CrossComm introduces new high-performance Ethernet switch family; RiserSwitch offers 10BaseT and 100BaseT ports, maximum scalability and total bandwidth management.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 1996--CrossComm Corporation today introduced its new RiserSwitch line of high-performance Ethernet switches.

The RiserSwitch family features the most advanced capabilities of any switch for building scaleable switched Ethernet backbones for LANs -- offering the highest value in performance, management capability and availability.

In announcing the new product, Bob Dalias, CrossComm's Senior Director of Product Marketing, said, "The RiserSwitch architecture combines raw switching performance, large buffering capacity, low latency and high port density. These features -- along with CrossComm's powerful Total Bandwidth Management capabilities -- create an exceptional system. RiserSwitch allows network managers to micro-segment existing legacy LANs with 14 10BaseT ports, while providing eight 100BaseT ports for connecting to high-performance servers and uplinks to workgroup switches."

"The newer bandwidth-intensive applications such as internal Web sites, Lotus Notes, imaging and distributed graphics -- which have threatened to overwhelm currently-installed network infrastructures -- can benefit from the overall performance and management capabilities of the new switch family," Dalias said. (See the accompanying CrossComm-Inmar press release for example of customer implementations.)

Total Bandwidth Management

CrossComm's RiserSwitch is the only switch that dedicates a powerful embedded 33Mhz i960 RISC CPU to the task of managing virtual switched networks, so the network manager can effectively manage bandwidth issues as well as the overall operations. Embedded application tools, such as full RMON and Session Capture, facilitate both reactive and proactive management by establishing baselines for trend analyses, capturing designated client/server sessions for network diagnostics and problem determination.

In addition, two levels of Virtual LANs (VLANs) are available to improve traffic and control multicasts for efficient network operation. Level 1 VLANs, for legacy systems, allow traditional shared Ethernet hubs, workgroup switches, routers and servers that are directly connected to the RiserSwitch to be members of VLANs. Level 2 VLANs, for workgroups, are constructed by port or MAC address association. At this level, overlapping VLAN memberships are supported -- so a station or server can be a member of multiple VLANs.

The RiserSwitch supports a large MAC address table (8000 MAC addresses) to support current network requirements as well as future growth and expansion.

Distributed Store-and-Forward Architecture

RiserSwitch incorporates distributed store-and-forward architecture, an ideal technology for client/server applications operating over a switched backbone. Unlike first-generation store-and-forward designs, the switching ASICs and packet buffers are distributed down to the port level -- preventing any port or group of ports from consuming a disproportionate amount of system resources, and resulting in lower packet latency and high reliability. In addition, large dedicated packet buffers at each port handle packet bursts and eliminate the need to segment and reassemble large packets.

Full Duplex Operation

Full duplex operation is supported on all ports, providing a bi-directional communication path (send and receive) between two end points. This provides the best overall solution in building a switched backbone for client/server applications because the transmitter can alleviate congestion at any time without impacting other devices on the segment. For these types of applications, it substantially increases the bandwidth over full duplex Fast Ethernet uplinks.

High Availability and Fault Tolerance

The RiserSwitch also responds to customers' requirements for high availability and varying degrees of fault tolerance by offering port reliability, link resiliency, load sharing power and fan redundancy, and switch redundancy. If one port fails, it does not impact the operation of any of the other ports. Likewise, providing resilient links between wiring closets or floors and the data center is another key safety feature of the riser backbone. And, redundant power, fan, and entire switch capabilities are becoming more important in many applications. These RiserSwitch features give network designers tremendous flexibility when configuring the system.

"The RiserSwitch family provides the scalability customers want as they migrate their applications from legacy systems, add new applications, and build more robust networks," Dalias continued. "Its high port density and combination of 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps ports enable customers to design and deploy highly flexible networks to meet their increasingly higher bandwidth needs. For example, network managers can provide dedicated 10 Mbps Ethernet service to hundreds of user desktops -- while also supplying dedicated 100 Mbps service to multiple servers and workgroup switches." Because the switch can also support dedicated 10 or 100 Mbps service to legacy hubs, customers with large installed hub-and-router based LANs can now have them access a high-performance switched network.

By using the RiserSwitch in the data center, and uplinks to CrossComm's CrossSwitch Ethernet workgroup switches and/or legacy hubs in the wiring closets, customers can easily manage and control all phases of network migration, evolution and growth.

Pricing and Availability

The new switches are available in either standalone or modular configurations. Media types supported include Category 5 twisted pair or fiber 100 Mb interfaces and 10BaseT interface connections. The basic standalone RiserSwitch 100 includes 14 switched 10BaseT ports and eight switched 100BaseT ports, at a price of $15,995 -- which works out to a very cost-effective $727 per port. First customer shipments will begin this month.

About CrossComm and ClearPath

CrossComm Corporation (NASDAQ/XCOM), founded in 1987, designs, develops, manufactures and sells high-performance networking solutions. The company's productline philosophy, 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-based network 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. Worldwide headquarters are located at 450 Donald Lynch Boulevard, Marlborough, MA 01752.

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All CrossComm product names herein are trademarked by CrossComm Corporation. All other product or company names are trademarked by their respective companies.

Editor's Note: Photos and Sample Network Diagrams Available

CONTACT: Cynthia Mollus

Media Boston International

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Nancy Baptiste

Sr. Director, Marketing Programs

CrossComm Corporation

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