Intel Launches Industry's First 10/100MBPS Stackable Hub

Intel's Express 10/100 Stackable Hub Gives Customers A Flexible Transition to Fast Ethernet for Under $100 Per Port

HILLSBORO, Ore., April 21, 1997 -- Intel Corporation today announced the industry's first 10/100Mbps stackable and manageable hub for under $100 per port. Each Intel Express 10/100 Stackable Hub can operate at either 10 or 100 megabits-per-second (Mbps), making it ideal for customers wishing to make a gradual transition to 100Mbps technology. This flexibility allows customers to deploy Fast Ethernet in areas of their organizations where higher bandwidth is needed, while still running 10Mbps to some desktops on the network.

The Intel Express 10/100 Stackable Hub helps customers protect their network equipment investments by extending the hub's life span through the customers' transition from 10Mbps to 100Mbps technology, virtually eliminating the need for 10Mbps-only hubs.

"More sophisticated PC applications demand more processing power," said Frank Gill, Intel executive vice president and general manager of Intel's Internet and Communications Group. "And as a result, these PCs will need faster network performance and bandwidth to ensure a rewarding PC experience for the user. With this new hub, Intel is making it easy and cost effective for customers to deploy the additional performance and bandwidth when and where they need it."

The Express 10/100 Stackable Hub is designed with Intel silicon and produced in Intel's state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. Available in both 12- and 24-port versions, the Express 10/100 Stackable Hub is a key component of Intel's overall strategy to deliver cost-effective, flexible solutions to customers that help ease their migration to Fast Ethernet technology. It also complements Intel's comprehensive networking product family of switches, network adapters (server, desktop and mobile), hubs, print servers and routers, designed for delivering 10/100Mbps solutions for every network.

10 or 100Mbps Connectivity Per Hub Eases Migration to Fast Ethernet
The Intel Express 10/100 Stackable Hub supports IEEE standards-based 100BASE-TX topologies and delivers 10/100Mbps capability in a single, managed stack. Each hub in a stack can operate at either 10 or 100Mbps. This means that in one stack, a customer can manage both 10 and 100Mbps network connections simultaneously and as a single entity. The hubs can be stacked eight high to support a maximum of 180 managed ports or 192 unmanaged ports. Other hubs require that 10Mbps and 100Mbps connections be managed separately. Intel's LANDesk® Network Manager, a Windows*-based software package, allows network managers to view, configure, manage and monitor all SNMP manageable network devices, including Intel's 10/100Mbps hubs and switches. LANDesk Network Manager displays these devices in a graphical map, giving the user an easy-to-understand, realistic view of the network.

"With this announcement, Intel is delivering a 10/100Mbps hub with the right combination of 10/100Mbps flexibility at the sub-$100 per port price point," said Mark Christensen, vice president of Intel's Internet and Communications Group and general manager of the Network Products Division. "Intel's core expertise in silicon development and manufacturing will enable us to continue delivering high-quality products to customers at lower prices, from adapters to hubs and other products."

Expansion Modules Add Flexibility and Functionality
In June, Intel will also begin shipping three expansion modules for the 12-port version of the Intel Express 10/100 Stackable Hub. These include an SNMP-management module, a Fiber module to extend hub connection distances up to two kilometers and an Ethernet module for connecting legacy 10Mbps segments to 100Mbps networks. The management module will support Remote Monitoring (RMON) in the second half of 1997.

Pricing and Availability
The Intel Express 10/100 Stackable Hub is available beginning on April 24 for a U.S. suggested list price of $1,525 for the 12-port version and $2,375 for the 24-port version. The 12-port Intel Express 10/100 Stackable Hub will also be sold as part of Intel's Workgroup Kit, which includes the hub and 10 EtherExpress™ PRO/100 PCI adapters for a U.S. suggested list price of $1,995.

All Intel networking products are available worldwide through a network of distributors and value-added resellers. Additional product information is available at (800) 538-3373 for U.S. and Canadian customers; at (44) 1-793-431-155 for European customers; or at (503) 264-7354 for other international customers.

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