COMMERCIAL NEWS
Albuquerque, N.M. — Essential Communications, a leading supplier of high performance networking solutions, announced the availability of a High Performance Parallel Interface (HIPPI) networking package for Linux users. Essential put together this new affordable solution in response to the wide use of HIPPI networking technology and the increased use of Linux in the post production industry.
The solution bundles Essential’s new fully loaded 8-port HIPPI switch and six HIPPI adapter cards with Linux drivers. The development of this new 8-port switch and the bundled solution allows Essential to offer a lower cost switch to facilities that need fewer HIPPI ports. The introductory price for this new package is $12,995.
Companies working with huge graphic images, such as film and video, choose HIPPI because of its ability to transfer large files quicker than any other networking technology available today. “The speed and reliability provided by our HIPPI network allows us to deliver on shorter cycles and tighter budgets.” said Phil Mendelson, chief technical officer for Liberty Media Television Division. “With this new solution Essential is making HIPPI performance available to all sizes of post facilities.”
The new switch provides from 2-8 connections. It is a non-blocking cut-through crossbar switch for Serial and Parallel HIPPI Networking. Integrated switch management software and HIPPI ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) or HARP makes the switch easy to configure and set-up. The ESS-800 provides connections to HIPPI PCI Network Interface Cards (NICs) that are compatible with most legacy and new supercomputing platforms in addition to Linux platforms. Additionally, the ESS-800 will provide a Gigabit Ethernet connection allowing HIPPI users Local Area Network (LAN) access and Ethernet users access to HIPPI resources.
HIPPI is the networking technology of choice for high-speed large file transfer. HIPPI is able to transfer files at 800 Megabits per second bi-directionally. The high speed that HIPPI offers for large file transfers, exceeding the speed of Gigabit Ethernet and other fast technologies, resides in the process that it uses for file transfers. HIPPI sends large data packets immediately across an established connection, whereas Ethernet uses small data packets that are moved quickly and randomly, slowing the transfer process.
Essential Communications Essential Communications is a leading provider of high performance networking solutions. The Essential Communications HIPPI and GSN networking product families include switches, analyzers and network interface cards. More information is available at http://www.esscom.com .
============================================================