FAST ETHERNET WON'T reach top speed on PCI Macs right away -- at least not until Apple ships Open Transport 1.1. Version 1.0 of Apple's next-generation networking software, released in June, is not tuned for network speeds above 10 Mbps. True, the PCI /100BASE-T combination under Open Transport 1.0 is much faster than 10BASE-T Ethernet, but version 1.1 should bring Mac network speeds in line with those of PC-based Fast Ethernet.
Apple won't ship its own 100BASE-T cards until Open Transport 1.1 is ready at the end of this year, but Open Transport delays haven't kept other companies out of the market. There's currently a boom in Fast Ethernet products: Some Mac vendors have full lines, including cards, hubs, and bridges, for connecting 10BASE-T networks to Fast Ethernet networks, and PC vendors such as Digital and Rockwell have written Mac drivers for their current PCI Fast Ethernet cards.
The problems with Open Transport are less critical for NuBus Fast Ethernet, because NuBus cards don't require Open Transport software. NuBus has a slower interface than PCI, but Farallon says that its PCI Fast Ethernet cards are slower under Open Transport 1.0 than are its NuBus Fast Ethernet cards. Dayna, however, says that its PCI Fast Ethernet cards are somewhat faster than the NuBus versions. Under Open Transport 1.1, though, PCI will be the clear choice for speed.
Fast Ethernet Ship Dates / Ready for PCI
Apple NA year end NA NA 408-996-1010
Asante NA now now fall 408-435-8388
Dayna now now now fall 801-269-7200
Digital NA now NA NA 800-777-4343
Farallon now now now now 510-814-5000
Rockwell NA now NA NA 805-968-4262
Company
100BASE-T hub
100BASE-T NuBus card
100base-t Pci Card
10/100BASE-T bridge
PCI Fast Ethernet cards began shipping in June for around $250 apiece. Mac vendors are following up with hubs and bridges. Neither Apple nor the few PC vendors who plunged into the Mac PCI-card market have announced NuBus Fast Ethernet cards or hubs.
