SynOptics
Encyclopedia
SynOptics Communications was a Santa Clara, California
-based early computer network
equipment vendor from 1985 until 1994, when it began a series of mergers.
SynOptics popularized the concept of the modular Ethernet
"hub" and high-speed Ethernet networking over copper twisted-pair and fiber optic cables.
and Ronald V. Schmidt
, both of whom worked at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC).
The most significant product that Synoptics produced was LattisNet
(originally named AstraNet) in 1987.
This meant that unshielded twisted-pair cabling already installed in office buildings could be re-utilized for computer networking instead of special coaxial cable
s.
The star network
topology made the network much easier to manage and maintain. Together these two innovations directly led to the ubiquity of Ethernet networks.
Before the final standard version of what is known today as the 10BASE-T
protocol, there were several different methods and standards for running Ethernet over twisted-pair cabling at various speeds, such as StarLAN
. LattisNet was similar to the final 10BASE-T protocol except that it had slightly different voltage and signal characteristics. Synoptics updated their product line to the 10BASE-T specification once it was published.
Through the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, SynOptics produced a series of innovative products including early 10BASE-2 hubs, pre-standard (LattisNet), and 100BASE-T products.
The company was the market leader in Ethernet LAN hubs over rivals 3Com
and Cabletron.
Despite intense competition that drove down prices, Synoptics' annual revenue grew to a high of $700 million in 1993.
To move away from the rapidly commoditizing Layer 1/2 Ethernet equipment market and grow their market share in the increasingly lucrative and more profitable Layer 3 networking arena, SynOptics merged with Billerica, Massachusetts
based Wellfleet Communications
on July 6, 1994 in a US$ 2.7 Billion dollar deal to form Bay Networks
.
SynOptics headquarters at the time of the merger with Wellfleet was in the pair of strikingly-designed sloped buildings at the Northeast corner of the intersection of Great America Parkway and Mission College Blvd in Santa Clara, an area known for featuring numerous networking start-ups such as Ungermann-Bass.
Bay Networks was acquired by Canadian company Nortel
in 1998 to form Nortel Networks, and then in September 2009, Avaya
purchased the Nortel Enterprise division, which included some former Bay Networks product lines.
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
-based early computer network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
equipment vendor from 1985 until 1994, when it began a series of mergers.
SynOptics popularized the concept of the modular Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
"hub" and high-speed Ethernet networking over copper twisted-pair and fiber optic cables.
History
SynOptics Communications was founded in 1985 by Andrew K. LudwickAndrew K. Ludwick
Andrew K. Ludwick - Co-Founded SynOptics and was the CEO and President of SynOptics Communications and CEO and President of Bay Networks from 1985 - 1996.-References:...
and Ronald V. Schmidt
Ronald V. Schmidt
Ronald V. Schmidt is an computer network engineer from the United States.-Life:Schmidt was born March 31, 1944, in San Francisco, California.He graduated with B.S. , M.S. , and Ph.D...
, both of whom worked at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC).
The most significant product that Synoptics produced was LattisNet
LattisNet
LattisNet was a family of computer networking hardware and software products built and sold by SynOptics Communications during the 1980s...
(originally named AstraNet) in 1987.
This meant that unshielded twisted-pair cabling already installed in office buildings could be re-utilized for computer networking instead of special coaxial cable
Coaxial cable
Coaxial cable, or coax, has an inner conductor surrounded by a flexible, tubular insulating layer, surrounded by a tubular conducting shield. The term coaxial comes from the inner conductor and the outer shield sharing the same geometric axis...
s.
The star network
Star network
Star networks are one of the most common computer network topologies. In its simplest form, a star network consists of one central switch, hub or computer, which acts as a conduit to transmit messages...
topology made the network much easier to manage and maintain. Together these two innovations directly led to the ubiquity of Ethernet networks.
Before the final standard version of what is known today as the 10BASE-T
10BASE-T
Ethernet over twisted pair technologies use twisted-pair cables for the physical layer of an Ethernet computer network. Other Ethernet cable standards employ coaxial cable or optical fiber. Early versions developed in the 1980s included StarLAN followed by 10BASE-T. By the 1990s, fast, inexpensive...
protocol, there were several different methods and standards for running Ethernet over twisted-pair cabling at various speeds, such as StarLAN
StarLAN
StarLAN was the first implementation of 1 megabit per second Ethernet over twisted pair wiring. It was standardized by the standards association of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers as 802.3e in 1986, as the 1BASE5 version of Ethernet.-Description:StarLAN was developed by AT&T...
. LattisNet was similar to the final 10BASE-T protocol except that it had slightly different voltage and signal characteristics. Synoptics updated their product line to the 10BASE-T specification once it was published.
Through the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, SynOptics produced a series of innovative products including early 10BASE-2 hubs, pre-standard (LattisNet), and 100BASE-T products.
The company was the market leader in Ethernet LAN hubs over rivals 3Com
3Com
3Com was a pioneering digital electronics manufacturer best known for its computer network infrastructure products. The company was co-founded in 1979 by Robert Metcalfe, Howard Charney, Bruce Borden, and Greg Shaw...
and Cabletron.
Despite intense competition that drove down prices, Synoptics' annual revenue grew to a high of $700 million in 1993.
To move away from the rapidly commoditizing Layer 1/2 Ethernet equipment market and grow their market share in the increasingly lucrative and more profitable Layer 3 networking arena, SynOptics merged with Billerica, Massachusetts
Billerica, Massachusetts
Billerica is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,243 at the 2010 census. It is the only town named Billerica in the United States and borrows its name from the town of Billericay in Essex, England.- History :...
based Wellfleet Communications
Wellfleet communications
Wellfleet Communications was an Internet router company founded in 1986 by Paul Severino, Bill Seifert, Steven Willis and David Rowe based in Bedford, Massachusetts, and later Billerica, Massachusetts...
on July 6, 1994 in a US$ 2.7 Billion dollar deal to form Bay Networks
Bay Networks
Bay Networks was a network hardware vendor formed through the merger of Santa Clara, California based SynOptics Communications and Billerica, Massachusetts based Wellfleet Communications on July 6, 1994...
.
SynOptics headquarters at the time of the merger with Wellfleet was in the pair of strikingly-designed sloped buildings at the Northeast corner of the intersection of Great America Parkway and Mission College Blvd in Santa Clara, an area known for featuring numerous networking start-ups such as Ungermann-Bass.
Bay Networks was acquired by Canadian company Nortel
Nortel
Nortel Networks Corporation, formerly known as Northern Telecom Limited and sometimes known simply as Nortel, was a multinational telecommunications equipment manufacturer headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada...
in 1998 to form Nortel Networks, and then in September 2009, Avaya
Avaya
Avaya Inc. is a privately held computer networking, information technology and telecommunications company that is a global provider of business communications systems. The international head quarters is in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States...
purchased the Nortel Enterprise division, which included some former Bay Networks product lines.