Southborough, Massachusetts-based Chipcom Corp has unveiled the ONsemble StackSystem family of high-end Token Ring and Ethernet stackable hubs targeted at remote sites on an enterprise network – subject of its new OEM agreement with IBM Corp (CI No 2,599). Fault-tolerant capabilities in the range include a back-up power supply component, redundant links and dual wide area network connections, while on the management side, it incorporates an architecture that scales from Simple Network Management Protocol to full RMON, Remote Monitoring management. The Management and Expansion Token Ring Hubs, which will be available in Passive and Active versions, will incorporate Chipcom’s PowerRing technology, and support 16 users each. The Management Hub includes a user-installable uplink slot that accepts Fibre and Copper Ring-in/Ring-out Modules. These can connect to other ONsemble Hubs, ONline Concentrators and ONcore Systems to create an extended facility backbone, says Chipcom.
Alliance
In addition, through its development and marketing alliance with IBM Corp, the company has built-in full compatibility between the StackSystem Token Ring Hub and IBM’s 8230 Controlled Access Unit, 8250 Multiprotocol Intelligent Hub and 8260 Intelligent Switching Hub. The ONsemble StackSystem Ethernet range comprises fully managed, 24-Port 10Base-T Management and Expansion Hubs. The Management Hub is said to support user-installable Uplink Modules for 10Base-FL, 10Base-2, 10Base-5 and 10Base-T cable connections. Chipcom plans to add 100Mbps Fast Ethernet hubs, a 100VG hub, and Switch and Asynchronous Transfer Mode products to the range this year. Through Chipcom’s Open-Hub Program, the StackSystem is also claimed to offer third-party internetworking options such as Cisco router, remote access, SNA/local area network Frame Node and Integrated Services Digital Network. The Token Ring Hubs will list from $3,400, with the Expansion Hubs starting at $1,800; the Fibre Ring-in/Ring-out Module is $1,600. The Ethernet Hub will ship for $2,200, with the Ethernet Expansion Hub priced at $1,600. Ethernet Uplink modules start at $75. All will ship within 90 days.
