3Com's New Generation of Ethernet and Fast Ethernet Network Interface Cards Lead Industry With Highest Performance; Innovative DynamicAccess; Features Optimize Overall Network Performance.SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 1996--3Com Corporation (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :COMS COMS 3Com Corporation (stock symbol) COMS Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist COMS Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems COMS City of Manchester Stadium (UK) ) today introduced its new generation of Ethernet and Fast Ethernet An earlier name for 100Mbps Ethernet. See 100Base-T. (networking) Fast Ethernet - A version of Ethernet developed in the 1990s(?) which can carry 100 Mbps compared with standard Ethernet's 10 Mbps. It requires upgraded network cards and hubs. PCI Bus PCI bus - Peripheral Component Interconnect Mastering Network Interface Cards (NICs) -- The EtherLink - XL and Fast EtherLink - XL family. These new XL NICs offer the highest performance and efficiency available at 10 and 100 Mbps, making them the industry's best in price/performance. The XL family of PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). NICs will include 3Com's new, advanced suite of software and hardware enhancements -- DynamicAccess features which dynamically interact with the network to optimize overall network performance. "The XL family takes system performance to the highest level yet achieved," said Doug Spreng, executive vice president of 3Com's Personal Connectivity Operation. "With DynamicAccess features, the network interface card allows customers to fully take advantage of their current 10 and 100 Mbps shared and switched environments." Dynamic Access features are key elements of 3Com's Transcend Networking framework for scaling the performance, extending the reach and managing the growth of customers' networks. These features include: Priority Access Control Enabled (PACE) multimedia support, PictureTel LiveShare Plus software, Desktop Distributed RMON (Remote MONitoring) Enhancements to the management information base (MIB) structure used by the simple network management protocol (SNMP). In 1991, RMON added comprehensive network monitoring capabilities. (dRMON), Efficient Multicast Control, and PACE Interactive Access Performance enhancements. DynamicAccess features will initially be delivered on the XL NICs and many DynamicAccess features will be added to 3Com's installed base of cards through free software upgrades. Highest Performance and Efficiency According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. independent tests from LANQuest Labs, 3Com's XL NICs have the highest throughput and lowest CPU CPU in full central processing unit Principal component of a digital computer, composed of a control unit, an instruction-decoding unit, and an arithmetic-logic unit. utilization available with 19% greater overall performance efficiency versus the closest competitor. The EtherLink XL and Fast EtherLink XL NICs leverage 3Com's patented Parallel Tasking technology and PACE Interactive Access technology to deliver high throughput rates with minimum CPU utilization. 3Com's Parallel Tasking architecture allows separate data transfer tasks to be completed in parallel and data to be transferred with maximum efficiency. Interactive Access technology allows the XL NICs to constantly evaluate network traffic and load conditions to intelligently decide on the best timing of transmission required to optimize network performance. DynamicAccess Features DynamicAccess features transform XL network interface cards into active components. Most NICs are essentially passive, providing basic functionality such as sending and receiving data, simple management, and a consistent level of performance in switched or shared networks regardless of the software application. Active components, on the other hand, are able to analyze network traffic, support real-time applications and enable full network management, in addition to communicating with other network components, to tune overall network performance. PACE Multimedia Application Support and PictureTel LiveShare Plus Software 3Com's PACE (Priority Access Control Enabled) technology provides both deterministic access as well as prioritization of traffic across the LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. . PACE-enabled software drivers set packet priorities allowing PACE-enabled switches to identify priority packets and move them through the switch with a higher priority than other packets, providing low latency Low latency allows human-unnoticeable delays between an input being processed and the corresponding output providing real time characteristics. This can be especially important for internet connections utilizing services such as online gaming and VOIP - VOIP is not as important as and smooth application performance. PACE drivers for the XL cards will be available in Q3 1996. 3Com and PictureTel, the worldwide leader in videoconferencing, have partnered to promote LAN-based data and video conferencing See videoconferencing. (communications) video conferencing - A discussion between two or more groups of people who are in different places but can see and hear each other using electronic communications. by providing PictureTel's data conferencing Sharing data interactively among several users in different locations. Data conferencing is made up of whiteboards and application sharing and are often used in conjunction with an audio or videoconferencing connection. software for free ($149 value) with all EtherLink XL PCI and Fast EtherLink XL PCI interface cards. PictureTel's LiveShare Plus software enables PC users in separate locations to work jointly in real-time on data files using application sharing A data conferencing capability that lets two or more users interactively work on the same application at the same time. The application is loaded and running in only one machine; however, keystrokes are transmitted from and screen changes are transmitted to the other participants. or a whiteboard, as well as to transfer files or share messages. This software is available now. Desktop dRMON New switched and high-speed network paradigms have made monitoring and managing networks difficult and more complex. 3Com has created dRMON to offer users options on how to collect RMON data across their network and optimize cost and performance. Desktop dRMON offers an option for network managers looking to achieve full-time, complete RMON support in switched and 100Mbps environments. Desktop dRMON leverages the NIC (1) (Network Interface Card) See network adapter. See also InterNIC. (2) (New Internet Computer) An earlier Linux-based computer from The New Internet Computer Company (NICC), Palo Alto, CA. to provide collection at the en station. With Desktop dRMON, 3Com XL NICs can collect RMON information and work with hubs and switches in the network to provide full RMON. Desktop dRMO will be available in Q4 1996. Efficient Multicast Control Use of applications which generate large volumes of multicast packets poses a challenge for switched networks as excess multicast traffic can flood desktop connections. 3Com supports the emerging IEEE 802.1p standard which will simplify switch multicast control. This standard is a key component of the Network Interoperability Alliance between 3Com, Bay Networks, and IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) announce on May 20th. With Efficient Multicast Control drivers, XL NICs will dynamically communicate with switches to set the switch multicast filter settings and dynamically establish Virtual LANs (VLANs). Efficient Multicast Control will be available in Q1 1997. Additional XL Benefits As with other 3Com NICs, the new EtherLink XL and Fast EtherLink XL NICs offer complete driver support for the most popular network operating systems and AutoLink software for quick and easy installation. In addition, full duplex support is provided at 10 or 100 Mbps, and the Fast EtherLink XL card supports NWay autonegotiation for simple 10 or 100 Mbps operation. Pricing and Availability The Fast EtherLink XL NIC supports 10/100 BASE-TX and is available on June 24 at a list price as low as $145. The EtherLink XL NIC is available in a TPO (Twisted Pair Only) Refers to the use of twisted pair wire when other options are available. For example, a TPO suffix at the end of 3com Ethernet adapter model numbers indicates the card has only an RJ45 connector. or Combo version on July 22 at a list price as low as $99. 3Com guarantees all its network interface cards with an industry-leading lifetime warranty. 3Com's XL PCI network interface cards are available through the company's worldwide network of resellers and distributors. 3Com Corporation has helped more than 28 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: DynamicAccess backgrounder, benchmark reports, analyst references and product photography are available upon request. 3Com, Parallel Tasking, EtherLink, Fast EtherLink and Transcend are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation and PACE and DynamicAccess are trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other trademarks belong to their respective organizations. CONTACT: 3Com Corporation Deanna L. Perez, 408/764-5088 Deanna_Perez@3mail.3Com.com |
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