Fremont, California-based fast Ethernet pioneer Grand Junction Networks Inc has launched an FDDI version of its FastSwitch 10/100 Ethernet workgroup switch. Essentially the same as the existing FastSwitch 10/100 but with FDDI rather than Fast Ethernet backbone connections, the product comes with 25 switched 10Mbps Ethernet ports, and either a fibre Dual or Single Attachment Station. Alternatively it comes with unshielded twisted pair simple attachment scheme modular FDDI connection. The new version incorporates an expansion slot for either a second FDDI connection, Fast Ethernet connection, or possibly in the future will incorporate an Asynchronous Transfer Mode link. The firm claims the product comes in at around half the price of the cheapest Ethernet/FDDI switch currently available. The new version is shipping now and costs $4,000 for the unshielded type, up to $5,000 for the Fibre model.
