Ethernet Packet Switch Targets Fast Networking Apps

Intended for high-speed networking uses, the Packet Monster (PacMON) VTX 1100 is a fully integrated 8-port Ethernet packet switch designed to support Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) applications. The device connects directly to HomePNA transceivers to offer a low-cost solution for connecting computers, peripheral devices and other information appliances to each other and to the Internet, while concurrently working with standard telephone services using the same wires. By sharing existing phone lines with POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service), high-speed data networking is provided without costly rewiring of buildings. The switch offers eight 1/10-Mbps serial ports with direct interface to HomePNA PHYs, or eight 10/100-Mbps RMII ports and one 10/100-Mbps auto-negotiating MII/serial port as an uplink. It was designed to provide a Layer 2 switching solution for stand-alone or chassis-based MDU concentrator applications.