Foundry Networks Delivers New Layer 3 Gigabit Ethernet Core Switching Solutions for Enterprise and Metro Service Provider Networks.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2001

New BigIron Gigabit Ethernet Modules and IronWare Software

Release 7.2 with Leading Price, Performance, Port Density,

Redundancy, Optical Media Flexibility, Security,

High-Availability and Layer 3 Features

Foundry Networks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end broadband IP switching and routing, today announced new Gigabit Ethernet management and switching modules and IronWare(TM) Software Release 7.2 for enterprises and service providers enabling deployment of highly available, secure, and high-performance backbone networks with complete optical media flexibility at industry-leading prices.

The new BigIron(R) Gigabit Ethernet modules utilize Mini-GBIC connector technology allowing adaptable Gigabit Ethernet optical media between short, medium, and long distance optics while maintaining a density of 8 ports per module. These new Mini-GBIC Gigabit Ethernet modules enable optimal optics selection for intra-building, campus, and metropolitan network solutions.

With the new IronWare software release 7.2, Foundry's BigIron Layer 3 switches provide significant enhancements for building enterprise and service provider backbone network with powerful reliability, security and bandwidth management capabilities. Major enhancements include:

    --  High availability, fast convergence backbone and edge
        capabilities:

        --  IEEE 802.1w based Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol which
            ensures recovery of network link outage within 1 second

        --  IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation protocol which enables
            bandwidth aggregation and link redundancy

    --  Security Services:

        --  Private VLAN which ensures highly secured VLAN with access
            control between ports

        --  Radius and TACACS+ enhancements to improve AAA server
            assignment flexibility and key security

    --  Routing Enhancements:

        --  User configurable packet forwarding optimization

        --  BGP4 next-hop recursion

    --  Bandwidth Control and Optimization:

        --  Customers can now rate limit certain control packet in
            order to secure high system integrity while control
            inbound and/or outbound user traffic.

With the extensive IronWare Release 7.2 feature set, the BigIron Layer 3 switch is the platform of choice for enterprises and service providers that require unparalleled reliability, security, performance and extensive feature set to meet their business needs. Furthermore, Foundry's family of new Mini-GBIC Gigabit Ethernet products will enable customers to build high-density, non-blocking, fully redundant (with dual redundant management modules) Gigabit Ethernet backbone networks scalable from 32 to 120 ports at a price point as low as USD $46,000 for a 32-port redundant system.

Industry-Leading Management, Route Processing and Access Control Performance

The new Mini-GBIC Management module is equipped with a top-of-the-line Power PC processor, 256MB of memory expandable to 512MB of memory and 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports with Mini-GBIC connectors. This new BigIron management module delivers sophisticated system management, routing and access control list processing functions as well as wire-speed Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. Foundry's BigIron Layer 3 switch supports full management redundancy when configured with dual management modules. With the new Mini-GBIC management module, the BigIron switch will boost performance of its address learning, route processing and other value-added capabilities such as access control, rate limiting and policy-based routing while maintaining the Gigabit Ethernet port density. The rich feature set along with the high-performance and high-availability design make the BigIron Layer 3 switch an ideal choice for the enterprise and service provider core network.

Significant Reduction of Network Down Time and Cost of Ownership

The introduction of the new family of Mini-GBIC-based management and interface Gigabit Ethernet modules enable customers to deploy high-performance LAN backbones with complete media flexibility without sacrificing Gigabit Ethernet port density. The Mini-GBIC-based modules allow customers to deploy Gigabit Ethernet with flexible combination of short, medium and long distance optics. Additional benefits of the new Mini-GBIC-based modules include minimization of network downtime by allowing fast replacement of failed optics, reduction of module sparing overhead and cost of equipment ownership.

New Price/Performance Standard for the Enterprise and Service Provider Core

With the introduction of the new management and interface modules and their aggressive Gigabit Ethernet pricing, Foundry's enterprise and service provider LAN core solutions set a new industry standard for high-density Gigabit Ethernet core deployments and price-per-port. For instance, a 32-port Gigabit Ethernet backbone with dual management module redundancy and options of short and long distance optics is listed for approximately USD $46,000.

