3Com Strengthens and Enhances Product Solutions for Token Ring and SNA Market; LinkSwitch 2000 TR Stackable Switch offered at less than $700/Port as part of scalable end-to-end Token Ring Systems Solution.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 1995--Global data networking leader, 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS), announced today an entire suite of products for Token Ring-based connectivity environments.

With this announcement, 3Com delivers a system-wide solution which allows networks to evolve effectively and economically, enabling the seamless integration of client/server and legacy networks.

The new products include 3Com's LinkSwitch 2000 TR stackable switch, NETBuilder Remote Office routers, LinkBuilder FMS TR 12 and LinkBuilder FMS TR 24 hubs, LinkConverter II legacy converters, and TokenLink III ISA and TokenLink Velocity PCI adapters. These new products join the existing 3Com Token Ring products, including the Token Ring Switching Module (TRSM) for the LANplex 6000, to offer a complete end-to-end Token Ring connectivity solution.

"By offering a complete systems solution, 3Com is showing its clear commitment to both the legacy Token Ring environments as well as the new users in this market," said Jeff Thermond, VP of 3Com's Networking Systems Division. "We understand that our customers are not going to accept point products, instead they want an entire systems solution that they can choose from when making their buying decision."

LinkSwitch 2000 TR Stackable Switch Sets new Price/Performance Standard

In the campus, Client/Server applications with growing bandwidth demands are requiring customers to segment Token Ring networks and preserve the existing Token Ring infrastructure while at the same time looking for a growth path to higher speed technology. To support this growing need, 3Com has added the LinkSwitch 2000 TR stackable switch to its Token Ring switching product line which includes the previously announced Token Ring Switching Module (TRSM).

The TRSM is a switching hub slide-in module for 3Com's LANplex 6000 series switch, the highest density switch chassis solution available on the market. The TRSM supports up to 88 switched Token Rings while offering full Token Ring to FDDI translation, and support for Source Route bridging, transparent bridging and SRT. The high-speed, high-density TRSM, when combined with the fault tolerant, mature LANPlex chassis, has been optimized for use in the Token Ring or multi-protocol data center.

3Com's new LinkSwitch 2000 TR switch offers features developed exclusively for the emerging Token Ring switching market at under $700/port. Appropriate for either the data center or the workgroup, the LinkSwitch 2000 TR provides a migration path to high-speed technologies such as FDDI and/or ATM, via high-speed downlink modules, where backbone connections are desired or increased segmentation is necessary.

By implementing the 3Com Token Ring Switching Engine (TRSE) ASIC, the LinkSwitch 2000 TR switch includes such features as switching performance capabilities exceeding 400,000 pps, selectable store-and-forward and adaptive cut-through modes, Source Route, Transparent, and Source Route and Transparent (SRT) traffic support, VLAN management, Priority Control, and Flow Control. The LinkSwitch 2000 TR also includes a High Speed Cascade Interface which enables scalable bandwidth aggregation without diluting the attractive cost benefit of Token Ring switching. The 12-port LinkSwitch 2000 TR switch will begin ship ping in March with a list price of $8,000.

"3Com has been acknowledged as an industry leader in Ethernet switching products," said Scott Lindsay, Director of Marketing, 3Com's Star-Tek Division. "Now, we are going to do for Token Ring what we have previously done for Ethernet. The LinkSwitch 2000 TR switch offers the most robust Token Ring switching implementation available while staking its claim as THE price/performance leader in this competitive market."

Boundary Routing Products Now Available for Token Ring Enterprise-Wide Networks

In the Token Ring remote office, existing legacy applications must be effectively integrated with new client/server applications which require multiprotocol connectivity. 3Com announces four new NETBuilder Remote Office (NBRO) Token Ring routers which are designed to deliver multiprotocol connectivity without impacting the performance or availability to legacy applications.

3Com's NBRO 323 (for SNA Boundary Routing) combines 3Com's Boundary Routing Systems Architecture with local termination of SNA and NetBIOS connections to deliver reliable service and ease of use. Added functionality featured in the NBRO 323, as well as the NBRO 327, includes the ability to groom SDLC attached devices, as well as LAN-based Token Ring connections, into legacy networks.

