Cabletron Delivers New VPN Solutions Across Entire Line of Multi-Protocol SmartSwitch Routers.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 1999--

Wire-Speed VPN Security For Intranet and Extranet Connections Across Full Range of "Last Mile" Access Technologies

Cabletron Systems (NYSE:CS) today announced a new suite of Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions that will provide cost-effective, reliable, secure VPN services between central site, remote branch office and small office/home office (SOHO) locations. The comprehensive solution set includes application-aware VPN routing platforms, directory-enabled SPECTRUM service level management (SLM) applications and support for key industry standards.

Cabletron's VPN solutions enable enterprise customers to gradually add VPN services to their existing WAN infrastructures, while service providers can leverage Cabletron's solutions to deliver the security, performance, reliability and quality of service (QoS) required to trust key business applications to the Internet.

"With an impressive lineup of VPN products spanning small offices, branch sites and large corporate offices, Cabletron is able to deliver a complete VPN solution," said Michael Howard, principal analyst with Infonetics Research. "Our research has shown that customers will implement VPNs in conjunction with their existing private networks. Cabletron's solution allows them to make this migration cost-effectively, at the rate that makes sense for them."

Cabletron's New VPN Solutions

Cabletron today introduced two new series of SmartSwitch Routers (the SSR 600 and the SSR 700 platform). The new SSRs provide flexible, high-performance VPN security and manageability bed, high-speed interface module (HSIM) for Cablewith wire-speed, hardware-based compression, DEwo Ethernet interfaces, four serial WAN ports and two ISDN PRI interfaces with hardware-based compression and DES/3DES encryption. L2TP and IPSec with high performance embedded DES and DES/3DES encryption capability ensures data security over both public and private networks and the ability to quickly establish connections with new users.

Cabletron also announced significant VPN enhancements to its current line of SSR 100, 200 and 500 SOHO and branch office routers to support secure VPN tunneling based on IPSec and L2TP. Cabletron is unique in the industry in that its products can deliver VPN solutions over all major "last mile" access technologies, including cable, xDSL, PPP, Frame Relay, ISDN and wireless connections.

Increased Security and Management

Cabletron's multivendor SPECTRUM Enterprise Manager platform will provide five key management services for VPN networks. A consistent, Web-based interface will simplify configuration of VPN services across multiple devices, with directory services providing storage of configuration, security and QoS policies on a per-user, application or device basis. Policy-based QoS monitoring will give users a better understanding of VPN performance. Service level agreement (SLA) monitoring will provide service providers with the information needed to deliver QoS commitments to customers. Traffic accounting of VPN services will enable service providers to generate usage reports and to verify delivery of committed service level agreements to their end user customers.

Cabletron's Enhanced VPN Solutions

Cabletron also announced plans to enhance its award-winning SSR 2000, 8000 and 8600 Family with full VPN security functions. Cabletron has agreed to license from Information Resource Engineering, Inc. (IRE) (Nasdaq:IREG), their SafeNet technology for use in its SSR 2000, 8000 and 8600 Family (see related release). The combination of IRE's industry-leading SafeNet cryptography performance and the SSR's wire-speed, application-aware routing will allow Cabletron to deliver VPN solutions at unprecedented, multiple OC-3 or multiple 100 Mbps throughput levels.

The entire range of SSRs are fully interoperable with application-aware, Layer 4 QoS abilities, providing scalable, end-to-end links from the enterprise to the service provider for data, voice and video communications at narrowband esses to enforce priorities and bandwidth allocity Association (ICSA).

"Cabletron's VPN el Skubisz, Cabletron's chief technology officer VPNs extend geographic connectivity to remote users and locations, as well as to electronic commerce customers, suppliers and extranet partners. Enterprise customers can recover the cost of their VPN investments in less than six months, while reducing their recurring WAN carrier charges by more than 50% annually. VPNs are fundamental to enterprises in their efforts to achieve global reach and enable customer service - any time, anywhere, anyhow - in support of new business applications in the Internet economy.

Pricing and Availability -0-

SSR 100/200  VPN software: IPSec & L2TP with DES      $195    Sep. '99
SSR 100/200  VPN+ software: IPSec & L2TP with 3DES    $295    Sep. '99
SSR 500      VPN software: IPSec & L2TP with DES      $195    Jul. '99
SSR 500      VPN+ software: IPSec & L2TP with 3DES    $295    Jul. '99
SSR 600      2 10/100 Ethernet; 2 modular WAN ports $2,495    Aug. '99
             Encryption Compression Module            $995
             T1/E1 interface with integral CSU/DSU    $825
             64K DDS with integral CSU/DSU            $695
             BRI-ISDN inte                   $495
SSR 710      2 10Base-Troducts designed for Fortune 1000 enterprise networks,
service
providers and small businesses, Cabletron is the e-business
communications specialist for the information age. Cabletron's web
site can be reached on the Internet at http://www.cabletron.com.