-cost validation test tool, the Avnu Express Test Tool, allows vendors to internally verify device conformance prior to submission for certification testing, providing valuable insights into the product that can be used to optimize product development – increasing the probability of certification success and saving manufacturers time, resources, and money. Members can use the test tool, which bundles test control and test engine software along with a set of hardware equipment, to verify the performance of end devices using Certified modules. Members can also integrate the test tool into their regression test bench for internal automated regression testing and can easily add their own test scripts for their own product development as well as for debugging and testing.
Avnu members can purchase floating licenses that allow teams across geographic locations to work using the same tool and the Avnu Express Test Tool will be automatically updated as new test plans become available.
For those interested in getting access to the Avnu Express Test Tool, please contact our Technical Program Manager at TPM@avnu.org.
Test Tools
Avnu has approved Keysight’s test tools (NovusOne and NovusMini) for use in the Component Certification Program. For more information on how to purchase this tool, Contact Avnu
Check this chart to help determine which tool is best for your needs:
(Only Active Certification Programs are listed)
Test Tool | Certification Programs | Product Debugging | Contact: |
Avnu Express Test Tool | Milan | Component, Network Devices | |
Keysight NovusOne/NovusMini | Component, Network Devices | ||
vIOLett | Automotive | Automotive |
Plugfests
Benefits of Attending
Avnu Alliance members benefit from participating in pre-certification plugfests that offer a unique hands-on opportunity for engineers to test connectivity and interoperability. Plugfests are useful for cross-pollinating best practices between developers from different companies and bootstrapping test plans when common implementation mistakes are seen. Plugfests can also help members spot product issues early on in the process, analyze device behavior and make changes to improve interoperability before entering certification testing.
Top 5 reasons to Attend a Plugfest:
- Access to multiple development tools
- Support with debugging
- Interop testing with other Avnu member products – This helps to ensure a positive user experience when purchasing Avnu Certified Products
- Access to the latest test plans
- Confidence in the Certification Process/Program and to Ask the experts if you have any questions
