 In addition to server switches, Alteon produced the first network interface controller (NIC) in 1997 that used Gigabit Ethernet (demonstrated at the Networld + Interop trade show in September 1996).Alteon's third generation Gigabit Ethernet NIC (code named "Tigon") became the basis for Broadcom's family of ethernet controllers (series BCM570x)  and has shipped over 60 million copies.It was used in low-cost adapters from vendors such as 3Com.