3Com Corporation Extends Industry-Leading Transcend Network Management Solution.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 1997--

RMON2 Compliance, Advanced Business Management Capabilities, And

Full Web-based Management Deliver Best-Of-Breed, Application-Level

Visualization of Business Enterprise Networks

Networking leader 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) today announced exciting new enhancements to its comprehensive Transcend network management suite, including advanced business management software applications, full RMON2 (remote monitoring) compliance, Web-based management for all 3Com systems, and the availability of Transcend Enterprise Manager on the Microsoft Windows NT platform.

The new enhancements provide information technology (IT) professionals the tools needed to more easily and flexibly manage all their 3Com systems -- from the desktop to the network core and across wide area networks -- and gain valuable RMON2 information that is needed to manage networks as an integrated business system. Now available are: Transcend Traffix Manager 2.0 with full RMON2 compliance and an advanced reporting application; additional RMON2 compliance for 3Com's range of management probes; and Transcend Enterprise Manager '97 for Windows NT, which also features full Web-based management capabilities. 3Coms Transcend network management solution leads the industry by providing the broadest range of enterprise systems management.

"Network managers require tools that easily deliver the information needed to manage, control and quickly make informed decisions about their networks," said John McConnell, president of McConnell Consulting, Inc. "3Com's range of Transcend network management offerings provide this information for all levels in the network management staff."

The Transcend network management solutions are key components of TranscendWare software, 3Com's systems-level networking software. TranscendWare software consists of Transcend management applications and embedded control software in all 3Com devices. The Transcend applications enable IT managers and service providers to centrally manage and control their networks, set policies, and report on the network behavior.

Transcend Traffix Manager 2.0 -- New Functionality

The fully RMON2-compliant Transcend Traffix Manager 2.0 now provides a complete visualization of network traffic enabling users to perform traffic rightsizing, enforce corporate network usage policies, and report on departmental use of network services and distribute the cost of shared resources based on the information. A new advanced reporting tool provides IT managers a quick way to view the information, make business decisions and present the results to their management in an easy, concise and understandable format.

Reports can be automatically generated whenever they are needed in a variety of output formats: color postscript or black and white printing; HTML so that they can be read by a Web browser or even copied onto the companys Web server; or CSV format for incorporation into a spreadsheet. Eight report types are available in either summary or detailed format. Additionally Transcend Traffix Manager features a new SQL database that enables customers and third parties to use Transcend Traffix Manager as an RMON2 data source.

RMON2 Compliance

In addition to Transcend Traffix Manager 2.0, 3Com is now delivering RMON2 compliance in its range of network monitoring probes. All 3Com probes will now ship immediately with the RMON2 compliant agent and all existing probes can be easily updated with the new agent via a download from 3Com's WWW site (www.3com.com).

"RMON2 provides customers with capabilities for managing their networks at the application level, which is crucial to understanding how the network supports business objectives," said Kathy Rocha, director of marketing for network management at 3Com Corporation. "With Transcend Traffix Manager and our range of probes, 3Com is going beyond the early adopter technology stage of RMON2 by delivering customers a useful set of tools that gives them the ability to realize the benefits of this new industry standard."

Transcend Enterprise Manager '97 for Windows NT

Transcend Enterprise Manager '97 for Windows NT meets customer demand for a robust, scalable alternative to the UNIX environment as well as a powerful alternative to Windows 95. Transcend Enterprise Manager delivers end-to-end management of all 3Com systems and includes a powerful navigational enhancement -- Transcend Central -- that lets users navigate through their networks in a single view, enabling them to make quick evaluations and assessments of any network problem. Details of each 3Com system can be surveyed, including firmware revisions, model numbers, reporting and status for complete information gathering.

Transcend Web: Web-based Management Functionality

New Web-based management capabilities within Transcend Enterprise Manager '97 for Windows NT provide customers with the full functionality of the application via a standard Web browser. Authorized network managers can access powerful management desktops from anywhere on the corporate intranet or via secure dial-up. The network manager can troubleshoot the network, take corrective action, configure devices, access device-specific views and run statistics. ATM and VLAN management is fully integrated.

Transcend Web's access security is maintained down to the application and function level, not just to the server. With log-in passwords and access levels, network managers can be assured that these powerful capabilities will only be accessed by authorized users.

A performance boosting capability, where Java classes can be downloaded on request and permanently stored at a remote PC client, greatly speeds access to the Java-based functions of Transcend Web. Transcend Web also includes built-in links to key areas of 3Com's World Wide Web site for obtaining up-to-date documentation and agent releases.

Pricing and Availability

Transcend Traffix Manager 2.0 is available immediately for $7995 (U.S. list price). Existing Transcend Traffix Manager 1.1 customers with software service contracts will automatically receive the new application.

Transcend Enterprise Manager '97 for Windows NT is available immediately for $9495 (U.S. list price). Web-based management capabilities are available free of charge in Transcend Enterprise Manager NT.

About 3Com

3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 100 million customers worldwide. With global reach and local touch, the company provides enterprises, network service providers and carriers, small businesses and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. 3Com has worldwide revenues of approximately $6.0 billion and employs about 13,200 employees in 45 countries. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at http://www.3com.com

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3Com and Transcend are registered trademarks and Traffix and TranscendWare are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. Windows NT is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.

CONTACT: 3Com Public Relations 

Dan Foley, 978/264-1768

[e-mail]