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Cabletron readies new switches

The networking giant will debut a new line of switches intended to boost performance and manageability of corporate networks.

Mike Ricciuti Staff writer, CNET News
Mike Ricciuti joined CNET in 1996. He is now CNET News' Boston-based executive editor and east coast bureau chief, serving as department editor for business technology and software covered by CNET News, Reviews, and Download.com. E-mail Mike.
Mike Ricciuti
Cabletron Systems will on Monday debut a new line of switches intended to boost performance and manageability of corporate networks.

The company said it will introduce two SmartStack workgroup-desktop switches, the first new products resulting from a pending acquisition of hardware maker NetVantage.

NetVantage is a manufacturer of Ethernet-based switches that specializes in equipment maker relationships to sell its gear.

Cabletron said it will ship the two 10/100 mbps SmartSwitch Fast Ethernet switches next month, priced at $125 per port.

The company will sell the switches through third-party distribution channels.

The NetVantage acquisition provides Cabletron with an increased channel presence, tapping a market on which the company is increasingly focused.

Cabletron is attempting to recover from one of the first tumultuous periods in its history. Under the guidance of cofounder and CEO Craig Benson, the company is attempting to refocus on its core customer base, even as it expands into new markets via acquisition.

Last month, Cabletron posted net income of $6 million, or 4 cents a share, compared with net income of $58.8 million or 37 cents a share for the same period a year ago, excluding charges related to the acquisition of Yago Systems.