3COM Introduces Full RMON Management For ONCore Multifunction Networking System; ONcore Advanced Ethernet Network Monitor Card Monitors Multiple Segments Simultaneously For Comprehensive Network Management.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 1996--Global data networking leader, 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) today unveiled the ONcore Advanced Ethernet Network Monitor Card (NMC), a cost-effective network management solution for monitoring multiple backplanes and isolated Ethernet segments from a single ONcore(R) System.

Equipped with the new card, the ONcore System offers the industry's highest level of remote monitoring (RMON) capability in a multifunction hub: including full RMON and RMON 2 agents.

This new product is an integral part of 3Com's network monitoring and analysis solution announced in November 1995. The solution includes advanced hardware and software that enables users to efficiently and proactively monitor all elements of their networks as a single system.

Designed for enterprise backbone networks and Ethernet segments, the ONcore Advanced Ethernet NMC provides high-speed, multi-segment RMON capabilities for comprehensive enterprise-wide management. The ONcore Advanced Ethernet NMC offers full RMON (all nine groups) support and RMON 2-like capabilities today and provides a migration path to the RMON 2 standard once ratified.

The Advanced NMC, together with 3Com's existing ONcore NMC, provides customers with a complete range of RMON management solutions. The existing NMC delivers baseline management and monitoring features, while the advanced NMC delivers highly scalable monitoring along with packet capture and filter. Additionally, the new high-performance daughter card can be housed on any ONcore Ethernet media module or the ONcore's DMM-EC (Ethernet carrier) -- without taking up a payload slot.

"We have a mission-critical network that requires a high level of monitoring and the new Network Monitor Card has expanded our ability to manage and monitor our ONcore system," said Bill Bunch, manager of network services at GTECH, Inc. "Also, its capability of monitoring and managing more than one network allows us to solve problems more quickly and focus more time deploying applications that increase employee productivity."

The ONcore Advanced Ethernet NMC offers network managers a new class of proactive monitoring tools, including the ability to see beyond routers and capture advanced application layer statistics, enabling them to spend less time troubleshooting network problems and more time delivering applications and services to end users.

How It Works

The ONcore Advanced Ethernet NMC uses a dedicated high-speed management bus on the backplane of the ONcore Multifunction Networking System to communicate with the ONcore Distributed Management Module (DMM). RMON statistics provide detailed performance information, including network traffic patterns and error conditions, to identify and isolate potential problems before disruptions occur. Support for extensive RMON threshold and alarm capabilities help network managers capture the operating range for each network, enabling them to pinpoint any necessary changes for fine tuning network performance.

When equipped with RMON 2 functionality, the new card will enable network managers to monitor the network up to the application level of the network protocol stack. The ability to observe application-level traffic provides vital information about which software applications are running and to better understand or troubleshoot client/server applications and environments.

The ONcore Advanced Ethernet NMC provides two network interfaces for monitoring multiple segments simultaneously from a single console. The second subport can be used as a roving analysis port for problem determination on an as-needed basis to help network administrators detect, isolate and diagnose actual network problems before they escalate to crisis situations.

Sophisticated Tools for the Workstation

3Com's ONcore Advanced Ethernet NMC feeds information to Transcend(TM) LANsentry(R) Advanced Network Applications -- the LANsentry Enterprise Traffic Analyzer for end-to-end network monitoring, and LANsentry Traffic Generator for capacity planning and proactive network management with 3Com's advanced SmartAgent(R) software. By combining the ONcore Advanced Ethernet NMC with LANsentry Network Applications, network managers have a valuable tool for advanced analysis, including centralized troubleshooting and capture of higher-level statistics. Based on AXON's RMON client application, LANsentry provides the same familiar interface that 3Com ,s Transcend network management application provides for RMON in 3Com stackable systems, routers and LAN switches.

"The fault-tolerant capabilities of the ONcore system, together with the proactive alarm capabilities of the ONcore Advanced Ethernet Network Card, empower network managers to manage their networks with fewer resources," said Phil Fulchino, director of integrated systems at 3Com. "The depth of 3Com's RMON implementation in the ONcore System enables our customers to maximize the capabilities that RMON provides today, while providing a foundation to the benefits of RMON 2 in the future."

Availability and Pricing

3Com's new ONcore Advanced Ethernet NMC is available immediately, for $2,995 (U.S. list).

3Com Corporation has helped more than 25 million people gain access to critical information through high speed networks. Designed to serve large enterprises, small offices and homes, 3Com products provide a scalable architecture to meet the immediate and long-term connectivity needs of today's user. With research and development on three continents, 3Com is one of the data networking industry's largest and fastest growing companies. The company's innovative marketing, sales and support simplify communication, optimize network reliability and protect customer investments. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at http://www.3Com.com. -0-

Note to Editors: 3Com, SmartAgent, LANsentry and ONcore are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. Transcend is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. AXON is a trademark of AXON Networks, Inc.

CONTACT: 3Com

Dan Foley, 508/264-1768

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