Lexmark`s new MarkNet X2000 Series external print servers

Venture Computer, the sole distributor in Southern Africa for Lexmark International, today announced the MarkNet X2000 Series of external print servers that provide customers with high- speed, versatile network connectivity options that speed-up network printing, lower administrative costs and provide investment protection.

Lexmark`s new generation of high-performance, reliable external print servers significantly enhance network printing in Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Token-Ring environments. This new series of external print servers allows customers to connect virtually any parallel or serial printer to major network environments. Available in one- and three-port configurations, the MarkNet X2000 print servers seamlessly attach to customer networks.

Lexmark has further enhanced print server performance to meet customer requirements for faster network printing by incorporating a 90 MHz processor and 2MB of RAM to increase job throughput. The MarkNet X2000 print servers are also built to protect the investment customers make in Lexmark hardware. With 2MB of flash memory, the MarkNet X2000 print servers provide ample room for new technology and firmware updates. The MarkNet X2000 Series print servers help customers reduce total IS costs by providing a network printing solution for today with upgrade features to future-proof their investments for tomorrow.

The MarkNet X2000 Series of external print servers offers superb printer connectivity for major network environments. Customers can use the MarkNet X2000 print servers to connect to Ethernet 10BaseT, 10Base2, Fast Ethernet 100BaseTX and Token Ring 4/16 Mbs networks. To further enhance the Lexmark value proposition, the all-in-one MarkNet X2012e Ethernet print server provides a single, low-cost solution for customers using Ethernet 10Base2 today but planning to upgrade to a Fast Ethernet 100BaseTX network in the future.

"Lexmark customers consistently recognises value and performance,`` said Richard Fearon, Business Development Director at Venture Computer. "`These new print servers provide maximum flexibility for attaching printers to a network and add a rich set of features to make configuring, updating and maintenance easy from the desktop or workstation.``

Lexmark`s MarkNet X2000 Series external print servers are easy to set-up and maintain. The enhanced MarkNet Resident Web Server provides quick remote access to print server status and configuration via your favourite web browser from anywhere on the network. And when used with Lexmark printers, a network administrator can use the MarkNet Resident Web Server to access printer configuration and real time status information.

MarkNet X2000 network installation, configuration and management can be done through Lexmark`s MarkVision and MarkVision for Intranets management tools. And with built-in support for Lexmark NetPnP and Novell NDPS Gateway software, MarkNet X2000 print servers can be installed on a Windows NT 4.0 or Novell NDPS network environment automatically within seconds of network attachment.

The MarkNet X2000 print servers provide support for the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) which was recently approved by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). As part of the IETF Printer Working Group, Lexmark co-developed the IPP standard with IBM, Microsoft, Novell, Sun and other printer manufacturers.

The MarkNet X2000 Series of external print servers includes many other features that make them easy to set-up, configure and manage including:

Automatic speed and media detection which eliminates the need to set these parameters during installation Automatic assignment of IP addresses and intuitive naming of printers with DHCP and WINS/DNS support which makes set-up and operation easier Simultaneous support for all major network protocols - TCP/IP, IPX, DLC/LLC, EtherTalk and TokenTalk

For further information, please contact Richard Fearon or the relevant product manager at tel. (011) 329 0999; fax (011) 792 7449; e-mail rfearon@venture.co.za