Small Tree debuts Optical Gigabit Ethernet PCI cards
updated 07:35 pm EDT, Wed August 11, 2004
Optical Gb Ethernet cards
Small Tree Communications today announced its cards. The new fiber optic-based gigabit Ethernet adapters are designed for the latest Macs running Mac OS X 10.2.7 or later. The solution includes an Intel- PRO/1000 MF Server adapter along with Small Tree's Mac OS X driver technology to bring either 1-, 2- or 4-independent ports to Power Mac and Xserve computers. It is the "first and only" Mac-compatible multiport fiber optic Ethernet adapter, according to the company. Orders for the single ($600) and dual port cards ($900) are now being taken; they are expected to ship in mid-August, while the quad-port adapter will be available later this year.
The optical gigabit Ethernet adapters are 133MHz, 64-bit capable PCI-X
cards. The single and dual port cards are compatible with G4 and G5
Power Mac and Xserve systems. The quad port card is compatible with
all G5 systems and the Xserve G4.
"The Intel fiber optic adapters are extremely reliable and stable and
are ideally suited for the Apple market where reliability and stability
are well known," said company President Corky Seeber. "Small Tree
Communications is committed to being at the forefront of networking
technology for the Apple platform and is first to market with unique
networking products. Small Tree was first to market with IEEE 802.3ad
Link Aggregation, 10Gb Ethernet, copper based multiport gigabit
Ethernet cards and we are now proud to be the exclusive provider of
single and multiport optical Ethernet interfaces for the Mac
community."
The cards are interconnected using multimode optical fiber that can span distances up to 550 meters without repeaters and will work seamlessly with any existing fiber infrastructure using industry standard LC connectors. The cards with Small Tree's software work with Mac OS 10.2.7 or later. The installed adapters appear as another Ethernet interface to the computer and use standard TCP/IP protocols for fast networking. Each port on the multiport cards
operates independently, allowing connections to multiple networks while
saving PCI slots.
"The inherent advantages of fiber optic cabling over copper are longer cable lengths without repeaters and both the total lack of RF emissions from the optical cable as well as complete resistance of the cable to outside RF and electro-magnetic interference," according to the company.
