Westborough, Massachusetts-based Proteon Inc used the Networld+ InterOp show to launch a clutch of products, including 100VG-AnyLAN and 100Base-T interface modules for its 16-port Series 80 p8900 Ethernet switching hub. Also announced were two new stripped-down AT Token Ring adaptor boards, ISDN support for the company’s RBX line of branch office routers, and new OpenRoute router software. The new boards for the p8900, which join an existing FDDI module, are claimed to be fully standards-compliant: both are single port models, and the AnyLAN model comes with interfaces for four-pair Category 3, 4, and 5 unshielded twisted pair cable, while the 100Base-T model is for use over two-pair category 5 unshielded twisted pair. The AnyLAN module will ship in May, with the 100Base-T model following in June, both costing $3,000. The most significant feature of the new version of OpenRoute, Proteon’s router software, which was recently licensed by Motorola Inc’s Information Systems Group, is Frame Relay Boundary Access Node. It is being aimed at users that do not need full Data Link Switching functionality, and is designed to connect remote SNA Physical Unit type 2.0 and 2.1 end-stations to IBM Corp host environments. It has two modes of operation; straight bridging, using the router’s bridging capabilities to enable it to act as a bridge between the Network Control Program and end stations; and DLSw Data Link Switching termination, where Boundary Access Node terminates LLC2 connections at the Data Link Switching router, and simultaneously establishes a new LLC2 connection to the Network Control Program over the Frame Relay network, resulting in a ‘virtual’ LLC2 connection between the Network Control Program and the end station. This mode is also said to support SDLC connections, by converting to the LLC2 frame format before the traffic is passed over the network. Other enhancements include improved support for DLSw and SNA traffic. Data Link Switching is now supported over FDDI and X.21 links, says the company, while both SDLC physical unit 2.0 and 2.1 devices are also supported on a multidrop line. Improved session handling and new network MIB support have also been incorporated, says Proteon. In terms of wide area features, Proteon says that it has extended its Bandwidth Reservation feature to support Frame Relay and ISDN connections. Proteon also has new microcode for its ProNET 4/16 network adaptor boards, for which it has rewritten the MAC Media Access Control sublayer. Called RapidMAC, it gives up to 220% performance increases over the previous version, according to Bob Bradley, director of local network product marketing. It will be included as standard on all new boards (and is being made available free for existing users) from next month. Although the initial release will support only NetWare 3.X and 4.X, Proteon says that it will add drivers for other network operating systems this quarter. The RBX ISDN models come with two wide area network serial ports (V.35, RS-232, and X.21), and provide support for ISDN Basic Rate Interface services with support for dial-on-demand and dial-back-up. Protocols supported include Internet Protocol, Internet Packet Exchange, bridging, Data Link Switching, AppleTalk 1 and 2, and Banyan Vines. The company is also introducing Euro-ISDN VN-3, and INS-64 interfaces for the products.
Saved only a few bucks
Prices start at $2,690. With its new Token Ring AT boards, Proteon is following Madge Networks Ltd’s lead by taking out functionality that it reckons to be unnecessary. It is marketing the products for the ‘virgin’ branch office market, which has a requirement for 16Mbps operation only, rather than combined 4Mbps and 16Mbps, and no need for multiple cable interfaces; the boards come in separate unshielded twisted pair- and shielded twisted pair-only versions. The boards are out now for $245 each in packs of 10. According to Bradley, stripping out some of the boards’ features saved only a few bucks on production costs, but, more significantly, he said that by basing the n
ew line on the company’s existing boards, it has enabled Proteon to take advantage of economies of scale by using the same production lines for both families. Bradley claims that the company’s strategic redirection programme – introduced last year after a series of poor financial quarters – has already paid off. Proteon now has $27m in the bank with no debt, and its recently-appointed president and chief executive Daniel Capone got the company to the right size very quickly. In terms of Proteon’s future direction, Bradley said that Capone wants to take Proteon where the fastest growth is, in other words the remote networking and switch markets.
