Following the launch of its first Ethernet switching products last year, Tel Aviv, Israel-based LanOptics Ltd has announced the first product in the Token Ring switch family called T-SwitchPro. The range is designed for use with its StackNetPro stackable hubs, said the company. The first member of the new family is an eight-port Token Ring switch, expandable to 120 ports through the use of the StackNetPro’s expansion unit, which is said to provide cut-through, non-blocking switching with integrated bridging. The product is based around an application specific LanOptics-developed Media Access Control chip, the RingMaster, and is said to conform to the IEEE’s 802.5 Token Ring switch standard. It also conforms to the Asynchronous Transfer Mode local network emulation specification. The company claims it provides support for up to 120 Token Ring ports through the use of StackNetPro expansion units. It is due to ship in the fourth quarter. Prices were not given but will be set nearer the time.
