Alantec Corp, San Jose, California is claiming the first multiprotocol Fast Ethernet switch to bring 100Base-T backbone software features down to workgroup and departmental levels. The PowerHub 4100 is said to provide multiprotocol routing and bridging for IP, IP Multicast, and either Novell Inc IPX or AppleTalk protocols, as well as multilayer virtual local network support in both Ethernet and Fast Ethernet environments. Up to 4,000 Media Access Control addresses are supported, says the company. The 4100 also uses the same architecture as the other members of the PowerHub family, including its Port Monitoring capability, which is claimed to enable traffic on a single segment – or between a pair of segments – to be mirrored on any other PowerHub segment. Management is via Alantec’s Simple Network Management Protocol-based PowerSight applications, which can either be used as a stand-alone Unix package, or in conjunction with systems including SunNet Manager; and Hewlett-Packard Co’s OpenView and IBM Corp’s NetView 6000 implementation of it. Six fixed configurations are available, with varying -TX, -FX, and 10Base-T communications. All configurations come with four 10Base-T segments, and a further six segments in various combinations of -TX and -FX. Prices range from $10,950 for no 100Base-FX and six 100Base-TX, to $12,950 for the six 100Base-FX combination. Alantec is, however, offering introductory pricing for orders placed before December 29, for delivery prior to March 31 next year – the same two models will cost $7,700 and $9,000 until that date; all models are due to start shipping in 45 days.
