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From: jerry@oliveb.UUCP (Jerry F Aguirre)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: Terminal Servers & Ethernet Xcvrs
Message-ID: <1673@oliveb.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 28-Jun-87 15:12:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: oliveb.1673
Posted: Sun Jun 28 15:12:40 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Jun-87 20:35:56 EDT
References: <4746@columbia.UUCP>
Reply-To: jerry@oliveb.UUCP (Jerry F Aguirre)
Distribution: na
Organization: Olivetti ATC; Cupertino, Ca
Lines: 41

In article <4746@columbia.UUCP> epstein@cheshire.columbia.edu (Adam Epstein) writes:
>  I'm shopping for some thin ethernet transceivers and a multi-port
>tcp/ip terminal server to be used with a small number of Sun 3's.  I'm
>aware that the following exist:
>
>Xcvrs:
>
> Bridge ACC XCVR-TE
> Micom-Interlan U3-NT100 w/BNC tap
> TCL 2010IT 
> HP ThinNet MAU

You forgot the Cabletron ST-500.  I haven't used these personally but
the price and features seem right.  It is the smallest I have seen
(3.8"x3.5"x1.75") and has 5 LED indicators built in for PWR, SQE, XMT,
RCV, and CP.  It comes with screw on adaptors for either piercing, N, or
BNC connection and can be jumpered for heartbeat.

Actually the BNC option appears to be an N plugin with N to BNC adaptors
screwed on both ends (That is how it looks in the latest NMAC catalog).
This strikes me as a disadvantage.  The standard for BNC is to use the
"T" connector that allows connecting and disconnecting without
interrupting the network.  While you could replace the transceiver by
disconnecting the tap module, you could only replace it with a symilar
transceiver, not a PC or transceiver using a "T" connector.

I was also told that the Cabletron unit used the same cable tap as
Interlan so you could unscrew an Interlan unit from its tap and repleace
it with a Cabletron transceiver.

They also have thin net repeaters, multiport transceivers, etc.  I have
their MT800 which is like a DEC DELNI except it has the LED indicators
and I am pleased with it.

I have used the 3Com "black brick" transceivers and had good reliability.
I have also seen a new smaller 3Com unit with the removable tap but have
not seen any specifications or pricing for it.

The phone number for Cabletron is (408) 986-0566.

				Jerry Aguirre