Foundry Networks Announces New Industry Leading Enterprise Layer 2/3 Modular Switches Based On Award-Winning JetCore ASIC Chipset.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 2002

New JetCore-based FastIron 400, 800 and 1500 Modular Systems, With

Unparalleled Port Density, Performance, Pricing and Feature Sets,

Allow One Product Family For Wiring Closet, Server Connectivity and

LAN Backbone Leading To Superior Total Cost of Ownership

Foundry Networks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end switching and routing, announced today three new Layer 3 modular switches based on the new JetCore(TM) ASIC chipset offering superior port density, availability, serviceability, and scalability at an industry-leading price/performance. The JetCore ASICs were first introduced with the FastIron(R) 4802 fixed configuration Layer 3 switch in June, 2001. Since its introduction, the JetCore-based FastIron 4802 won the Editors' Choice award from PC Magazine with the best-in-class ratings and helped Foundry capture the number one market share in fixed configuration Layer 3 Ethernet switch port shipments in North America based on market share reports from Dell'Oro Group.

The new FastIron 400, 800 and 1500 modular systems, complemented by the award-winning FastIron 4802, are the first in the industry to provide Enterprise customers with an end-to-end Enterprise LAN solution, ranging from the wiring closet to the LAN backbone, based on a single product family simplifying network operations and maintenance, leading to dramatic savings in Total Cost of Ownership.

"Total Cost of Ownership and Investment Protection are among the top purchasing criteria for Enterprise network deployments," said Zeus Kerravala, Research Director at Yankee Group. "Foundry's new FastIron systems make a compelling case to Enterprise customers with savings in Total Cost of Ownership while providing next generation feature set, performance and density at the industry's most competitive prices."

The new JetCore-based FastIron systems provide the following significant benefits:

-- Unparalleled port density of up to 672 10/100 ports, 232 Gigabit Ethernet
ports, or fourteen (14) 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports in a single modular system

-- Support for Jumbo frames on Gigabit ports to scale server farm throughput

-- sFlow(TM) based on RFC 3176 to provide Enterprises with wire-speed network
monitoring for capacity planning and security analysis

-- Wire-speed, fine-grain bandwidth provisioning on all 10/100 and Gigabit
interfaces based on port, port+priority, or Layer 4 Access Control Lists

-- Support for redundant management modules with rapid failover, hot-swappable
power supplies, and interface modules to build critical high availability
features for both the wiring closet and the LAN backbone

-- Superior Quality of Service (QoS) and multicast capabilities to prioritize
business critical traffic flows and support next generation applications such
as Voice over IP (VoIP) and streaming media applications for improved
collaboration and employee productivity

-- Advanced Layer 2/3 switching functions based on Foundry's new JetCore ASIC
chipset and state-of-the-art Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM) that
provides advanced Layer 2/3 switching and policy based routing at wire-speed
performance.

-- IronShield(TM) security with wire-speed extended Access Control Lists,
Secure Shell, Secure Copy, authentication with AAA, RADIUS, and TACACS, and
protection Denial of Service attacks

The FastIron 400, 800 and 1500 are 4-slot, 8-slot and 15-slot modular systems respectively that offer integrated redundant hot-swappable auto-sensing AC or DC power supplies, redundant management modules and hot-swappable interface modules. Each of the systems is built with a non-blocking architecture to provide an aggregate switching capacity of 128 Gbps, 256 Gbps and 480 Gbps respectively. Each of these FastIron systems can be equipped with the following new JetCore modules:

-- 48-port 10/100 2-slot wide RJ-45 module

-- 48-port 10/100 1-slot wide RJ-21 Telco module

-- 8-port Gigabit 1-slot wide mini-GBIC based interface module

-- 16-port Gigabit 1-slot wide mini-GBIC based interface module

-- 16-port Gigabit copper 1-slot wide interface module

-- 1-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet 1-slot wide interface module

-- 8-port Gigabit 1-slot wide mini-GBIC based management module

-- 2-slot wide management module featuring 24 10/100 RJ-45 ports

and 4 mini-GBIC based Gigabit ports

Complete End-To-End Enterprise LAN Solution With FastIron Product Family

Foundry is the first in the industry to offer a complete Enterprise wiring closet, LAN core and Enterprise data center solution based a single product family. This allows Enterprise customers to standardize on one product platform to simplify network operations, administration, and sparing requirements, leading to dramatic savings in the Total Cost of Ownership. Foundry's new JetCore-based systems, complemented by the FastIron 4802 and the current IronCore(TM) based systems, empower Enterprise customers to harness the power of network performance into competitive business advantages and improved productivity by exploiting the efficiencies of intranet, Internet and extranet applications.

