Expanded SlotOptimizer Product Line Gains a Quad-port Server Adapter

Promises reliability and high-density ethernet server connectivity for ISPs and enterprise web servers.

by Wayne Kawamoto [October 19, 2000]

Interphase Corporation announced a new enterprise-class adapter that combines four independent 10/100 Fast Ethernet ports onto a single PCI adapter.

The 554E Quad-port Ethernet Adapter is the latest addition to the Interphase SlotOptimizer family, and is targeted towards the market of small-footprint and rack-mountable servers that are being used in ISP and enterprise Web infrastructures.

According to Interphase, low-profile servers consume less room in equipment racks and provide ISPs with a cost-effective approach to easily scale performance and bandwidth in response to the growing demand for high-speed Internet access. These powerful new servers, that can measure as little as 1U (1.75 inches) in height, are also gaining popularity with enterprise IT managers because they conserve valuable floor space in centralized equipment rooms.

The trade-off for the compact size of low-profile and rack-mounted servers, however, is a limitation of slots for I/O expansion. Some small footprint servers have only a single PCI expansion slot, which can prove challenging for IT managers needing multiple Ethernet connections from the same system. In response to this, Interphase says that its 554E SlotOptimizer is a single card solution that provides high-density Ethernet connectivity, and effectively eliminates the problem for ISPs and enterprise web servers. "The 554E is especially well suited to support high throughput IP traffic on back-end Web servers and high-availability platforms," said Roger Woolley, Vice President of Global Marketing at Interphase. "The addition of this new model to our SlotOptimizer product line gives our customers the needed bandwidth in low profile, rack mounted servers supporting Internet initiatives."

Pricing and availability
The 554E Quad-port Networking Adapter has a list price of $495.00 and is immediately available through authorized Interphase distributors.

—End