Pre-2000, early TCP/IP-Capable Routers. Listing for each brand are in rough chronological order when dates are known.
Cisco
Cisco Multi-protocol Routers and Bridges
Cisco Multi-protocol Routers and Bridges
CMC
DRN-3200 DDN (Gateway)
IBM
2210 Nways
IBM 2210 Nways Multiprotocol Router
RS960 Interface (ENSS, “End Node Switching System”)
The routers today that are available to handle the full routing table are: .. IBM ENSS w/ 64Mb .. — https://www.ripe.net/ripe/mail/archives/lir-wg/1995-August/000753.html
These systems were based on a Powerserver 930 first generation RS/6000 server, configured with special “RS960” interface boards. Each of the RS960 boards has two i960 CPUs, runs a stripped down AIX kernel, and is a fully functional router. Each “board” actually consists of two circuit boards: a base (router), and a second board which interfaces to a specific network interface (ethernet, FDDI, v.35, HSSI). — https://www.rcsri.org/collection/nsfnet-t3/
Regarding the HSSI version, ”They didn’t make a lot of these”.
Network Equipment Technologies
Lan Exchange 50
Proteon
P4100
https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102743850
P4200
October 1985 (source)
“The p4200 could interconnect its new ProNET-4, and its ProNET-10 and -80 networks as well as Ethernet LANs and public WANs”
“The p4200 is considered the first commercially available multi-protocol router. (The use of the term router came only over time; finally taking hold in 1987. The p4200 was known first as a LAN gateway then a Gateway router and finally Router)”
p4210
Token Ringp
Retix
RetixGate 2224
1987
2-port local bridge for interconnecting Ethernet and StarLAN LANs
RetixGate 2255
January 1988
“a two-port bridge adding support for Thin Ethernet (the 10BASE2 standard).”
4000 LAN Bridge
https://www.ebay.com/itm/272291202600
WellFleet (later Bay Networks)
Sources:
- https://historyofcomputercommunications.info/section/14.22/wellfleet/
- http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/communications/wellfleet/router/110073A_Configuring_Wellfleet_Routers_199502.pdf
AN (Access Node)
1994
Integrates SynOptics Hub with Router
$3,345 (source)
IN (Integrated Node)
LN (Link Node)
April 1988
Aggregates 16 connections (8 LAN)
CN (Concentrator Node)
June 1988
Aggregates 52 connections
FN (Feeder Node)
May 1989
Aggregated 4 connections
Router
AFN (Access Feeder Node)
≤ February 1995
ALN (Access Link Node)
≤ February 1995
Not a router? Just a bridge?
ASN (Access Stack Node)
≤ February 1995
Not a router? Just a bridge?
BLN (Backbone Link Node)
≤ February 1995
Router
BLN-2 (Backbone Link Node 2)
≤ February 1995
Router
BCN (Backbone Concentrator Node)
≤ February 1995
Router
https://www.ebay.com/itm/192872077763
Ungermann-Bass
Net/One
Ethernet-to-Ethernet
Ethernet-to-Token-Ring
Vitalink
TransLAN
Bridge, 1985
TransPATH
Bridge