Latest Semiconductor Technology will Expand the EISA/ISA Adapter Market

SANTA CLARA, Calif., -- February 4, 1992 -- As the first step in their
joint Networking Technology Relationship, IBM has licensed its latest
generation Token-Ring integrated circuit to National Semiconductor to be
made available to network equipment manufacturers. The DP8025, called
TROPIC, is the industry's first fully-integrated single-chip Token-Ring
Controller solution. It implements the system bus interfaces, an IEEE
802.5-compliant and IBM-certified ring interface, and the MAC and LLC
functions per the IEEE 802.5 specification all in a 175-pin (36mm)
package.

The general availability through National of IBM's enhanced 16/4 Mbps
single chip Token-Ring technology offers the Token-Ring market an
important new option. Aimed primarily at the fast growing ISA/EISA adapter
markets, the release of the new TROPIC (Token-Ring Protocol Interface
Controller) to the market now offers the IBM Token-Ring architecture for
use by all.

Due to TROPIC's high-level of integration, the complete adapter solution
consists of the TROPIC chip, transmit and receive buffers, a MAC/LLC
microcode Program Read Only Memory (PROM), Address ID PROM, and system
interface and line interface passive components. A complete Micro Channel
or ISA Token-Ring controller can be designed with minimal additional chip
support required. TROPIC offers system designers lower power consumption
(typically 1 Watt) and proven node ring interface circuitry for both
"jitter" reduction and ease of manufacturing.

Developed and qualified by IBM, TROPIC represents the latest in IEEE
802.5-compliant Token-Ring technology. TROPIC is highly-integrated,
implementing three selectable bus interfaces (ISA, Micro Channel, or
68XXX), and the analog and digital ring interface. A minimal ring
interface is required. The chip supports a zero wait state Micro Channel
interface for PS/2 computers. TROPIC provides chip-selectable 16/4
bits/second operation.

The low power Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) controller
requires a single +5V supply. The MAC and LLC functions are executed by an
internal microcontroller, with both functions fully implemented in PROM.
The controller microcode will be provided to developers. TROPIC interfaces
to standard 32k x 9 RAMs for shared buffer memory. To minimize system
development, it features configurable RAM size and page size.

Qualified by IBM, TROPIC meets the network requirements for IEEE 802.5
jitter performance. The stringent timing specifications incorporated in
the new design were developed in anticipation of the tightening of the
timing margins in the Token-Ring standard. The new technology will improve
Token-Ring network reliability and allow businesses to construct larger
Token-Ring networks.

Network Operating System Support

In November, IBM introduced an enhanced Micro Channel Token-Ring adapter
based on the TROPIC chip. Thus, TROPIC represents a validated hardware
platform that offers system developers support for virtually all network
operating systems including: Banyan's Vines, IBM's OS/2 LAN Server,
Microsoft's LAN Manager and Novell's NetWare.

National will provide driver development support for major platforms. OEMs
can differentiate their system products via personalization of the
drivers, as well as through unique system interface configurations.

TROPIC Support

As a part of the technology relationship, National Semiconductor will
provide full applications support, including an evaluation board and
access to the company's expanded LAN technology labs in Santa Clara,
California and Atlanta, Georgia. Additional support for TROPIC will
include:

o National Semiconductor will provide developers with the latest release
versions of the MAC/LLC layer microcode, as well as full ring interface
specifications and documentation.

o Token-Ring applications support group to assist in Token-Ring design and
testing activity.

About Token-Ring

Token-Ring is general purpose networking solution suitable for desktop and
deskside server applications. The relationship between IBM and National
validates Token-Ring as a truly interoperable standard that is available
to all. TROPIC provides PC adapter developers a Token-Ring silicon
solution that is IBM-compatible.

IBM and National endorse Ethernet (802.3) and Token-Ring (802.5) as
coexisting LAN standards. The companies anticipate that the availability
of the IBM developed silicon will expand the Token-Ring market.

According to the Gartner Group, in 1991, 802.3 (Ethernet) and 802.5
(Token-Ring) represent over 60% combined share of the LAN market. These
markets are projected to grow to 80% of all LAN connections, comprising
over 15M nodes per year by 1995.

Price and Availability

The TROPIC controller (DP8025) is now available in sample quantities with
volume production scheduled for third quarter 1992. TROPIC is available
from authorized National distributors for $129 in 100 piece quantities.
TROPIC is available in a 175-pin flipchip C4 packaged pin grid array
(PGA). The chip is qualified and manufactured by IBM in multiple plants
worldwide.

For information or datasheets, contact National's customer response center
at 1-800-272-9959.

National Semiconductor Corporation designs, manufactures and markets
high-performance semiconductor products. Headquartered in Santa Clara,
Calif., the company is the global leader in mixed analog-and-digital
semiconductors. In networking communications, National Semiconductor is
the world's leading manufacturer of Ethernet chipsets and was instrumental
in popularizing cost-effective Ethernet networking. The company is also a
leading supplier of FDDI networking silicon products.

National Semiconductor
2900 Semiconductor Dr, PO Box 58090, M/S 16300
Santa Clara, CA 95052

  +---------------------------------------------------------------+
  |  From the America On-Line & PC-Link New Product Info Services |
  +===============================================================+
  | This information was processed with OmniPage Professional OCR |
  | software (from Caere Corp) & a Canon IX-30 scanner from data  |
  | provided by the above mentioned company. For additional info, |
  | contact the company at the address or phone# indicated above. |
  |    All submissions for this service should be addressed to    |
  |   BAKER ENTERPRISES, 20 Ferro Drive, Sewell, NJ 08080 U.S.A.  |
  +---------------------------------------------------------------+