The NBRO 327 provides multiprotocol routing and allows customers to field upgrade their NBRO 323's to multi-protocol functionality and, in a SNA Boundary Routing environment, can be used as a central site node to the NBRO 323. The NBRO 327 offers support for TCP/IP, IPX, XNS, AppleTalk, DECnet, VINES and OSI, as well as support for Data Link Switching (DLSw) and SNA over Frame Relay (RFC 1490). Both the NBRO 323 and 327 offer internal SDLC conversion, allowing the integration of legacy SNA devices into multiprotocol networks. The NBRO 323 has a list price of $2995 and the NBRO 327 is listed at $3995, both products are currently shipping.

3Com is also introducing the 523 and 527 Token Ring based ISDN routers to further complement their NETBuilder Remote Office Token Ring line of routers. The NETBuilder Remote Office 523 (for SNA Boundary Routing) works with a central site router to support Token Ring connections in a Boundary Routing environment while also offering a standard ISDN BRI connection for a dial back-up option.

The NBRO 527 offers the same multi-protocol support as the NBRO 327 while also maintaining an ISDN BRI connection for dial back-up links. Both the NBRO 523 and 527 remote office routers also feature an integrated terminal adapter which offers a significant cost savings over competitive offerings which must utilize external terminal adapter solutions. Both new remote routers will ship in March, the NBRO 523 carries a price of $3295 and the 527 is offered at $4295.

SuperStack Line Expanded With New Enhanced Hub Offerings

The newly enhanced LinkBuilder FMS TR 12 and LinkBuilder FMS TR 24 stackable hubs bring additional features and an aggressive price/port to the Token Ring market. The LinkBuilder FMS TR 12 and LinkBuilder FMS TR 24 hubs include all the features of the current LinkBuilder FMS TR hubs, such as Phase-Locked Loop re-timing, Zero Delay Lockout, Distributed Recovery Intelligence, and RMON network management as well as "switch-ready" functionality via a roving RMON feature. Both products are currently available; the LinkBuilder FMS TR 12 hub is offered at a list price of $1895 while the LinkBuilder FMS TR 24 hub is listed at $2495.

Token Ring Adapters offer High Performance and 100% IBM Compatibility

3Com's industry leading adapter line is further strengthened with new Token Ring offerings for the ISA and PCI markets. The TokenLink Velocity PCI adapter is a high performance 16/4 adapter intended for demanding client/server applications in computers fitted with the 32-bit PCI expansion bus, while the TokenLink III ISA adapter provides 16-bit Token Ring connectivity for ISA or EISA bus types in environments which require 100% compatibility with IBM drivers and applications. The TokenLink Velocity PCI card pricing starts at $375 per card in 10-packs or $425 for single card shipments, while the TokenLink III ISA adapter features a list price as low as $240 per card in 60-packs or $275 for single cards. Both the PCI and ISA cards will begin shipping in December, 1995.

LinkConverter II Offers Enhanced Legacy Conversion

The LinkConverter II is the next generation product of 3Com's popular LinkConverter line of legacy converters. The new feature rich LinkConverter II legacy converter connects SNA/SDLC, BSC, Async Alarms and QLLC by providing a LAN connection for legacy devices. This product comes in four different models - 2 & 4 access ports for both Token Ring and Ethernet environments. The LinkConverter II legacy converter is currently shipping at prices ranging from $3895 to $5095.

Chipcom Product Integration Further Strengthens Solutions

The announcement of the enhanced Token Ring product offering follows on the heels of 3Com's successful integration of Chipcom Corporation's (now 3Com Integrated Systems Division) ONcore System and ONline System Concentrator, and ONsemble Stack System products. The addition of the ONcore multi-function system provides 3Com customers a true multi-function switching hub that supports Ethernet, Token Ring , and FDDI environments. The ONline System Concentrators are high-functionality platforms for enterprise-wide networking that offer cost-effective, high performance LAN connectivity on the backbone, to the desktop, and out to remote sites.

3Com Corporation has helped more than 24 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 connectivity needs of today's users. With research and development on three continents, 3Com is one of the data networking industry's largest and fastest growing companies. 3Com's innovative manufacturing, 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.

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Note to Editors: 3Com, NETBuilder, LinkBuilder, SuperStack, LANplex, Boundary Routing and TokenLink are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. LinkConverter, LinkSwitch, Velocity and FMS are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. ONcore and ONsemble are registered trademarks of Chipcom Corporation. ONline is a trademark of Chipcom Corp. Chipcom is a subsidiary of 3Com corporation.

CONTACT: 3Com Public Relations

Rich Black, 408/764-8486

Leslie Davis, 408/764-7187