Ixia (XXIA)

Ixia was a provider of network testing, visibility and security solutions headquartered in Calabasas, California. Its test systems let equipment makers, carriers and enterprises simulate heavy network traffic to verify the performance and resilience of routers, switches, wireless gear and data center equipment. It also sold network visibility products, such as packet brokers and taps, that give security and monitoring tools a clear view of traffic. Customers ranged from major telecom equipment manufacturers to service providers and government agencies. The stock traded on Nasdaq under the symbol XXIA.

The company was founded in 1997 by Errol Ginsberg and Jean-Claude Asscher, who had previously worked together in the test equipment field. Ixia went public on Nasdaq in October 2000, near the peak of the telecom boom. Its high-speed Ethernet test systems became a standard tool for network equipment developers. The company built a reputation for engineering depth and kept expanding as network speeds moved from gigabit to 10, 40 and 100 gigabit.

Ixia grew significantly through acquisitions, including Catapult Communications, BreakingPoint Systems, Anue Systems and Net Optics, which moved it into security testing and network visibility. These deals broadened its business beyond lab testing into products that run in live production networks. The company also went through a difficult period around 2013 and 2014, when it restated past financial results and saw leadership changes. It later stabilized under new management and continued to sell to a large installed customer base.

In January 2017 Keysight Technologies agreed to buy Ixia for $19.65 per share in cash, a deal valued at about $1.6 billion. Keysight, the electronic measurement company spun off from Agilent, wanted Ixia's software-centric network test and visibility products to complement its hardware instruments. The acquisition closed on April 18, 2017, and Ixia shares were delisted from Nasdaq. Ixia's products continued under the Keysight brand as part of its network applications and security business.