We Scream For Intel's Double-Dip Stackable Hub By Joel Conover   Today's high-performance workstations require a high-performance network. Unfortunately, high performance often equates to high price. Intel Corp., however, is determined to change that with the delivery of its Express 10/100 Stackable Hub. Previously, 10/100-Mbps functionality was limited to high-cost Ethernet switches. With its Express 10/100 Stackable Hub, Intel is offering a totally new way to provide a 100-Mbps migration path for your enterprise Ethernet netwo rk. Two Flavors Are Better Than One The Express 10/100 Stackable Hub, a repeater, comes in two varieties. The 12-port version has two modular slots for expansion modules, which provide management and enhanced connectivity. The 24-port variety has 24 RJ-45 ports for twisted-pair Ethernet connections. Both products are b uilt entirely from Intel silicon, giving the company a big advantage in the ongoing price war for 100-Mbps repeaters. The ability to switch from 10-Mbps operation to 100-Mbps at any time makes the Express 10/100 Stackable Hub unique. With this hub you can build your 10-Mbps network today and later upgrade your clients to 100 Mbps with the push of a button. Note that because the Express 10/100 Stackable hub is a repeater, the clients plugged into the hub must be upgraded simultaneously-all of the hubs' 12 or 24 ports run at the same speed. This hub's advantage is twofold. Its low $99 per-port price lets you invest for the future, while still providing the 10-Mbps connectivi ty your users need today. Second, the Express 10/100 Stackable Hub can be stacked up to eight units high, letting you manage up to 180 ports through a single management interface. Additionally, different hubs in the stack can run at different speeds. However, you must establish connectivity between 10- and 100-Mbps segments through an external switch or through the 10-Mbps switching module, which fits in the 12-port repeater. The Express 10/100 Stackable Hub also supports a 100BASE-FX interface for full-duplex and long-haul connections of up to 2 kilometers. Handling It All One Intel Express 10/100 Management Module lets you monitor the entire stack of hubs. The Express 10/100 Management Module manages the entire stack of Express hubs via the Intel LANDesk Network Manager application. In addition to basic Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) statistics, the management module has provisions to support SNMP's Remote Monitoring (RMON), which the company says it is planning to release in the sec ond half of this year. The management software lets you view statistics on any hub in the stack, as well as change each hub's operating speed. The Express 10/100 Stackable Hub has front-panel controls to change hub speed and indicators, which indicate 10- or 100-Mbps operation, hub status and management. Each port has two LEDs, which i ndicate activity/link status and wrong speed/partition. Joel Conover can be reached at jconover@nwc.com.

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