"Foundry's new FastIron switching solutions are a natural part of Foundry's product evolution, and raise the bar on performance, density, and value in the Enterprise market segment," said Joel Conover, Senior Analyst at Current Analysis. "These new systems present Foundry customers with a unique opportunity to standardize on a single architecture for the wiring closet, LAN backbone, and data center."

FastIron 400, 800 and 1500 For Enterprise Wiring Closets

JetCore-based FastIron modular systems provide an ideal choice for Enterprise wiring closets because of the port density, price, superior serviceability, high availability, security and advanced Layer 2/3 feature sets. The FastIron 400, 800 and 1500 systems provide an array of purpose-built advanced Layer 2 features for wiring closet applications including extensive support for dynamic VLANs based on port, protocol or subnet, and rich QoS features based on 802.1p. With support for redundant management modules with rapid fail-over, IEEE 802.1w based Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol, and ultra-low latency with ASIC based switching architecture, JetCore-based FastIron systems offer the critical high availability and performance required for next generation applications such as VoIP. Shipping with full Layer 2 and base Layer 3 switching capabilities, the new FastIron modular systems can be upgraded to full Layer 3 functionality including IPX, AppleTalk, and OSPF protocols providing Enterprise customers with a "future-proof" technology while building a bridge to the existing infrastructure. With the new 16-port Gigabit copper 1-slot wide module with auto-sensing 100/1000 interfaces, FastIron systems offer Enterprise customers a smooth migration to Gigabit-to-the-desktop, in tune with business needs.

FastIron 400, 800 and 1500 For Enterprise LAN Backbone

The new JetCore-based FastIron systems offer superior performance and scalability in the LAN backbone by using TCAM technology and various advanced features built into the JetCore ASIC chipset. The new 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface module for JetCore-based FastIron systems allows Enterprise customers to immediately scale their inter-switch connections in the LAN backbone for superior bandwidth scalability. With the IEEE based 802.3ad implementation, Enterprise customers can logically group two or more Gigabit Ethernet links between the FastIron switches in backbone or from wiring closet to the backbone for scaling bandwidth cost-effectively. Continuing Foundry's technology leadership in the LAN backbone, the new FastIron systems offer wire-speed, non-blocking ASIC-based Layer 3 switching, multicast capabilities, wire-speed Access Control Lists, and complete OSPF routing. The JetCore-based FastIron systems feature industry leading Gigabit port density with both Gigabit Fiber and Copper interfaces, a critical requirement in the LAN backbone.

FastIron 400, 800 and 1500 For Enterprise Server Farm Connectivity

With the new 16-port Gigabit copper 1-slot wide interface module with 100/1000 auto-sensing interfaces for FastIron 400, 800 and 1500 systems, Enterprise customers can immediately scale the bandwidth to server farms by using cost-effective Gigabit copper interfaces. While connecting to each server with a high performance, cost-effective Gigabit copper interface, the JetCore-based FastIron systems can connect to the backbone at 10 Gigabit Ethernet speeds by utilizing the new 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface module. With the new 16-port Gigabit Copper module, FastIron systems can offer an unprecedented Gigabit port density of up to 232 Gigabit ports in a single system that consumes just 17 rack units.

"With the new JetCore-based FastIron systems, we continue our industry leadership in feature, performance, price, scalability and high availability for Enterprise customers," said Bobby Johnson, president and CEO of Foundry Networks. "The new FastIron modular systems and the FastIron 4802 offer a complete Enterprise LAN solution based on our new award-winning JetCore ASIC chipset with industry leading technology," continued Johnson.

