CrossComm introduces Ethernet segment and ATM Edge Switches with unmatched network management capability; Distributed switching architecture delivers new levels of scalability, high availability and price/performance as part of ClearPath strategy.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 1995--CrossComm Corp. today introduced the newest members of its ClearPath network transition strategy -- the Ethernet Segment Switch (ESS), and the ATM Edge Switch (AES).

Both product families provide users with new levels of scalability, high availability and price/performance because they leverage second-generation technology -- incorporating the Fore/A.N.T. switching chip set, Network General LAN monitoring technology and CrossComm's advances in ATM switch development.

The ESS and AES switch families connect Ethernet Workgroup Switches, older shared Ethernet hubs and routers. They offer the best value for large organizations who are looking to implement ATM, but who require a scalable, easily manageable and highly available switched virtual network. These organizations typically are implementing bandwidth-intensive remote office or client/server workgroup applications -- including Lotus Notes, document imaging, full-motion video, medical imaging, CAD/CAM applications such as Parametric 3D Modeling, multimedia and visualization applications.

"The timing is right for an integrated solution which attacks two critical issues in the market," noted Charlie Robbins, vice president of communications research at Aberdeen Group Inc. "Customers want to find cost effective and transparent vehicles to move to the next-generation switched networks. This is the vision -- and with these product announcements, the substance -- offered by CrossComm's ClearPath approach. CrossComm's latest offerings enable users to take advantage of switching at the backbone, with a clear ATM direction. The introduction of these products, along with CrossComm's aggressive foray into strengthening its distribution channels, is essential for increasing the company's momentum in the market."

Superior Management for Switched Networks

Being able to manage high-powered, switched networks more efficiently is becoming a key customer issue. "CrossComm has embedded LAN Analyzer capabilities and proven Network General RMON+ technology," said Gary Wood, director of ATM & LAN Switching at CrossComm, "which centralizes control, so you get very rapid error detection and fault isolation -- with no impact in performance. The session capture and protocol decode, and port monitoring functions for all ports means you can detect over 94% of network problems from a central management station. The old, more costly alternative was to physically move a network analyzer all around the network trying to find the problem. The CrossComm design also enables customers to do much more through capacity planning and trend analysis. All nine standard Remote Monitoring (RMON) Groups -- including Network General extensions -- are supported.

Designed for Reliability, Availability and Value

The ESS and AES family delivers the best value in the industry for users. "In addition to the Fore/A.N.T. ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and Network General LAN monitoring technologies, we have integrated CrossComm's Address Processor and Directory and ATM capabilities. The distributed architecture design ensures no single point of failure," said Wood, "so we can deliver mission-critical reliability down to the port level and greatly increase overall reliability with extensive port buffering -- over 256K bytes per 10M port and 1M bytes per 100M port. Port congestion is alleviated, thus improving network availability and lowering packet loss. All components are hot-swappable for serviceability."

Compared to the Cisco Catalyst 5000, the ESS and AES family offers a 32% cost advantage in price per port, based on a 50-port configuration, according to Wood. For remote LAN switching applications, CrossComm's ATM Edge Switch comes in at 40% below the Catalyst 5000.

The ESS provides switched 10M, Full Duplex and 100M Fast Ethernet, plus the optional ATM connection. In shared LAN networks, it improves performance dramatically by dividing the LAN so each user or segment can have a dedicated 10Mb/s of high-capacity bandwidth. The ESS and AES can extend Virtual LANs (VLANs) across an enterprise, separating the "logical" from the "physical" organization in the network infrastructure, making it easy for administrators to handle the movements of personnel throughout the organization. A capacity of 32,000 Media Access Controller (MAC) addresses can support very large networks within an organization.

ESS and AES switches leverage the modular "plug-and-play" design of CrossComm's ClearPath networking platform. The modules fit into small, medium or large chassis, so customers can start with smaller, less expensive systems to meet immediate LAN segmentation needs, and grow to large, mission-critical client/server applications by moving to a larger chassis, providing as many as 192 switched ports.

Optional ATM Uplink Capability

The ATM Edge Switch (AES), designed to take advantage of ATM bandwidth, integrates up to 22 10BaseT and two 100BaseT ports, an ATM port and LAN analyzer capabilities on a single module. The ATM port provides standard ATM OC3 multi-mode or single-mode fiber and DS3 interfaces to connect to an external ATM backbone switch, or to an internal ATM backplane. It supports ATM Forum standard RFC 1483 LAN Encapsulation; future releases support RFC 1577 IP over ATM and LAN Emulation.

ClearPath -- ATM Migration Made Easy

The ESS family is the second phase of CrossComm ClearPath products to be introduced in the last four months. ClearPath is the industry's first fully-integrated communications and networking strategy that provides IT professionals with a smooth transition from hub and router-based networks to the next generation LAN switching and ATM environments. ClearPath products -- integrating LAN switching, ATM, routing and LAN hubs within a single, fault-tolerant platform -- offer complete, high performance, modular solutions that can grow as bandwidth demands increase.

Pricing and Availability (U.S. list prices)

ESS products will be available in September, with module prices ranging from $11,995 for 16-ports to $15,995 for a 32-port module including two 100BaseT ports. AES modules will be available in November, priced at $19,995 for the ATM OC3MM with 24 10BaseT ports, and $20,995 for the version with two 100BaseT ports.

About CrossComm

CrossComm Corp. (NASDAQ:XCOM), founded in 1987, designs, develops, manufactures and sells high-performance networking solutions that assist organizations making the transition from today's hub and router-based networks to next-generation LAN switching and ATM-based networks. Worldwide headquarters are located at 450 Donald Lynch Blvd., Marlborough, Mass. 01752. -0-

All CrossComm product names herein are trademarked by CrossComm Corp. All other product names are trademarked by their respective companies.

CONTACT: CrossComm Corp., Marlborough

Gary Wood, 508/229-5310

or

Media Boston International

Cynthia Mollus or Michele Nadeem, 617/266-5969