The card is the first in the industry to preview support for both the Digital Interchange Interface (DXI) and the newer Frame Users Network Interface (FUNI) access protocols which take advantage of relatively low-cost frame relay services operating over 1.5-megabit-per-second (Mbps) T1 transmission lines. With DXI and FUNI interworking software support scheduled for availability during the first half of 1996, the card used in the demonstration is the newest member of the EiconCard family of Multiservice Access Cards.

The Netcon 95 demonstration connected the Novell and Eicon Technology booths through an ATM cloud. A server in each booth included a Novell Multi-Protocol Router running on an EiconCard Multiservice Access card. An ATM switch equipped with DXI and FUNI interfaces provided the connection to the cloud.

Pierre Trudeau, Eicon director of research, said, "Our unique Multiservice Access Cards are designed to let users exploit market dynamics and new technologies to gain higher performance and lower tariffs as they become available. Most network administrators want to implement ATM first on a corporate backbone with high-speed frame relay connections to the network perimeter. Eicon will offer this option in 1996, and will partner immediately with early adopters interested in pre-production trials."

DXI, already adopted by several equipment vendors, and the newly released FUNI specification both translate frames of up to 2,000 bytes into 48-byte ATM cells, but differ in where the translation takes place. The DXI standard requires an external unit to make the conversion into cells which are then sent over the T1 line. The FUNI specification allows frames to be sent directly to the ATM switch where they are then divided into cells -- an approach which reduces processing and memory overhead in the remote server or workstation and makes more efficient use of the T1 line.

Eicon's current EiconCard S51 Multiservice Access Card provides connectivity to a variety of wide-area network services, including frame relay, X.25 and PPP using ISDN, and leased-line and/or analog dial-up. Based on service availability, tariffs and type of application, the EiconCard S51 can be reconfigured easily to support the most advantageous physical connectivity and network protocol. Changes in link type are transparent to applications running on the card.

Eicon Technology is a worldwide provider of desktop and server-integrated information access solutions for the networked enterprise. The company develops, markets and supports hardware and software products that enable personal computers from a wide range of industry-standard platforms and operating environments to access corporate internetworks, IBM SNA networks and on-line information services. The products are sold in more than 70 countries through an extensive distribution network. Eicon Technology shares are traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange and the Montreal Exchange under the symbol EIC.

Further information on Eicon products can be obtained through the World Wide Web address http://www.eicon.com.