Alameda, California-based Ascend Communications Inc has announced its new Pipeline 130 family of integrated remote access routers. Supporting multiple wide area network services, the Pipeline 130 integrates the functionality of a router, a CSU/DSU and an ISDN NT1. It also includes full software support for Frame Relay, ISDN, bandwidth on demand and security features. In addition to corporate site support, the Pipeline 130 is targeted at Internet service providers whose customers require a flexible system to route traffic to and from telecommuters, branch offices and corporate users. The Pipeline 130 supports multiple wide area network services, including Frame Relay, ISDN, SW56, DDS56 and T1/FT1. It comes bundled with a suite of remote networking software and security features such as PAP, CHAP, calling number ID and Token-ID. It supports IP, IPX, Point-to-Point Protocol, and Frame Relay and handles all other protocols via bridging, says the company. The Frame Relay software fully supports RFC 1490 and Ascend’s MP and MP+ are claimed to provide complete bandwidth-on-demand capabilities. The Pipeline 130 is available now in three configurations: with ISDN Basic Rate Interface support with a T1 interface for $2,000; with Switched 56 and DDS56 support for $2,000 and with ISDN BRI and DDS56 support for $1,900.