Purpose-built Features For Enterprise LAN Solutions

Superior Investment Protection: While the base configuration for FastIron 400, 800 and 1500 systems provides full Layer 2 with base Layer 3 features, Enterprise customers can protect their investment with a simple software upgrade to get full Layer 3 functionality including support for OSPF and a comprehensive Layer 3 multicast feature set. This allows Enterprise customers to protect their investment in FastIron systems while upgrading for new capabilities to take advantage of the full Layer 3 features and next-generation Layer 3 multicast applications.

Superior High Availability: With support for redundant management modules, integrated redundant hot-swappable power supplies, hot-pluggable interface modules, and integrated temperature sensors, Foundry's JetCore-based systems deliver highly reliable and robust network platform to minimize or eliminate downtime in Enterprise networks. Based on the industry standard IEEE 802.1w, Foundry's Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) capability delivers sub-second convergence, dramatically reducing downtime and packet loss in high-availability networks. Foundry's cross-module trunk group feature set and efficient link aggregation based on IEEE 802.3ad delivers bandwidth scalability and fault-tolerance for mission-critical Enterprise networks.

IronShield Security: The FastIron product family provides extensive security features including Secure Shell and Secure Copy to guard the administration and management interface. Foundry's feature-rich ACL implementation enforces access policies to control packet forwarding and restrict access to the system management interface, while providing wire-speed switching and routing. Built-in support for sFlow in JetCore ASICs allows Enterprise customers to monitor network usage and detect any Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.

Comprehensive Network Management: All FastIron products come with comprehensive network management options that include a Command Line Interface, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) based device management, and a Web-based Graphical User Interface. Using Foundry's new IronView Network Manager, all Foundry products can be configured and managed from a central location.

Support for Multiple Protocols: Foundry's FastIron product family integrates ASIC based support for multiple protocols, including IP, IPX, OSPF and AppleTalk, ensuring smooth interoperability among diverse clients.

Delivery and Pricing

Foundry's FastIron 400, 800 and 1500 systems are shipping now for immediate availability. The 10/100 RJ-45 and RJ-21 interface modules, 8-port Gigabit management and interface modules, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface modules are generally available now. All other interface and management modules will be generally available in March, 2002.

Sample International List Prices in US Dollars (For prices on all modules, please call a Foundry sales office):

Base Chassis:

FastIron 400 with 1 power supply $3,995

FastIron 800 with 1 power supply $7,995

FastIron 1500 with 2 power supplies $11,995

Management Modules:

24 port 10/100 and 4 port Gigabit Management module $7,995

Interface Modules:

48-port RJ-45 Module $4,995

48-port RJ-21 Module $6,495

16-port Gigabit fiber interface module $11,995

16-port Gigabit copper interface module $8,995

10 Gigabit Ethernet Interface Modules:

with 850nm optics $49,495 (ranges up to 300 meters)

with 1310nm serial optics $59,995 (ranges up to 10 kilometers)

with 1550nm serial optics $84,995 (ranges up to 40 kilometers)

About Foundry Networks

Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY) is a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end switching and routing including Internet routers, Layer 2/3 LAN switches, and Layer 4-7 Internet traffic and content delivery switches. Foundry's 3,750+ customers include the world's premier ISPs and Enterprises, portals, search engines, e-commerce sites, universities, entertainment, pharmaceutical, government, financial, and manufacturing companies. Some of these customers include: AOL (NYSE:AOL), EarthLink, AT&T WorldNet, MSN, Verio, Cable & Wireless (NYSE:CWP), Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO), Incyte Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq:INCY), The University of Washington, University of Miami, U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy, NASA and NIH. For more information about the company and its products, call 888/TURBO-LAN or visit www.foundrynetworks.com.

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the safe harbor created by this section. These forward looking statements include statements regarding planned products or product features (Products) that are under development, such as the FastIron. While Foundry is planning for the commercial availability of such Products, they are still under development and subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which could delay the planned availability. Actual results may differ materially due to these and other factors. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Foundry's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see the Risk Factors described in Foundry's final Prospectus dated September 27, 1999 for its initial public offering as well as its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K. Foundry assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

Note to Editors: FastIron, JetCore, IronCore, IronShield and Foundry Networks are trademarks of Foundry Networks, Inc. sFlow is a trademark of InMon Corporation.