Bay Frads clear away Wan jams

Bay Networks has developed a series of Frame Relay access devices (Frads), which it is targeting at those IBM network users and service providers that are integrating legacy systems with multiprotocol Lan traffic.

Bay's product list includes the Frad 630, which is a low-cost device aimed at small satellite offices providing IP and IPX routing along with advanced SNA over Frame Relay features.

Frame Relay is establishing itself among some users as an alternative to the more usual private, leased line networks.

Sally Bament, Bay Networks vice president of Wan and backbone access, said: 'Frame Relay provides an ideal common network infrastructure to achieve economies of scale. It does so by eliminating parallel networks.'

The Frad 630 enables protocol prioritisation and the bridging of multiprotocol traffic such as Netbios. It also provides an SDLC interface and an Ethernet interface.

It can eliminate the use of low-speed SDLC lines, which will increase the network's complexity and simplify its overall management. Those features are intended to make the device a cost-effective approach to networking.

Bament went on to say: 'Frads can function as simplified alternatives to routers in the right environment. As a result, these new products complement our existing Frame Relay access routers and provide our SNA customers with a broad range of solutions.'

The Frad 630 is priced at around $1,395 and is now available through Frontline Distribution.

Bay Networks has developed a series of remote access servers that offer Windows NT Server 4 support.

The Remote Annex range is intended to make it easier for network managers to migrate more users to NT Server 4 and provide a greater range of administration and security tools.

The Remote Annex Windows NT Server 4 software is priced at u396 and is available through Azlan, Persona and Frontline Distribution.

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