Asante introduces new Web-Enabled switches to address needs of intranet users; intranet switch hardware gains new level of integration with Microsoft Windows NT through IntraSpection Web-Based management software.SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 1997--In a move to satisfy the needs of intranet technology users, Asante Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance end-to-end intranetworking solutions, today announced a new line of switching products that optimize the flow of information in an intranet while tightly integrating the customer's switching infrastructure with Microsoft Windows See Windows. (operating system) Microsoft Windows - Microsoft's proprietary window system and user interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines available then. NT servers. The new switches represent Asante's aggressive move to capture a share of the rapidly growing switched Ethernet An Ethernet network that is controlled by a switch instead of a shared hub. The switch cross connects all clients, servers and network devices, giving each sending-receiving pair the full rated transmission speed. LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. market, which reached $3.7 billion in 1996, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. International Data Corp. The initial offerings, including the IntraStack 10/100 stackable Fast Ethernet An earlier name for 100Mbps Ethernet. See 100Base-T. (networking) Fast Ethernet - A version of Ethernet developed in the 1990s(?) which can carry 100 Mbps compared with standard Ethernet's 10 Mbps. It requires upgraded network cards and hubs. switch and the IntraSwitch 10+100 desktop switch, provide scaleable solutions designed to minimize network congestion In data networking and queueing theory, network congestion occurs when a link or node is carrying so much data that its quality of service deteriorates. Typical effects include queueing delay, packet loss or the blocking of new connections. caused by intranets and other bandwidth-intensive applications. Asante's unique stackable switch design utilizing the company's patented Goldcard connector technology also allows network managers to easily deploy high-bandwidth workgroups and high-speed network segments. In addition, IntraStack and IntraSwitch are the industry's first switches to integrate switching hardware with intranet-based software for comprehensive Web-based network management control. The recent surge in the adoption of intranet technology within organizations has dramatically increased network traffic as users gain more access to corporate information such as marketing and sales materials, human resource postings, and others. This has also accelerated the implementation of low-cost intranet server solutions, such as Microsoft Windows NT. To help alleviate the traffic congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. , Asante has developed an "intrastructure" strategy that combines the high-performance switching hardware of IntraSwitch and IntraStack with Web-based device and network management capabilities. Asante's switches include a built-in HTTP server for easy device configuration and management via a standard Web browser The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. . This allows device-level management locally or remotely without any other management software. In addition, IntraStack and IntraSwitch integrate with IntraSpection, Asante's award-winning Web-based network management software, for network-wide management control. The HTTP server can be seamlessly linked to IntraSpection running on Microsoft Windows NT. "By merging our new intranet-enabled switching solutions with the popular Microsoft Windows NT platform, Asante can now provide integrated networking solutions for high performance users," said Paul Smith, vice president of worldwide marketing at Asante. The integration of IntraSwitch and IntraStack with IntraSpection network management software provides several key user benefits not available previously from any other vendor: -0- -- Automated Intranet Software Updates: Alerts the network manager when new versions of switch firmware and management software are available for the intranet. Updates are automatic and synchronized by loading the new firmware and software from a secure web site on the Internet. -- Interactive Management Linkage: A Web browser that is browsing the MIBs of an intranet device, such as a switch, is automatically prompted to the local Windows NT management server, providing more comprehensive status on the device. By combining Windows NT management and intranet devices, the browser views the intranet as a managed system instead of individual devices. -- Unified Web Security: Allows IP and MAC address security features of different vendors' hubs to be centrally configured through a Windows NT server running IntraSpection. Any browser (with appropriate access rights) can configure intranet-wide security. IntraSpection Personality Modules for each device allow IntraSpection to view all intranet security features in a unified way. -- Intranet Services Monitor: IntraSpection working together with a switch can locate intranet services and display their traffic information to any browser. -0- The IntraSpection server combines information contained within the switch with the IntraSpection device page. The network manager can view a graphical representation of each device on the network and a summary of intranet services (HTTP HTTP in full HyperText Transfer Protocol Standard application-level protocol used for exchanging files on the World Wide Web. HTTP runs on top of the TCP/IP protocol. , NNTP (Network News Transfer Protocol) The protocol used to connect to Usenet groups on the Internet. Usenet newsreaders support the NNTP protocol. See also NTP. (messaging) NNTP - Network News Transfer Protocol. , FTP FTP in full file transfer protocol Internet protocol that allows a computer to send files to or receive files from another computer. Like many Internet resources, FTP works by means of a client-server architecture; the