Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

1751.0. "Are $100 100Mb Ethernet cards a threat to FDDI?" by STRWRS::KOCH_P (It never hurts to ask...) Fri Dec 02 1994 14:17

	I needed to pass on some information which was collected during a
	meeting with MCI International in Piscataway, NJ on Wednesday Nov.
	30, 1994.

	This meeting was to update MCI on VAX/AXP & networking technologies
	available from Digital.

	The problem is MCI's explanation that they won't be using FDDI
	technology because of cost. They indicated to us that they have
	100Mb Ethernet vendors who are willing to supply them with cards
	at a cost of $100/card. MCI's application consists of about 6 
	VAX-7000 model 710 machines being fed by about 1500 Intel based
	servers running Sun's x86 Solaris product.

	They asked us what our 100Mb Ethernet plans were. As far as I know,
	we have some very limited plans for 100Mb Ethernet. They wanted to
	know whether Digital will be building a 100Mb Ethernet switch or
	any kind of modules which would switch/bridge 100Mb Ethernet. I
	could NOT respond to them.

	In trying to present our GIGAswitch, I was at a loss since they
	were looking for a 100Mb Ethernet switch. I realize that Ethernet
	is a shared medium, but if another vendor creates a 100Mb switch
	and MCI uses this to connect their 1500 PCs (growing at 200 per
	year), we have no answers for them.

	This message is a PLEA to help me understand 100Mb Ethernet and
	what kind of threat it presents to our FDDI market and our 
	GIGAswitch. 

	If these vendors can produce $100 cards AND produce a switch which
	is priced the SAME as our GIGAswitch, how are we going to compete
	with $700 PCI UTP FDDI cards?

	Please think about this and PLEASE send some feedback...

Regards,
Ted
NJ/PA Network System Engineer
    
    	x-posted in SCHOOL::GIGASWITCH

    Ted,
    	It's a really big threat in some environments. Not only is 100baset
    far cheaper at the Adaptor end but also the switches are a lot cheaper.
    Grand Junction sell a 24/25 port 10/100 meg switch at $8k, if you want
    cheap desktop 100meg connectivity its very effective. This product does
    have its weakness's however...Supports only 1 address per port, I
    understand you can (needs confirming)
    only interconnect two switches together using 100 meg (have to use a
    bridged 10mb for more), currently only supports Grand Junctions PC EISA 
    adaptor however this is likely to change shortly. Lacks any redundancy
    ie PSU's, dual homing etc. 
    Several other companies Synoptics, SMC etc have announced switches but
    as yet they are not shipping. I hear that 3com are about to announce
    a number of 100baset switches also all based on the draft 100baset 
    standard.
    HP are also shipping a 100mb switch but their's is based upon the
    100basevg standard which is not compatable with 100baseT....
    
    Its a fast moving market place, and a lot of customers like the sound
    of the 100baseT Marketing messages - Its Cheap, Its simple to deploy
    and use because its based on Ethernet, and its the ideal migration to
    the more costly ATM should they need it because it uses switches !