3Com Unveils Policy-Enabled, Multi-Layer Ethernet/ATM Networking Solution.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 1999--

3Com's CoS/QoS Mapping Strategy Delivers End-to-End

Convergence Fulfilling the Promise of ATM

3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) today announced next-generation ATM application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology and advanced new switching products that deliver end-to-end policy-enabled, multi-layer switching in integrated Ethernet/ATM networks.

The new technology, a competitive advantage for 3Com, enables enterprises to deploy very large-scale voice/video/data networks based on fast, low-cost Ethernet switching for desktop connectivity and highly scalable ATM switching for the core of networks. The new solution is distinguished by its ability to provide very high performance switching between Ethernet and ATM and by transparently prioritizing the different traffic and guaranteeing quality of service between the two network technologies.

"Policy-based networking promises to allow enterprise network performance to be optimized in business-oriented dimensions, such as service levels, functional priorities and organizations," said Mark Dykes, principal analyst, Dataquest/The Gartner Group. "Vendors that are mapping CoS indicators from Ethernet to ATM are providing a key step towards full policy-based networking implementation."

Featuring 3Com's third-generation ZipChip(TM) ASIC technology, the new products include interface modules for 3Com's SuperStack(R) II Switch 1100/3300 and CoreBuilder(R) 7000HD switches. The new offering includes the industry's first software selectable OC-3/OC-12 ATM expansion module for connecting to converged networks. Also announced were interface modules for 3Com's FIRE ASIC-based CoreBuilder 3500 switch, along with enhancements to CoreBuilder 9000 switches that include a Category 5 copper OC-3c interface and support for ATM configurations of the newest CoreBuilder 9000 seven-slot chassis.

"The ability to dynamically apply policy controls to the widening range of system-critical, business-critical and converged applications is quickly becoming a fundamental networking need," said Tim Hale, product marketing manager at 3Com.

"3Com is already an acknowledged leader in policy-enabled networking. And we have thousands of ATM backbones installed. With this announcement, we're putting more pieces in place to give users the maximum flexibility and performance for handling demanding applications in integrated Ethernet/ATM networks."

Key Features for Ethernet/ATM Networks

The new interface modules enable 3Com(R) SuperStack II and CoreBuilder switches to dynamically perform Class-of-Service/Quality-of-Service (CoS/QoS) mappings from end to end in integrated Ethernet/ATM networks.

End-to-end CoS/QoS makes it possible for network managers to apply policy controls to important performance characteristics of critical applications. For instance, business-critical applications might be given higher priority over regular applications, or "converged" voice/video applications might be assigned the necessary delay and latency values to ensure high transmission quality. This new solution maps industry standard Ethernet's class-of-service priorities, defined by 802.1p and IP Type of Service (ToS), to industry standard ATM quality of service and traffic management parameters.

The new modules also add to the SuperStack II and CoreBuilder switches' high-performance multi-layer switching capabilities in Ethernet/ATM networks. Moreover, they are optimized to extend the switches' abilities now to perform high-speed MPOA (Multiprotocol Over ATM) forwarding of Ethernet traffic.

New Modules, Capabilities Announced Today

Announced today were:

--SuperStack II Switch 1100/3300 ATM Expansion Module -- a ZipChip 3 ASIC-powered interface module for connecting SuperStack II 1100/3300 workgroup switches to an ATM backbone; features software-configurable OC-3c/OC-12c port, an industry first for simple migration to higher downlink speeds.

--CoreBuilder 7000HD Switch 7900 10/100 Ethernet Interface Card -- a ZipChip 3 ASIC-based interface card that can connect 36 Ethernet/Fast Ethernet ports to this CoreBuilder ATM switch, providing up to 108 Fast Ethernet ports with two OC-12 load-sharing PNNI downlinks.

Key to these products, the ZipChip 3 ASIC features hardware-optimized CoS/QoS mapping for Ethernet/ATM networks, as well as Layer2/Layer 3 switching and high-performance MPOA client functions. In addition, the ASIC performs the normal Segmentation and Reassembly (SAR) operations required for Ethernet/ATM conversion.

Also announced:

--CoreBuilder 3500 ATM Modules -- two new interface modules that connect the FIRE ASIC-based CoreBuilder 3500 wire-speed Layer 3/Layer 4 switches to ATM OC-3c or OC-12c backbones;

--CoreBuilder 9000 ATM 4-Port 155 Mbps UTP Interface -- a new interface card that lets users employ economical, Category 5 copper cable as an OC-3c transmission interface for CoreBuilder 9000 switches;

--Software support for the CoreBuilder 9000 seven-slot chassis -- a new software version now lets users employ this cost-effective CoreBuilder switch in ATM backbones of smaller campus and building-wide networks;

--Software support for the PathBuilder(TM) family of ATM access switches - a new software version permits CoS to QoS mapping at the edge of an ATM wide area network.

Transcend(R) Enterprise Manager (TEM) provides flexible policy management and administration of the end-to-end system.

Policy, Performance in Wide-Ranging Applications

"Taken together, the new products give users valuable policy and performance features for a wide variety of applications, including business critical and converged voice/video/data applications," says Hale.

In a large-scale, high-availability application, for instance, 16-slot CoreBuilder 9000 ATM switches manage the core enterprise backbone with dual ATM OC-12c downlinks running from CoreBuilder 7000HD switches at the backbone edge. These switches convert ATM cells to packets and perform high-speed Layer 2/Layer 3 switching via the new 7900 modules for their attached LAN workgroups.

For an application where low cost of entry is more important than ultra high availability, a seven-slot CoreBuilder 9000 switch handles the ATM backbone with OC-3c or OC-12c downlinks running from SuperStack II 1100/3300 switches via the new ATM expansion module. In this application, the SuperStack switch configuration employs a stack of four switches and two ATM expansion modules, one active and one serving as hot standby.

In the data center and in protected workgroups, a CoreBuilder 3500 Layer 3/Layer 4 switch provides connectivity to the ATM backbone. It provides wire-speed routing and applies advanced filtering mechanisms to network traffic as an aid to security and policy enforcement. Furthermore, the CoreBuilder 3500 switch can be used as an MPOA Server, administering fast, MPOA cut-through processing between SuperStack II workgroups that use the ZipChip 3 ASIC-based ATM expansion modules.

"Today, Ethernet/Fast Ethernet clearly rules the desktop," says Hale. "But ATM is implemented in many of the largest enterprise network backbones. Ethernet is simple, economical; ATM is reliable and highly scalable -- and is ideal for supporting demanding QoS requirements."

"The products announced today enhance 3Com's ability to give users the best of both those worlds. With functions that are simple to administer and economical to implement, this solution fulfills the end-to-end convergence promise."

Pricing and Availability (U.S. List Prices)

SuperStack II Switch 1100/3300 OC-3c/OC-12c ATM Expansion Module - $5,995 -July CoreBuilder 3500 2 Port OC-3c ATM Interface Module - $9,995 - August CoreBuilder 3500 1 Port OC-12c ATM Interface Module - $11,995 - August CoreBuilder 7900 36 Port 10/100 Fast Ethernet Interface Card - $14,995 - Q4 CoreBuilder 9000 4 Port UTP Category 5 copper OC-3c Interface Card - $1,495 - available today

About 3Com Corporation

With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people to information in more ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com -- More connected.(TM) For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.

3Com, CoreBuilder, SuperStack and Transcend are registered trademarks and PathBuilder and ZipChip are trademarks of 3Com Corporation.