[comp.newprod] High Speed GatorCard E/II for Apple Macintosh

brad@Cayman.COM (Brad Parker) (12/11/89)

CAYMAN SYSTEMS SHIPS GATORCARD E/II

Fast, 32-Bit Ethernet Card for the Apple Macintosh II Family


CAMBRIDGE, MA
September 15, 1989

	Cayman Systems, Inc. announced today that it has shipped
GatorCard E/II, a high performance Ethernet card for the Macintosh II
family.  The Ethernet adapter connects any Macintosh II, IIx or IIcx
directly to standard or thin Ethernet.  It lets Macintosh users share
files, use electronic mail software and print over the 10Mbit per
second Ethernet network.

	The GatorCard E/II is designed for Macintosh II users who are
building high performance networks that require fast file transfers or
high speed communications. It provides 32- bit data transfers, the
maximum size allowed by the Macintosh II's NuBus. This offers
significant speed gains for users of the Macintosh II family,
especially the Macintosh IIci, with its 32-bit NuBus width. The
GatorCard E/II is significantly faster than Ethernet cards with a
maximum of 8-bit or 16-bit data transfers.

	With the GatorCard E/II, Macintosh users can take advantage of
the broader bandwidth of Ethernet and still use AppleTalk networking
software for printing and electronic mail. Accessing AppleShare
servers and printing to LaserWriters on LocalTalk from Ethernet-based
Macintoshes requires a LocalTalk-to-Ethernet gateway like the GatorBox
from Cayman Systems.

	Software included with the GatorCard E/II supports EtherTalk,
TCP/IP and DECnet, the protocols most widely used across Ethernet.
Using networking software based on these protocols, Macintosh users
can communicate with a variety of other computers on Ethernet,
including Sun workstations, VAXs, PCs and other workstations and
minicomputers.

	The software also includes NCSA Telnet, a terminal emulation
program that lets the Macintosh user log into TCP/IP workstations.
This eliminates the need for a second desktop terminal to access
resources on Ethernet.
  
	When first shipping, the GatorCard E/II supports AppleTalk
Phase 1. Software with AppleTalk Phase 2 support is scheduled for
shipment by the end of 1989.

	Cayman Systems also produces the GatorBox, a LocalTalk-
to-Ethernet gateway with added services like file sharing with UNIX
computers running NFS.  The GatorCard E/II complements the GatorBox
because it gives EtherTalk-based Macintoshes access to resources in
the TCP/IP world that often coexist on the same physical Ethernet.

	The retail price of the GatorCard E/II is $595. Like other
Cayman Systems hardware, the GatorCard E/II is warranted for a full
year. To order, call Cayman Systems at (617) 494-1999.


Hardware requirements:	Macintosh II, IIx, IIcx, IIci

Interface:		15-pin D-type (standard Ethernet) 
			connector, BNC for RG58 Thin Ethernet 
			cabling

Connectivity:		Thick and thin Ethernet connections

Packet buffering	Multipacket, dual ported local memory, 
			using 16K static local RAM

Power dissipation:	+5Vdc, 2A maximum,
			+12Vdc, 0.5A maximum

Transfer size:		32-bit NuBus transfers

Relative humidity:	To 90% non-condensing

Operating temperature:	32 to 122 degrees F 
			0 to 50 degrees C

Software:		Includes Apple EtherTalk installer and 
			NCSA Telnet terminal emulation software

Cayman, the Cayman logo, GatorCard and GatorBox are trademarks of
Cayman Systems, Inc.  Macintosh and AppleShare are registered
trademarks of Apple Corporation. VAX, VMS, and DECnet are registered
trademarks of Digital Equipment Corp. UNIX is a registered trademark
of AT & T Information Systems.  Ethernet is a registered trademark of
Xerox Corporation.