Asante Brings Gigabit Ethernet to Mac, Linux and Windows 2000 Desktops and Servers; First Complete Gigabit Ethernet Over Copper Solution.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 2000

Asante Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASNT.OB) today announced the GigaNIX(TM), one of the first copper Gigabit Ethernet adapters for Mac OS, Linux and Windows NT/2000. These network adapters enable high performance workstations and servers to make the fastest connections to a local area network using standard copper cables.

Investing in the Present and the Future

Asante's new copper-based Gigabit Ethernet adapters remove the last two barriers to the widespread adoption of Gigabit Ethernet technology: price and compatibility.

Combined with last month's announcement of the FriendlyNET GX4 Gigabit Ethernet switches, Asante is the first company to deliver a complete Gigabit Ethernet solution at a price hundreds of dollars less than conventional, fiber-based solutions. In addition, these new Gigabit Ethernet over copper products are compatible with Category 5 copper wiring installed in an estimated 85 percent of today's office buildings. The combination provides a powerful solution for graphic design workgroups. These groups typically handle very large graphics files for pre-press work and seek substantial performance improvement over slower network connections.

Power Users Get A Boost

"We are pleased to have Asante provide this leading edge technology for Power Mac users, many of which are in design and publishing environments," said Clent Richardson, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "It's great to see affordable Gigabit Ethernet reaching the desktop. Networks that can transmit data at blazing speeds are a step in the right direction to provide Apple's creative professional with improvements in productivity."

"Gigabit Ethernet over copper is the new standard in high speed networking," said Marty Colombatto, Vice President and General Manager, of the Networking Business Unit of Broadcom Corporation. "We are pleased that Asante has incorporated the industry-standard Broadcom(R) BCM5400 transceiver into its new FriendlyNET GX4 switch and adapter. Broadcom's 100/1000BaseT Gigabit Ethernet transceiver is the engine driving the 1000BaseT revolution," stated Colombatto.

Most Advanced Network Adapters for Multiple Computing Platforms

The new GigaNIX family is based upon an advanced network architecture with dual RISC processors and separate DMA channels for full duplex operation. This design minimizes host processing and streamlines checksum calculations to sustain 1 Gbps across the host's PCI bus. Each adapter is based upon IEEE Gigabit Ethernet over copper standards for data transmission up to 1000 Mbps over four pairs of Category 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cabling.

These adapters also include Asante's innovative technology that automatically resolves common wiring errors and negotiates to the highest available speed (10/100/1000 Mbps, full/half duplex). AsanteQ(TM) link quality monitor evaluates and adjusts for dynamic cable conditions without complex management or special diagnostic equipment.

Pricing and Availability

       --   The FriendlyNET GigaNIX 1000T is optimized for simplified
          installation on multiple platforms, including Mac OS 8, 9, X
          Server, Linux and Windows NT/2000 systems. Suggested retail
          price: $799.

       --   The FriendlyNET GigaNIX 1000TPC is a cost-effective adapter
          for workstations and servers running Microsoft Windows NT 4
          or Windows 2000. Suggested retail price: $749

Both adapters come with free telephone support and a three-year product warranty. These adapters will ship worldwide from Asante distributors, resellers, systems integrators, e-stores and directly from Asante's e-commerce site.

"Gigabit Ethernet is moving into the mainstream of networking in both corporate LANs and service providers," according to John Jeng, Asante's VP of Operations. "Therefore, it is important that Gigabit Ethernet solutions are more easily integrated into existing physical infrastructures and affordable by network managers under budgetary constraints."

About Asante

Asante Technologies is the leading provider of network solutions for small offices/home offices, education (K-12 and higher education) and enterprises. The Company's FriendlyNET products simplify networking and provide Internet access for mobile and office professionals. The Company's Advanced Systems products support multi-service applications for large enterprises. For additional information, visit www.asante.com or call 800/662-9686 for FriendlyNET products or 800/303-9121 for Advanced Systems products.

Asante, GigaNIX, AsanteQ, and FriendlyNET are trademarks of Asante Technologies. Broadcom is a registered trademark of Broadcom Corporation in the United States and certain other countries. All other brand names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.