# SynOptics > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/SynOptics > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/SynOptics.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SynOptics > Source revision: 1328963770 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American networking equipment manufacturer}} {{Infobox company | name = SynOptics Communications, Inc. | logo = SynOptics logo.svg | type = [Public](/source/Public_company) | traded_as = {{NASDAQ was|SNPX}} | foundation = 1985 | defunct = October 1994 | fate = Merged with [Wellfleet Communications](/source/Wellfleet_Communications) | successor = [Bay Networks](/source/Bay_Networks) | location = [Santa Clara](/source/Santa_Clara%2C_California), [California](/source/California), US | key_people = Andrew K. Ludwick, Founder and CEO | industry = Networking equipment }} '''SynOptics Communications, Inc.''', was a [Santa Clara, California](/source/Santa_Clara%2C_California)-based early [computer network](/source/computer_network) equipment vendor from 1985 until 1994. SynOptics popularized the concept of the modular [Ethernet hub](/source/Ethernet_hub) and high-speed Ethernet networking over copper twisted-pair and fiber optic cables.{{cite web |title= Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on SynOptics Communications, Inc. |work= Reference for business web site |url= http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/12/SynOptics-Communications-Inc.html |publisher= Advameg, Inc. |accessdate= June 11, 2011 }} ==History== SynOptics Communications was founded in 1985 by [Andrew K. Ludwick](/source/Andrew_K._Ludwick){{cite web |url= http://www.ncircle.com/index.php?s=company_board_ludwick |title= nCircle Board of Directors |access-date= December 22, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121118221922/http://www.ncircle.com/index.php?s=company_board_ludwick |archive-date= 2012-11-18 |url-status= dead }} and [Ronald V. Schmidt](/source/Ronald_V._Schmidt), both of whom worked at Xerox's [Palo Alto Research Center](/source/PARC_(company)) (PARC). The most significant product that Synoptics produced was [LattisNet](/source/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](/source/coaxial_cable)s. The [star network](/source/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](/source/10BASE-T) protocol, there were several different methods and standards for running Ethernet over [twisted-pair](/source/twisted-pair) cabling at various speeds, such as [StarLAN](/source/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](/source/10BASE-2) hubs, pre-standard (LattisNet), and [100BASE-TX](/source/100BASE-TX) products. The company was the market leader in Ethernet LAN hubs over rivals [3Com](/source/3Com) and [Cabletron](/source/Cabletron).{{cite news |title= Competition gaining on SynOptics' lead: Revenue shortfall, decision to reduce 10Base-T prices are signs competition is gaining ground |author= Bob Brown |work= Network World |page= 9 |date= November 4, 1991 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=-hMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA9 |accessdate= June 11, 2011 }} Despite intense competition that drove down prices, Synoptics' annual revenue grew to a high of $700 million in 1993. To move away from the rapidly commoditizing Layer 1/2 Ethernet equipment market and grow their market share in the increasingly lucrative and more profitable Layer 3 networking arena, SynOptics merged with [Billerica, Massachusetts](/source/Billerica%2C_Massachusetts) based [Wellfleet Communications](/source/Wellfleet_Communications) on July 6, 1994, in a [US$](/source/US%24) 2.7 Billion dollar deal to form [Bay Networks](/source/Bay_Networks). {{cite web | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905E2DE1F3CF935A35754C0A962958260 | title = COMPANY NEWS; Wellfleet and Synoptics Plan $2.7 Billion Computer Union | work = New York Times | author = John Markoff | date = July 6, 1994 | accessdate = March 19, 2011 }} {{cite web | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-06-fi-12446-story.html | title = Wellfleet, SynOptics to Join Forces | work = Los Angeles Times | author = Jesus Sanchez | date = July 6, 1994 | access-date = March 19, 2011 }} SynOptics headquarters at the time of the merger with Wellfleet was in the pair of strikingly-designed sloped buildings [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=4401+great+america+parkway&hl=en&ll=37.392768,-121.976582&spn=0.000004,0.002588&sll=37.393553,-121.976652&layer=c&cbp=13,21.26,,0,0&cbll=37.392733,-121.97649&gl=us&hnear=4401+Great+America+Pkwy,+Santa+Clara,+California+95054&t=m&z=19&vpsrc=0&panoid=XSn267vMjqYT7YWnXw1wAA Former Synoptics Headquarters] at the Northeast corner of the intersection of [California's Great America](/source/California's_Great_America) Parkway and [Mission College](/source/Mission_College_(Santa_Clara%2C_California)) Blvd in Santa Clara, an area known for featuring numerous networking start-ups such as [Ungermann-Bass](/source/Ungermann-Bass).[https://uspto.report/TM/73320487 Address of Ungermann-Bass referenced in trademark document] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426020203/https://uspto.report/TM/73320487 |date=2012-04-26 }} These buildings are currently occupied by Palo Alto Networks. [Bay Networks](/source/Bay_Networks) was acquired by Canadian company [Nortel](/source/Nortel) in June 1998 for $9.1 billion, forming [Nortel Networks](/source/Nortel_Networks). {{cite news | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CGN/is_n119/ai_20800562 | title = Nortel Buys Bay Networks For $9.1Bil | work = [Computergram International](/source/Computergram_International) | year = 1998 }} ==See also== * [SynOptics Network Management Protocol](/source/SynOptics_Network_Management_Protocol) ==References== {{Reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Synoptics}} Category:1985 establishments in California Category:1994 disestablishments in California Category:American companies established in 1985 Category:American companies disestablished in 1994 Category:Companies based in Santa Clara, California Category:Computer companies established in 1985 Category:Computer companies disestablished in 1994 Category:Defunct companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States Category:Defunct computer hardware companies Category:Defunct networking companies Category:Manufacturing companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Nortel Category:Technology companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Defunct computer companies based in California --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [SynOptics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SynOptics) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SynOptics?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.