As it digests its latest acquisitions from Microdyne Corp (see Top Stories) Intel Corp has launched its latest data networking product, the first in a range of its new Intel Express 501T Fast Ethernet Local Area Network switches, continuing its assault on the low end networking market. Intel already has a family of Ethernet switches called the EtherExpress range, but the new Fast Ethernet products are the first to arise from Intel’s Case Technology A/S acquisition earlier this year (CI No 3,080). The switch is a 24 port auto-sensing 10/100 Mbps workgroup switch, scalable to 56 ports. Future expansion modules will increase the capacity to 196 ports. The switch has two expansion ports, which can also be used for extra fiber uplinks and stack interface modules. Intel is also including its management software Device View for either web or Windows-based management. The switches ship from December, for $4,755 per switch, with the four port copper expansion module $995, and two port fiber module for $1,500.
