The VG Net ’95 conference in San Francisco last month showcased a spate of product launches for the 100Mbps local area network technology, and even more promises for the future. Among the highlights, Motorola Inc’s Microprocessor & Memory Technologies Group has signed a letter of intent to work with Hewlett-Packard Co to develop 100VG-AnyLAN technology: through the agreement, it says it will work on developing semiconductors incorporating multiple system bus interfaces and transceiver technologies. The products are due for launch during the second half of the year, and Motorola says it will release detailed specifications closer to the time. StarLight Networks Inc is planning to develop an AnyLAN-based version of its StarWorks video networking software system (CI No 2,466); the company already provides AnyLAN support via StarWare, its Netware Loadable Module-based video server software. The AnyLAN upgrade to StarWorks will be available as an upgrade release during the first half of the year, says the company. Hewlett-Packard Co has announced a Peripheral Component Interconnect version of its existing AT and EISA AnyLAN adaptors (CI No 2,439). It is due to ship from March 1, costing $250. Hewlett-Packard simultaneously announced price cuts of up to 20% on its 10Base-T adaptors. Also new from Hewlett-Packard is what is claimed as the first AnyLAN test product: called the HP E2463A 100VG-AnyLAN development system, it comprises software and hardware designed to enable users to view the performance of quartet signalling, and the demand priority access method. It is designed to be used with the company’s 16500B logic analysis system, and the HP 16505A prototype analyser. Due to ship on March 1, the system is to cost $43,980. San Diego, California-based Applied Micro Circuits Corp is planning interface circuits based on AnyLAN: initially the company is considering development of a 100Mbps transceiver, which would slot into the company’s existing line of SONET, Synchronous Optical Network, and Fibre Channel products; no time-scale was given for development. Thomas-Conrad Corp, headquartered in Austin, Texas, announced a product roadmap which will include AT- and EISA-based adaptors (due for launch in March at $225 and $335 respectively); and a 24-port hub, to ship in next quarter for which pricing has yet to be decided. The following quarter, the company is planning to launch an optional Simple Network Management Protocol module for the hub. While the adaptors and hub will initially support Ethernet, Token Ring support is planned for next year. Also in the third quarter this year, the company says it will add a Peripheral Component Inconnect-based adaptor supporting Ethernet and Token Ring to the range. Multimedia LANs Inc, based in San Francisco, is shipping a six-port expandable AnyLAN workgroup hub for $1,250.
Physical layer
San Jose, California-based Pericom Semiconductor Inc is planning to develop a physical layer interface chip conforming to the AnyLAN specification. The company says samples of the interface silicon will be available in the third quarter with specifications, pricing and availability announced closer to the time. Still on the chip front, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey-based AT&T Microelectronics Inc is promising to enhance its Regatta 100 chip set (CI No 2,355) with Token Ring support before the end of the year. Newcomer to the AnyLAN market, Katron Technologies Inc has announced two new AT- and EISA-based adaptors, and seven-port and 13-port AnyLAN hubs. The Houston, Texas-based company says the products will ship at the beginning of March, although there is no word yet on pricing. Salt Lake City, Utah-based Ragula Systems Inc is launching two new AnyLAN hubs – in six- and 10-port versions – and a new AT adaptor board. An EISA-based board is promised for March, with a Peripheral Component Interconnect-based model and a stand-alone bridge promised during next quarter. The six-port Multimedia MiniHub is to cost $1,300, with the 10-port model priced at $2,400. The AT adaptor board is to cost
$230, with the EISA bus model going for $300.
