Enterasys Networks Delivers 10-Gigabit Ethernet for the Enterprise With New Matrix E1 Switching Family.

Business/Technology Editors

ROCHESTER, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 27, 2001

New Generation of Standards-Based 10-Gigabit Switches Maximizes Application Availability; Continues Enterasys' UTOPIA Strategy with Matrix E1 Optical Access Switch

Enterasys Networks, Inc. (NYSE: ETS), a leader in enterprise networking solutions, today announced its new Matrix E1 family of 10-Gigabit and Gigabit Ethernet switches. Designed to meet the rising bandwidth requirements of enterprise networks, these new standards-based switches combine the ease-of-use of Ethernet with wire-speed switching performance and a full suite of advanced features to rapidly deliver voice, video, data and other applications throughout an enterprise network infrastructure.

Building upon the success of the Matrix E7 modular Gigabit switching platform, the Matrix E1 series continues Enterasys' leadership in Gigabit technology by offering high-performance switching and routing at industry-leading price points in a workgroup form factor. With the rising use of bandwidth-intensive enterprise applications such as videoconferencing, distance learning, enterprise resource planning (ERP), disaster recovery, and intranet and Internet connectivity, the Matrix E1 family delivers 10-Gigabit and Gigabit performance for workgroup and wiring closet environments that require both the highest levels of bandwidth and a full suite of features, including extensive management capabilities, superior Quality of Service (QoS), and advanced security.

"The Matrix E1 product family is a landmark achievement in Enterasys' long history of providing secure, highly available and mobile networking solutions, and furthers our UTOPIA vision for 10-Gigabit Ethernet in the enterprise. All of the Matrix E1 switches are designed for maximum performance, delivering wire-speed switching with their entire suite of advanced features enabled. This solution delivers the optimal combination of features and performance to provide customers with a high-capacity network infrastructure that unlocks the true potential of their enterprise applications," said Kevin Brown, general manager of the switching business unit at Enterasys Networks.

The Matrix E1 line includes three switches for the rapidly growing 10-Gigabit and Gigabit Ethernet markets:

-- The Matrix E1 Optical Access Switch (OAS) (1G694-13) - Provides 12 ports of
line-rate Gigabit performance and a 10-Gigabit expansion module. Starting in
2002, Enterasys will be offering a number of additional 10-Gigabit connectivity
options to address short, medium and long-haul fiber environments.

-- The Matrix E1 Workgroup Switch (WS) (1H582-51) - Provides 48 fixed 10/100
ports and 3 flexible, modular expansion slots for a variety of 10/100 or
Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options.

-- The Matrix E1 Gigabit Workgroup Switch (GWS) (1G582-09) - Provides 6 fixed
Gigabit Ethernet ports and 3 flexible, modular expansion slots for a variety of
10/100 or Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options.

Adopters of 10-Gigabit technology include organizations looking to improve performance between data centers, and those that have maximized the capacity of their existing fiber optic cabling. The Matrix E1 Optical Access Switch (OAS) enables organizations to cost-effectively deliver enterprise applications at 10-Gigabit speeds across a single fiber optic cable pair. One organization that is looking to increase its network capacity is CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics.

"At CERN, research is fundamental to our organization, and the experiments on our new large particle accelerator will produce vast amounts of data. We rely on data processing by a great many computers to achieve the scientific research in particle physics that we desire. High-bandwidth solutions are essential to leveraging more computing power, so 10-Gigabit Ethernet is the next logical step for us. As an Enterasys customer, we have been continually rewarded with higher performance switching and routing products that meet our demanding requirements. We are positive on Enterasys' delivery of their Matrix E1 line of 10-Gigabit Ethernet switches. The Matrix E1 allows us to provide the networking support that our scientists need and gives us a certain future for bandwidth and computing expansion," said Jacques Altaber, deputy leader of Information Technology at CERN.

Enterasys' 10-Gigabit vision was developed by John Roese, Enterasys Networks' CTO and the co-author of the emerging 802.1X standard. This strategy is based on the concept of "Unlocking the Optical Internet Application," or UTOPIA, which is reached when network capacity moves to a level that provides zero latency between people, applications and content regardless of their location (see related press release, "Enterasys Networks Unveils The Industry's First 10-Gigabit Ethernet Strategy For Enterprise Networks," April 30, 2001). UTOPIA is driven by the evolution of Ethernet and is based upon the IEEE's 802.3ae 10-Gigabit specifications.

"As organizations and their networks continue to become more distributed, and as more information and bandwidth-intensive applications are added to the network, enterprises will steadily increase their adoption of Gigabit and 10-Gigabit technologies as they build networks to enable these emerging models of content delivery," said Lee Buchanan, senior technical analyst at Datamonitor.

Continuing its ongoing commitment to industry standards, Enterasys is heavily involved in the development of standards for 10-Gigabit Ethernet, and is a charter member of the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance (10GEA) and a voting member of the IEEE 802.3ae 10-Gigabit specification committee.

The Matrix E1 WS and GWS switches offer a full layer 2-4 feature set, including multilayer frame classification and rate limiting to deliver advanced QoS for enterprise networks. In addition, these products support wire-speed IP and IPX routing as well as redundant AC power supplies at no additional cost. These switches also offer industry-leading scalability through a 16-port 10/100 module, as well as fiber and copper Gigabit Ethernet expansion modules.

Both the Matrix E1 OAS and WS will be available in December 2001, and the Matrix E1 GWS will be available in early 2002. For more information, please visit www.enterasys.com/switching/matrix/.

About Enterasys Networks

Enterasys Networks (NYSE: ETS) is a leading worldwide provider of communications infrastructures for enterprise-class customers. Enterasys' networking hardware and software offerings deliver the innovative security, availability and mobility solutions required by Global 2000 organizations coupled with the industry's strongest service and support. For more information, visit www.enterasys.com.