Compaq has unveiled a whole range of new and upgraded networking products. The announcement was delayed because of the company’s bid for Tandem Computer Inc, an acquisition aimed at supporting its core server business. But it is continuing its push into the network market and has added to its line of Netelligent networking products, including a new hub with 100Mb bandwidth, two low-end switches and its Netelligent 2824 – a new line of low-end Ethernet hubs. The Compaq Netelligent 2724 and 2824 Dual- Speed Hubs are single units with both 10Mb/s hub and a 100Mb/s hub ports. Compaq claim these are the first port-level, auto- sensing dual-speed hubs that are stackable, segmentable and manageable. The 2824 features Compaq’s Smart Uplink module and allows Fast Ethernet network configuration over longer distances and in cascade configurations similar to Ethernet. The new switches are the Netelligent 5708 dual-speed Fast Ethernet Switch and the 5226 Manageable Ethernet Switch. The Netelligent 5708 Dual-Speed is an eight-port Ethernet auto-sensing switch that allows changes from 10Mbps or 100Mbps per port depending on network volume. Compaq also has a new line of Netelligent 10Base- T workgroup hubs aimed at the small businesses market. These hubs include the Netelligent 1005, a five-port model with an uplink; the Netelligent1009B, an eight-port model with an uplink and a fixed BNC Bayonet Network Connectors port; and the Netelligent 1017A/B, a 16-port model with an uplink, a fixed BNC port and a fixed AUI port. The Netelligent 2724 is priced at $ 2,500 and the 2824 at $4,300. The Netelligent 5708 Dual-Speed Fast Ethernet Switch is $2,400 and the 5226 is $2,300. All four are due out in the current quarter. The Netelligent 1005 hub costs $80 and is available this week as is the 1017A/B priced at $2,400. The 1009B costs $130 and is available shortly. Compaq has cut its North America prices on five existing Fast Ethernet Hubs and two existing network interface cards.
