North Carolina-based NetEdge Systems Inc has announced software for its Asynchronous Transfer Mode Connect edge router, which is said to feature Token Ring transparent switching, enabling it to provide media speed (24,000 packets per second) Asynchronous Mode access for micro-segmented workgroups and high-speed backbones. The switching capability divides a Token Ring segment into multiple physical rings while maintaining the logical appearance of a single ring: this eliminates the need for extensive bridge reconfiguration, and does not add to the number of ‘hop counts’, as with systems offering only source routing, says NetEdge. The device features NetEdge’s connection independent routing, said to enable the creation of virtual networks spanning multiple network types, such as Token Ring and FDDI, or Token Ring and Asynchronous Transfer. Unlike bridge or MAC layer approaches, which create virtual networks but require external routers to connect them, connection-independent routing integrates routing and switching, says the company. Support for AppleTalk routing has also been added. The software will ship in March, with a four-port Token Ring module priced at $12,100.
