The Consumer Networks Business Unit (formerly Farallon) of Proxim plans to support Mac OS X with drivers for the NetLINE Gigabit PCI Cards for unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and fiber optic networks.
Plus, Proxim has unveiled a new NetLINE 24-port 10/100/1000 Switch. The PCI card and switch provide a solution for schools and businesses that require a fast network backbone and support for a variety of client computers.
The NetLINE Gigabit PCI Card, combined with the NetLINE switch, will provide improved TCP/IP support, performance and stability by removing the overhead of Open Transport and taking full advantage of the speed of the Mac OS X’s Mach kernel, according to Georganne Benesch, vice president and general manager of Proxim’s Consumer Networks Business Unit.
Schools and small businesses will be able to integrate Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit within their networks and, by interconnecting switches, create a super-fast network backbone, she said. To maximize the speed of clients’ access to the network server, a NetLINE Gigabit PCI Card may be installed in the server and connected to a 1000 MB port on the switch.
“We’ve developed our Gigabit driver for Mac OS X and Gigabit Switch in order to fully support our Mac customers’ networking needs as they move to the new operating system,” Benesch said in a press release. “Additionally our Dr. Farallon Network Performance Clinic, which provides personal, human support to all of our customers, is available to help people design high-performance networks that incorporate Mac OS X and Gigabit into their existing networks.”
The NetLINE Gigabit PCI Card offers a 10/100/1000Base-TX RJ-45 half and full duplex interface. The fiber optic version is a 1000 Mbs-only card that supports multimode fiber optic cabling with SC connectors, according to Benesch. It provides 10 times more network bandwidth to servers and high-end workstations than Fast Ethernet and is interoperable with existing Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet equipment, she added.
Along with support for Mac OS X, the Gigabit PCI card is compatible with Mac OS 8.1 and higher, and Windows 2000/NT4.0 drivers for cross-platform gigabit in desktops and servers. Jumbo frames compatibility allows the card to accept extended Ethernet packets without interruption.
The NetLINE Switch features twenty-four 10/100 and two 100/1000 switching ports with RJ-45 connectors. Its store-and-forward switching architecture forwards data with minimum delay while full-duplex support on every port enables optimal performance, according to Benesch. The NetLINE 10/100/1000 PCI Card is now shipping and is available for US $694. Proxim’s Mac OS X Drivers will be available in conjunction with the release of the next generation operating system. The NetLINE 10/100/1000 24-port Switch will be available this month for the U.S. estimated price of $1,399.