user runs client software to connect to , etc.) attached to each port along with the current traffic situation to each service. IntraStack 10/100 Stackable Switch With its scaleable architecture supporting up to 46 Fast Ethernet connections or a variety of switched 10 or 100 copper or fiber links (half or full duplex), IntraStack provides network managers with the flexibility to grow their networks as needed as needed prn. See prn order. -- ideal for small, high-bandwidth workgroups and campus installations -- without the high up-front costs associated with chassis-based alternatives. The switch is stacked via Asante's patented Goldcard technology, which connects the base and expansion modules via a cableless two gigabit (2Gbps) PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). expansion bus, thus eliminating performance degradation as expansion modules are added. An additional PCI slot is included for future interoperability with legacy LANs and other network topologies, such as FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) Often pronounced "fiddy," it was a LAN and MAN access method that had its heyday in the mid-1990s. FDDI was an ANSI standard token passing network that transmitted 100 Mbps over optical fiber up to 10 kilometers. . IntraStack is stackable up to three units high, supporting 14 dual-speed 10/100 switched ports on the base unit and including two optional MII 1. (body) MII - A consortium of Microsoft, IBM, and Intel. 2. (storage) MII - A broadcast component video tape format licensed by Panasonic. slots for Fast Ethernet and fiber uplinks. The first expansion unit available provides 16 10/100 dual-speed ports. This will be followed by additional expansion modules for Gigabit Ethernet, fiber and high-density switched Ethernet, which are currently under development and will be released later this quarter. IntraSwitch 24+3 Desktop Switch IntraSwitch is a cost-effective desktop switch with 24 10Mbps ports and three high-speed "fat pipes" -- providing configuration flexibility to support the high-speed migration of legacy Ethernet LANs and dedicated switched connections of graphics-intensive workgroups or high-performance resources. Including one 10/100 dual-speed connection and two optional 100Mbps fiber or copper expansion slots, all of which operate at half or full duplex, IntraSwitch provides configurable media ports to ensure the best allocation of bandwidth to high-speed servers, long-distance connections or network backbones. IntraSpection Web-Based Network Management Software IntraSpection is the only shipping Web-based network management platform available to provide support for all SNMP-based devices on the market. Winner of Data Communications magazine's "Hot Product" award, the free IntraSpection software included with IntraSwitch and IntraStack is easily customizable using HTML HTML in full HyperText Markup Language Markup language derived from SGML that is used to prepare hypertext documents. Relatively easy for nonprogrammers to master, HTML is the language used for documents on the World Wide Web. and Java and features a comprehensive network map manager, trap manager, Java-enabled network status reports, ODBC-based network event logging, and security mechanisms. IntraSpection is also available as a free download from Asante's Web site at www.intraspection.com . IntraSpection's support of any device on the network is provided via add-on, device-specific "Personality Modules." These modules provide private MIB (1) (Management Information Base) The hierarchical database used by the simple network management protocol (SNMP) to describe the particular device being monitored. MIB objects are identified using ASN.1 syntax. See SNMP, RMON, OID and ASN.1. information and a comprehensive graphical user interface graphical user interface (GUI) Computer display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a mouse to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen as opposed to having to for each specific network device. A Personality Module for IntraSwitch and IntraStack will be available when the switches ship at a list price of $199 for IntraSwitch and $299 for IntraStack. With IntraSpection, the network administrator can manage the network using any workstation equipped with a Java-enabled Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer See Internet Explorer. , that can access the IntraSpection proxy server. This allows network managers to identify, isolate and resolve problems quickly from any system on any platform (Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 3.1, Windows NT, UNIX UNIX Operating system for digital computers, developed by Ken Thompson of Bell Laboratories in 1969. It was initially designed for a single user (the name was a pun on the earlier operating system Multics). or Mac) with access to the Web, without being confined to the management console. Pricing and Availability IntraStack will be available June 1 at a list price of $4,750 for the 14-port base module and $6,295 for the 16-port expansion module. IntraSwitch, available now, is listed at $2,750. The MII units for both products are priced at $365 for 100BASE-TX and $695 for FX. Both products include a three-year warranty and free technical support, available at 800/622-7464 or by email at support@asante.com . About Asante Founded in 1988, Asante Technologies is a leading provider of high-performance, end-to-end intranetworking solutions for graphics and image-intensive applications. The company offers LAN switches, hubs and adapter cards, as well as Web-based network management software and network acceleration tools. Asante products are available through a worldwide network of VARs, system integrators and distributors. For additional information, contact Asante at 800/662-9686 or browse the company's Web site at www.asante.com . CONTACT: Asante Technologies, Inc. Jennifer C. Doettling, 408/435-8401 ext. 282 jdoettli@asante.com or Walt & Company Communications Melissa Deagman, 408/496-0900 mdeagman@walt.com |
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