3Com Corp of Santa Clara, California has launched SuperStack II, the third generation of its system for stackable workgroup networking systems and the latest boost to its Transcend Networking Strategy. SuperStack II, according to the company, offers users a range of features unavailable in previous versions, such as port switching, fully integrated graphics-based network management, hot swappability and uninterruptible power supply. The SuperStack II Hub 10 offers shared media networking with full RMON and management features at a reduced $58 per port. The SuperStack II Port Switch Hub is classed, somewhat ridiculously, as a microsegmentable offering for front-end switches, with full per-segment RMON, advanced management and hot swappability from $90 per port. In addition, the SuperStack II Desktop Switching Bundle for large workgroups is now available for $168 per port. Also announced was the inclusion of full integration of remote monitoring to its SuperStack II Enterprise Monitor; full graphical interface for its network management tool, Transcend Super-Stack View; increased network capacity with Token Ring switching for the SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR for under $700 per port; the SuperStack II Uninterr-uptible Power S upply, which acts during power surges, spikes, brown-outs and blackouts; the SuperStack II Hot Swap Cascade Unit for the Port Switch Hub enables units to be removed without crashing the network; the SuperStack Open Partner Carrier enables third party technologies such as wireless local network, facsimile, print, or CD-ROM servers to be introduced seamlessly into the stack on a carrier board; the SuperStack II Switch v2.0 Software Agent for the SuperStack II Switch 1000/3000, offers increased security and bandwidth management through virtual local network support. No pricing details were available. 3Com also made a number of related Transcend Networking Strategy announcements including its claim for an industry first with the introduction of its AccessBuilder 5000, which it touts as the first multi-segment local network-wide area network switch. Port switching Combining up to 10 Ethernet or Token Ring ports with 256 wide area networks ports the AccessBuilder 5000, according to 3 Com, enables users to configure individual network servers, similar to those used for the World Wide Web, electronic mail or database access, with port switching – improving access performance by letting network administrators incorporate local and remote users into the same workgroup. The 5000’s 17-slot chassis enables network administrators use a variety of wide area networks media modules including asynchronous, ISDN and T1/E1 connections. There are options for fault-tolerance which include redundant power supplies, fans and controller and management modules. 3Com claims it offers intelligent system and power management features, while also supporting Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol-enabled applications, which provide flexibility in building virtual networks. The base Access-Builder configuration with 48 asynchronous Ethernet or Token Ring ports costs $25,000 and $30,000 respectively. Wide area network modules for ISDN and T1/E1 will be available in the fourth quarter. In addition, 3Com says it will add to Transcend later this year with Web-based enterprise accounting and monitoring capabilities and support for IBM’s NetView/6000. 3Com has also bolstered the remote side of Transcend with the introduction of the next generation of the 3Com Impact IQ external ISDN modem, claiming its intelligent features enable users to install within 15-minutes or get their money back. These features include SPID Wizard, Automatic Switch Detect, and Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation which help determine the ISDN line parameters during installation. The modem handles both analog and digital communications simultaneously, catering for use of both B channels for an ISDN data call and analog calls. Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation means that the IQ device automatically reduces an ongoing Multilink Point-to-Point Protocol data session to a single 64Kbps B channel when the phone, facsimile machine or modem either rings or is initiated by the user. The 3ComImpact IQ device doubles the serial port throughput and increases usage value with IETF standards-based Compression Control Protocol with Stacker LZS data compression. 3Com has also upgraded the serial port on its ISDN modem to transmit 230.4Kbps of data. It is planned to ship in both U and S/T interface versions for Mac and Windows systems, this month, for $350 to $400. á
