3Com to ship new FRADs, router software By Stacy Lavilla
In an attempt to offer broader support to legacy environments, 3Com Corp. will ship this month new FRADs and software that support the Data Link Switching Version 2.0 specification.
The Santa Clara, Calif., company will enhance its OfficeConnect NetBuilder line of networking products for the small office with the $995 NetBuilder 120 KF frame relay access device that allows corporations to integrate legacy devices into frame relay or X.25 networks via DLSw 2.0.
That specification enables Systems Network Architecture traffic to travel over IP networks, as well as support for Binary Synchronous Communication, High level Data Link Control, and Async tunneling, said 3Com officials.
The FRAD comes equipped with one serial port, one WAN port with an integrated CSU/DSU, and an Ethernet port.
3Com also will ship next month its latest NetBuilder software upgrade that includes support for DLSw 2.0. NetBuilder is 3Com's router operating system software.
By supporting the second version of DLSw, TCP/IP connections between routers can now be dynamically set up and torn down, officials said.
3Com also will complement its existing line of SuperStack II NetBuilder devices with a 320 FRAD model that supports DLSw 2.0. The $1,495 unit sports three serial ports and a Token-Ring interface.
Users can upgrade both the NetBuilder 120 KF and the SuperStack II NetBuilder 320 FRADs to support IP, IPX and AppleTalk traffic.
Both the hardware and software will be available through distributors and resellers. |