3Com Corp, based in Santa Clara, California, has announced the shipment of two communications servers that support industry-standard networking protocols including Xerox Network Systems and Open Systems Interconnect. By the first quarter of 1991 the servers will also support Transmission Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol and DEC’s Local Area Transport, which 3Com is to license directly from DEC. Designed to replace the CS/200 and the CS/210, the CS/2000 and CS/2100 connect groups of up to 10 terminals, personal computers, modems or printers to a local area network. The servers also offer access control and conditional macros. With access control, a network manager can control access to network resources by user identification, location or time of day. Conditional macros enable the creation of customised menu interfaces and single-keystroke function operation, which simplifies access to multiple resources and automates some repetitive keyboard functions. The CS/2000 is a diskless unit and is booted over the network with 3Com’s Network Control Server station. The CS/2100 incorporates a 3.5 disk drive and can be booted locally through the unit or centrally through the Network Control Server station. The CS/2000 and CS/2100 are priced at $2,800 and $3,300 respectively. Software pricing is also available separately for each protocol.
