Cisco Systems Inc has announced its FastHub 300 series of manageable, stackable Fast Ethernet hubs. Both the 100Base-TX and the 100Base-TX/100Base-FX configured hubs are expandable from 16 to 32 managed ports and each repeater can include port expansion and network management within the unit. The new hubs can be built into stacks with up to 128 ports. According to the San Jose, California-based company, directly cascading two stacks together enables systems to be scaled up to 254 ports within a single collision domain, without the need for a bridge-router or a switch. Cisco estimates that the units will sell for between $125 and $150 per unmanaged port.
