Packet Engines

About Packet Engines

Packet Engines, Inc. was a developer of hardware and intellectual property for Gigabit Ethernet technology. The company was founded in 1994 by Bernard Daines, who also served as president and CEO. Packet Engines focused on increasing computer network speeds from 100 megabits per second to 1,000 megabits per second.

The company's key product was the Gigabit Network Interface Card (G-NIC), a computer card that enabled personal computers within a network to exchange information at 1 billion bits per second. This card was built around a microchip designed by the company's engineering team. Packet Engines pioneered the gigabit ethernet approach and initiated the effort that led to an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) task force on the technology, which gained support from over 100 companies through the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance. The company's business model included producing hardware like the G-NIC and licensing its intellectual property. Packet Engines was acquired by Alcatel-Lucent and had raised $20.5M in funding from investors including 21st Century Communications Partners, Battery Ventures, and Mayfield Fund.