Andrew Network Products, merged with Bothell, Washington-based Emerald Technology Inc last March by its parent Andrew Corp of Chicago, has announced an intelligent media management system for Token-Ring networks. The system provides a single point of control for multistation access units and workstations and real time management and control of 4Mbps and 16Mbps Token-Ring nets. Andrew claims that the system’s capacity is beyond the network management functions furnished by the IEEE 802.5 specification. The initial system consists of four components – Media Management Program software, Intelligent Multistation Access Unit – MAU – Interface Controller, Intelligent Satellite MAU and the Intelligent Standalone MAU. The network management system monitors workstations, identifies network problems or faults, isolates problem stations and enables installation or removal of multistations or workstations without disabling the network. It will also send alerts on beaconing conditions and cable faults to the media manager. The software costs $2,000 and system costs depend on the configuration.
