The Cray Communications Ltd arm of Cray Electronics (Holdings) Plc, Newbury, Berkshire has launched a series of new products, including a series of multifunctional terminal servers which the company claims can integrate virtually all host environments in a single network. The ScaNet servers are based on a Cobra RISC processor – a MIPS Technologies Inc R3000-derived application-specific part developed using LSI Logic Corp’s Cobra service – and give access to TCP/IP, Local Area Transport and Open Systems Interconnection-based hosts without the use of gateways. They also have the ability to connect any combination of asynchronous, IBM 3270 co-ax and AS/400 5250 Twinax terminals to the same box. An optional gateway function to other terminals and personal computers is included, as is a printing function. Priced from UKP225 per port, the terminals are available now. A new multiprotocol router has also been added to the ScaNet range. The Enterprise Router is available on two physical systems: in the Master Chassis and as a System Centre Module, and forms an integrated part of the intelligent hub. The new ScaNet/RemotePC is designed to give ScaNet users remote access from personal computers via a modem. ScaNet/RemotePC will be available in the second quarter of this year. Cray Communications has also enhanced its Series 8000 range of X25 packet switches by adding software-switchable Frame Relay support. The series also now supports an integral TCP/IP TGate, which provides a bidirectional gateway between X25 wide area networks and TCP/IP local networks. Both features now become standard. Existing users can have their products upgraded for a cost expected to be some UKP500 per site; new users can buy products from the wide-ranging series at between UKP900 and UKP50,000.
