Interlan

Interlan was a pioneering company in the early networking industry, best known for its Ethernet controller boards and networking products for minicomputers and early personal computers. Founded in 1974, Interlan played a significant role in the adoption and development of Ethernet technology, particularly in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The company's products enabled computers from various manufacturers to communicate with each other over local area networks (LANs), a relatively novel concept at the time. Interlan's Ethernet controllers, often implemented as plug-in cards, were essential components for connecting machines to early Ethernet networks.

Interlan's customer base included universities, research institutions, and businesses that were experimenting with or implementing early forms of networked computing. The company’s technology helped pave the way for the widespread adoption of Ethernet as the dominant LAN technology.

Although Interlan was eventually acquired by larger companies, its contributions to the early networking industry are significant. The company's hardware solutions were instrumental in demonstrating the feasibility and practicality of Ethernet technology, contributing to its standardization and ultimately its ubiquity in modern computing.