LAN Design has announced aggressive pricing on the new 3Com Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet server desktop Network Interface Cards. Product manager Chris Butler said the new NIC provides a high speed 100 Mbps server connection to Token Ring networks. It must be connected to the Token-Ring-in-Fast-Ethernet Module for the SS II Switch 2000 TR. "The solution allows Token Ring customers to expand bandwidth to Fast Ethernet speeds, while preserving investment in their Token Ring infrastructures," he said. Butler could not divulge prices, but confirmed that the offering was unarguably available at the most competitive cost on the market. The new NIC technology tunnels - or encapsulates - Token Ring frames in Fast Ethernet frames. Unlike bridges and routers which translate Token Ring/Fast Ethernet frame formats, TR-in-FE simply repackages Token Ring frames with Fast Ethernet addressing information. "Tunnelling is a simpler, less resource-intensive method than bridging or routing for providing 100 Mbps bandwidth to Token Ring networks," he explained.
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