Reading, Berkshire-based Sintrom Plc’s Sintrom Datanet division has developed a 32-bit Inmos Transputer-based Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 local area network bridge. Says the company, the new IntraComm 200 is smaller, has fewer components and consumes half the power of any other bridge on the market. To simplify the Ethernet LAN interface, it uses the new Advanced Micro Devices Inc ILLAC chip. The bridge can handle traffic to and from saturated Ethernets at 14,800 frames per second, using the second Transputer for network management via a local console or via in-band messages using the Simple Network Management Protocol. This second Transputer also supp orts the TFTP file transfer protocol to down line load code and user configuration data, which is then stored locally in the bridge’s EPROM. The bridge will be out next month in managed and unmanaged versions – Sintrom Data net has a licensing deal with Intellicom Inc, which will manufacture the bridges at its new plant in Chatsworth, California, laying plans to make 10,000 units in the first year. Intel licom will also be marketing the new bridge through its distribution network in the US.
