IEEE-1394 Networking for Windows & Macintosh
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FireNet is an innovative software networking solution which provides High Speed Local Area Networking, at 400Mbps. It beats the fastest available alternatives Hands Down (Fast Ethernet 100Mbps).

A tree topology, and true plug 'n' play capabilities allows FireNet to offer the ability to connect, disconnect, and reconnect new PCs (and/or peripherals) to the network, in the same or a different topology, even while data files are being transferred. Work continues as though nothing has happened! FireNet operates by performing completely transparent Ethernet emulation. This way it provides support for all networking protocols that run over Ethernet (TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, NetBEUI etc). FireNet uses a 1394 adapter that runs at 400Mbps. In the next couple of years new 1394 adapters will become available that will run at 800Mbps, 1600Mbps, and finally at 3200Mbps.

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1394 Networking - Ethernet Emulation With Fully 100% Ethernet Compatible
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Related Product - BB-582DX

透過兩部或以上附有1394連接埠的電腦, 其靈活配合FireNet 1394網絡軟件, 便能自由建立一組400Mbps高速的網絡系統!

FIRENET是使用SOHO的安裝方法,透過兩部或以上電腦的1394 FireWire連接埠, 然後靈活配合FIRENET 1394的網絡軟件,便能自由建立一組模擬Ethenet的400Mbits高速網絡系統。

FIRENET只須直接連繫IEEE-1394媒體的介面，便可同一時間兼容DV camera，FireWire HDD及1394 scanner等的裝置;而無須加裝任何網絡卡，HUB或ROUTERS及複雜煩瑣的網絡線，便可即時建立高速網絡群組，更可節省購買網絡卡及安裝網絡其他用品的金錢。只要您的電腦附有1394端子，便可使用FIRENET，同時節省資源及時間，既方便而快捷!


低成本高速度:
FIRENET的高速網絡-支援400Mbps傳輸，比一般100BaseT網絡卡速度高於2-3倍，且不受任何外界環境所影響，傳輸速度非常穩定。當網絡資料超載時，絕不會令全個網絡突然瓦解崩潰(像網絡卡)，而傳輸速度只會略為減緩。

支援硬體:
IEEE-1394是將來電腦連接埠的主流. 如Apple, Sony, Compaq, Gateway, Dell, HP等等都已有內置FireWire的接頭. 保守估計在2001年將會有多達70,000,000台以上的電腦已是使用FireWire的科技! 而使用FIRENET的軟件便能通過1394的介面, 用以分享檔案, 列印機, 掃瞄器, 硬碟機或 FIREPRINT等的功能.

接駁:
只要通過1394 FireWire(i-Link)專用的接線如2m, 4.5m, 10m等, 便可透過華昇全系列的1394控制卡如BB-582DX+, BB-582VX, BB-582VX, BB-582PC2(CardBus)等,順利安裝及使用FIRENET的軟件. 去連接多部電腦網絡系統, 而所使用1394接線的長度最佳為10m, 如長過10m則建議使用華昇的BB-582H10--1394 Hub Repeater為佳。FIRENET是會以"樹"的形式把多於63 nodes連接在一起。

FIRENET是應用最普及的Windows 和Macintosh的介面上,而不須轉換其他介面, 使用者便能在自己熟識的環境下操作。無論在一般的PC或是MAC或Notebook, Powerbook等, 都能隨時使用FIRENET, 用以分享檔案, 列印機, 掃瞄器, 硬碟機, 更能適用於不同網絡協定的系統。

FireNet Benchmarking results
After careful testing with Ziff Davis’s Windows NetBench™ under various conditions of load, Unibrain is proud to announce that FireNet™ is consistently far faster than 100BaseT Ethernet.

Firenet can coexist with Ethernet
Firenet can be installed in an existing Ethernet infrastructure without a problem. 
Simply install the FireNet software in a server which has both an Ethernet adapter and a 1394 port and which will play the role of the bridging device that will connect the two segments of the LAN, thus creating a single logical network.The 1394 segment can be used for high speed/load connections without affecting the Ethernet segment speed. 
This capability is not inherent in the MacOS. In case you want to connect a 1394 Firenet network to an existing Ethernet network, you will have to use a 3rd party solution, like Sustainable Softworks IPNetRouter software.

FireNet OHCI Support
Whether you have a PCI to 1394 OHCI card or a CardBus to 1394 OHCI card or a motherboard with built-in 1394 OHCI interface or a PC or Mac with built-in 1394 OHCI support, FireNet is the most reliable gate to networking over 1394.

Applications
FireNet is an ideal solution for SOHO networks that need to take advantage of the 400Mbps transfer rate with the stability and flexibility it can provide. There are three strong reasons why Multimedia (Audio-Video Editing) and Pre-press (service bureaus) can benefit greatly from the unique FireNet solution:
First, because of the vast amount of data being transferred; second, convenience in dealing with the complicated hardware installations - peripherals that are plugged in and out frequently; and third, because of the mixed platforms normally in use for cost/performance reasons.

IPover1394 vs Ethernet Emulation
Firenet Version 1.4 is based on "Ethernet Emulation" and not on "IP over 1394". 
FireNet uses a simpler method to discover network nodes and translate Ethernet Addresses to 1394 Node IDs, thus it can locate faster the network nodes after each bus reset and also cause less bus traffic. It also uses a simpler method to transmit / receive ethernet packets and does not require a packet fragmentation and reassembly procedure, so it reduces CPU usage and increases the throughput. It is solely dedicated to PC networking, while the  IP over 1394  is  designed as a solution for connecting various 1394 devices.  

IPover1394 is based on the RFC 2734 
( http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2734.txt?number=2734 ) and it is optimized for networking  between dissimilar devices. Since there are not yet many IP devices in the market, Unibrain has decided to implement the IP over 1394 in FireNet version 1.5 due in Feb 2001. The user will be able to choose easily between Ethernet emulation or IP over 1394 through the control panel.

Applications
FireNet is an ideal solution for networks that need to take advantage of the 400Mbps transfer rate with the stability and flexibility it can provide. There are three strong reasons why Multimedia (Audio-Video Editing) and Graphics houses / CAD houses can benefit greatly from the unique FireNet solution:
First, because of the vast amount of data being transferred; second, convenience in dealing with the complicated hardware installations - peripherals that are plugged in and out frequently; and third, because of the mixed platforms normally in use for cost/performance reasons.

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FireNet 1394 Networking Example