IronWare 7.2 Delivers Rich Feature Set for Enterprises and Service Providers; Carrier Class Reliability and Redundancy for The Mission Critical Core

All BigIron management and route processing modules, including the new Mini-GBIC management module, are hot-swappable with rapid fault detection and fail-over. This improves application uptime by automatically and transparently moving traffic to a backup management module in the event of a network outage. The management module contains configurable temperature sensor that sends Syslog messages and SNMP traps if the temperature exceeds a specified warning level. The temperature sensor can also shut the module down automatically to prevent damage.

In addition to existing high-availability solutions using standard IETF Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), and an enhanced version of VRRP, called VRRPE that eliminates network outage due to router and switch redundancy, IronWare 7.2 supports IEEE 802.1W standard based Rapid Spanning Tree protocol which allows immediate network convergence after a network port failure, and IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation standard for bandwidth aggregation and link redundancy.

The BigIron chassis supports load-balancing and load-sharing power supplies, with AC and DC options, which enable the BigIron chassis to conform to any type of power environment.

All interface modules within a BigIron chassis are hot-swappable. This capability allows network administrators to easily install or remove modules within a BigIron without affecting other customers that are connected to the same chassis.

Rate Limiting Delivers Tiered Network Services

Together with BigIron's unique switching architecture, IronWare 7.2 enables Adaptive Rate Limiting at the core, allowing multiple bandwidth provisioning policies to be applied in order, giving significant flexibility for service providers to enforce service level agreements, or for enterprises to control application bandwidth consumption.

Security Services to Build IronClad Core Networks

The new IronWare 7.2 feature Private VLAN optimizes IP address management and reduces consumption of VLANs within a service provider or web hosting environment. Private VLAN enforces Layer 2 security between customer servers yet permits access to common services such as a default gateway.

IronWare 7.2 also includes enhancements to TACACS+ and Radius security and access control services that together provide a robust and full feature tool set for deployment of a highly secured operating network environment.

Enhancements to Foundry's Industry Leading Layer 3 Protocol Suite

Foundry's BigIron product family integrates ASIC-based support for multiple protocols, including IP, IPX, OSPF, BGP4 and AppleTalk, ensuring smooth interoperability between diverse clients. An IP-only version of IronWare 7.2 is available for the enterprises and service providers who deploy IP-centric networks.

Performance Optimization: IronWare 7.2 provides a new option that significantly optimizes forwarding in environments where the Layer 3 switch uses default route to forward traffic for many of the destination networks.

BGP4 Next-Hop Recursion: IronWare 7.2 enables identification of an IGP route to a BGP route's next-hop gateway using a new feature called BGP4 Next-Hop Recursion, which provide expanded route selection for enhanced network services.

Default Route Injection into OSPF NSSA from the Area Border Router: This new IronWare 7.2 option permits injection of a default route into a Not-So-Stubby Area (NSSA) giving network managers more flexibility to control and manage their network.

Pricing and Availability

The Mini-GBIC Gigabit Ethernet modules and IronWare 7.2 release are available immediately. The list prices for the 8-port Mini-GBIC Interface Module and the 8-port Mini-GBIC Management Module start at USD $8,495 and USD $12,495 respectively. The 1000Base-SX Mini-GBIC Optic Module is available with either LC or MTRJ connector and is priced at $445. The 1000Base-LX Mini-GBIC Optic Module is available with LC connector and is priced at $995.

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 3,000+ customers include the world's premier ISPs and enterprises, portals, search engines, e-commerce sites, and universities along with the leading entertainment, pharmaceutical, government, financial, and manufacturing companies. Some of these customers include: AOL (NYSE:AOL), EarthLink (Nasdaq:ELNK), AT&T WorldNet, MSN, and Cable & Wireless (NYSE:CWP), Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO), Incyte Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq:INCY), The University of Washington, University of Miami, LucasFilm, U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy, NASA and NIH. For more information about the company and its products, call 1.888.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. There is no guarantee that the benefits of Foundry's enhanced product offering, discussed in this press release, will result in additional revenue or marketeer in either of the targeted markets. The results expected by these statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including potential changes in customer decisions or decreased demand for Internet infrastructure equipment. 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: Foundry Networks and BigIron are registered trademarks of Foundry Networks, Inc. IronWare is a trademark of Foundry Networks, Inc.