Foundry Networks Wins First Place in the Prestigious Layer 3 IP, Layer 3 IPX and Chassis-Based Layer 2 Switch Metric Tests.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2000

FastIron II Plus GC Excels In Layer 2, Layer 3 IP, and Layer 3 IPX 

Gigabit Ethernet Performance Evaluations

Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a leading provider of high-performance Internet routers, Layer 2/3 Gigabit Ethernet switches, and Layer 4-7 Internet traffic and content management switching solutions, announced today the first-place results of the FastIron II Plus GC performance evaluation tested by Network World and The Tolly Group's Switch Metric test.

"Foundry's copper-based FastIron II Plus GC topped our price/performance charts in the Layer 2 modular/chassis-based category and captured first place in Layer 3 IP and Layer 3 IPX ratings," stated Charlie Bruno and Kevin Tolly of Network World and The Tolly Group, respectively.

Foundry tops the price/performance list for a second year in a row. Foundry's FastIron II Plus GC commanded first place in the Layer 2 modular/chassis-based and Layer 3 IP categories. In addition, the FastIron II Plus GC, TurboIron/8, BigIron 4000, and BigIron 8000 respectively, occupy first-, second-, third-, and fourth-place positions for the Layer 3 IPX category. (HP ProCurve 9308M and 9304M -- OEM'd from Foundry) occupy the fifth- and sixth-place positions.

In April of this year, Foundry, working in conjunction with Network World and The Tolly Group, benchmarked the Layer 2 and Layer 3 IP/IPX throughput of the FastIron II Plus GC with 64-ports of 1000Base-T Copper Gigabit Ethernet in a full 64-port mesh configuration. Testing results demonstrated that the eight-slot, chassis-based switch achieved wire-speed throughput with no loss, utilizing three different packet sizes (64, 512, and 1518) for Layer 2, Layer 3 IP, and Layer 3 IPX traffic characteristics.

According to the report, Foundry was the only switch maker to participate in all three tests at Layer 2 and Layer 3 (examining Layer 2, Layer 3 IP and Layer 3 IPX throughput). All tests were conducted in a state-of-the-art test bed featuring Netcom Systems' SmartBits Advanced Multiport Performance Tester/Analyzer/Simulators.

"Demanding enterprise and ISP environments that used to build their Gigabit Ethernet server farm infrastructures on fiber wiring can now get more use out of their existing and less expensive Category 5 UTP cabling already widely deployed and in use -- for less price per Gigabit Ethernet port. Network administrators looking to increase overall server farm performance to feed the growing bandwidth demands can simply replace their existing 10/100 Mbps network interface cards (NICs) with 1000Base-T NICs and offer 10 times the current 100 Mbps bandwidth," says Bobby Johnson, president and CEO for Foundry Networks. Foundry's customers also note that the FastIron II Plus GC carries a small footprint. A fully configured FastIron II Plus GC outfitted with 64-ports of 1000Base-T Copper Gigabit Ethernet and four power supplies for redundancy could be contained in a standard 19-inch rack enclosure only 12 rack units high.

Foundry customers have seen the real benefits of deploying FastIron II Plus GCs in their network: "Our products have continually set the high-water mark in terms of performance, port density, and price. As well, our customers have been extremely happy with the performance and scalability of the FastIron II Plus GC and appreciate the small package it comes in," said Marshall Eisenberg, director of product marketing for Foundry Networks.

About Foundry Networks

Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY) is a leader in high-performance end-to-end switching and routing solutions including Internet routers, Layer 3 switches and Layer 4-7 Internet traffic and content management switches. Foundry products are installed in the world's largest ISPs, including AOL (NYSE:AOL), EarthLink (Nasdaq:ELNK), AT&T WorldNet, MSN, and Cable & Wireless (NYSE:CWP). Foundry products are also installed in large enterprise, entertainment, pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies, as well as search engines, e-commerce sites, universities and government organizations. Some of these customers include: The University of Washington, LucasFilm, Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO), LTV Steel (NYSE:LTV), Incyte Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:INCY), 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 our web site at www.foundrynetworks.com.

Foundry Networks, FastIron, TurboIron and BigIron are trademarks of Foundry Networks, Inc. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective holders.