IBM also demonstrated an early version of its Web browser interface, which provided better performance monitoring and diagnostic/help functions than did its existing NMS stations. In yet another option, users can implement User Remote Consoles, which are OS/2 workstations running a subset of the functions of Nways' switch control program.

The most obvious attribute of the 2220 is its size. It consumes 72 vertical inches of a 19-inch rack and weighs 900 pounds. Each card is enclosed in an aluminum cassette designed to guard against EMI radiation. The sw itch features an on-board UPS system that supports 2.5 to 5 minutes of standby power.

David Willis can be reached at dwillis@nwc.com.

Thanks to Christopher Boyd of the MCI Developer's Lab for assistance in test planning and execution.

How much does all this cost? Network Computing asked vendors to provide list pricing for four different WAN scenarios so that we could gauge overall costs. This is intended only as a rough pricing guide; your cost will vary based on your network requirements, support needs and account size. Scenario #1 All ATM network, using circuit emulation for voice traffic. · Two sites with five OC-3c ATM UNI; two channelized T1 PBX interfaces; one DS-3 ATM trunk for WAN connection; and redundant power supplies. · Three sites with two OC-3c ATM UNI; one channelized T1 PBX interface with circuit emulation; and one DS-3 ATM trunk for WAN connections. Scenario #2 Same as #1, with the addition of voice traffic optimizations. Scenario #3 Frame relay/ATM/voice with frame relay-to-ATM service interworking, at three sites (two frame relay, one ATM). Must be voice-optimized. · One site with five OC-3c ATM UNI; one channelized T1 PBX interface; three V.35/EIA 530 ports for frame relay (1.544 Mbps); one DS-3 ATM trunk for WAN connections; and redundant power supplies. · Two sites with one V.35/EIA 530 port for frame relay (1.544 Mbps); one channelized T1 PBX interface; one T3 or HSSI ATM interface to external inverse multip lexer. Scenario #4 Same as #3, with an additional V.35 port for video support on each switch.

For the Side Bar on How we tested This Issues other Feature Storming the Castle By David Willis Updated October 8, 1997