Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

    There are some discussions going on regarding this, but I don't yet
    have any formal plans for a rack and stack solution that incorporates
    the IRB.  
    
    To sell against them, you can use our additional functionality (per
    port security), and our flexibility and investment protection in that the
    900TM can later be used as an in-hub solution if they want to do that.
    Additionally, you can get the actual user numbers the customer is
    planning to hook up to see if the Synoptics is really cheaper as we're
    priced right on top of them at 32 ports.  And anyone looking to put the
    Synoptics repeater in more than 1 location will always have to buy the
    2813 for the management, so you will start your comparisons against
    that.  I have a feature comparison that I just finished on all the
    rack-and-stacks, but I haven't put it in a public file yet. I can make
    some of that information available if you think it will help you.
    
    I think if you sell hard against the 2813, you will win in most cases.  
    
    Regards,
    Cathy

    Which modules do you want to stack? Creating a stack seems simple. Why
    not just put a AUIxThinwire adapter and Thinwire the modules together?
    You could also put an AUIxTP adapter and use the DEMON-AA to TP them
    together. Both of these solutions would not violate the repeater count
    since the Thinwire is Ethernet and not repeating the the DEMON would
    create a 3 hop repeater, well within the new guideline of 4. From what
    I understand, this is how stackables do it anyway. They just connect to
    each other. We have more flexibility.
    
    Also, each of our modules is manageable out of the box via SNMP or the
    DEHUA OBM port. Are theirs or do they require a seperate management
    module? If they do, how does the customer manage them if the manager
    goes down? We don't have that problem with out built-in management.
    Plus our management software is only $495. The Sales Update articles
    also puts a high price tag on their management software.
    
    Let's make sure we're comparing apples to apples.

    I am just trying to catch up reading this most interesting notefile and
    the present note brings up a question:
    
    The basenote indicates that "other" stackable repeaters do NOT count as
    additional repeaters in the chain, yet the answer in .2 seems to dis-
    agree with that.
    
    Which is correct?
    
    Rolf

    Digital does not make a truly stackable repeater today. Our repeaters
    are really rackable in that they can be mounted together, but they all
    count as individual repeaters when counting hops to check for repeater
    rule violations.  The basenote was asking how our products compare to
    the Synoptics stackable repeater series (2813/2803).  Their repeaters
    are stackable in that you can stack up to 4 non-managed units with 1
    management unit to make the whole thing manageable and have it count as
    only 1 repeater hop.  They make use of some sort of Inter-repeater bus
    (IRB) that allows those modules that are stacked to be treated as 1
    logical repeater.
    
    Although I don't have any plans for this today, it is something that we
    are looking at.
    
    Cathy

    Ok, but I still think with our DEChub One units we can accomplish the
    same thing. Put an AUIxThinwire adapter, thnwire them together and it's
    only 2 hops and you don't have to buy a seperate management unit for
    them. 
    
    I think we should be accentuating the positive aspects of our product
    set instead of apologizing for rack vs. stack capabilities. 

    "True" stacking can be an advantage if you have other repeaters in the
    LAN and you need to keep the hub's 'internal' repeater count as low as 
    possible.
    
    Besides I have seen bids requesting "stackable hubs" explicitally!
    
    Rolf