3Com is Named as a 'Best of the Tests' Finalist by Network World for the Outstanding Performance of 3Com's XRN Technology.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2004

Network World Validated the High Availability and Excellent Performance of 3Com XRN(TM) Products for Enterprise Customers to Expand LANs with Pay-As-You-Grow Approach

3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today announced that the company has been named as a "Best of the Tests" Finalist by Network World, based on 3Com's innovation with LAN switching technology. 3Com's XRN(TM) technology, which has proven to be a unique solution to solve enterprise customers' network redundancy issues, network utilization issues, and total cost of ownership issues, performed up to high expectations in in-depth testing conducted by Network World over the past 14 months. With XRN products, more bandwidth is available due to 3Com's full active-active approach to the local area network (LAN), while competitors' products primarily offer active-passive approaches.

"Enterprise customers can use XRN solutions either as part of a LAN core or as a cost-effective, highly available aggregator. Either way, customers can get the high performance and enterprise-level redundancy at a lower total cost of ownership," said Shaun Paice, director of workgroup systems, 3Com Corporation. "XRN technology allows multiple 3Com switches to act as single switch fabrics, simplifying complex management and allowing for easier expandability of network capacity and scalability of Gigabit backbones."

About Network World's 2003 Best of the Tests Finalist Designation

The 2003 "Best of the Tests" Finalist designation has been awarded by Network World to 61 products that registered the best performances in its hands-on testing program over the past 14 months. In all, Network World tested and reported on a total of 240 enterprise network products in that time frame.

Network World is the premier source of objective, authoritative testing-based articles in the network marketplace. Network World produces articles featuring both single-product and comparative product tests on a weekly basis. The publication taps into its 14-member Network World Lab Alliance, a group of the most qualified industry experts, network integrators and university lab personnel, to set methodology, conduct testing and produce the articles.

Network World's Signature Series Best Products Issue, published in February, highlights the best new products, services and practices in networking and the best new ideas on buying, building and managing networks. Network World Fusion hosts a companion Web site at www.nwfusion.com/best/2004/.

About Network World

Network World, Inc., the Leader in Network Knowledge, empowers Network IT Executives through education, information and community. Network World and IDG Company are the leading provider of news, analysis, reviews, events and education on information technology. Network World publishes the leading newsweekly, Network World, hosts the most active online community, Network World Fusion (http://www.nwfusion.com), and produces educational seminars and events worldwide. Network World's portfolio of strategic marketing programs provides marketing and agency professionals with the tools to generate high-quality leads, optimize marketing campaigns, and create new revenue opportunities.

About 3Com Corporation

3Com is a leading provider of innovative, practical and high-value voice and data networking products, services and solutions for enterprises of all sizes and public sector organizations. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.

3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks, and XRN is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective holders.