NETGEAR Responds to Channel Partner Requests with its First Managed Switch For Growing Business Networks; Switch Offers Two Gigabit Uplinks, Stacking Ports and Enterprise Level Features.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 2002

NETGEAR Inc., a worldwide provider of innovative home and business networking solutions, today announced it is shipping its first layer 2 managed stackable switch for growing businesses. The NETGEAR FSM726S is the first in a family of managed switches that enables businesses to remotely monitor and control a network using NETGEAR's simple, web-based, graphical user interface (GUI), utilizing standard management tools typically found in corporate network environments. It offers NETGEAR value-added resellers and catalog partners, the ability to expand their product portfolio of NETGEAR offerings for their business customers.

The NETGEAR FSM726S is equipped with advanced hardware with 24 10/100 Mbps ports, two 10/100/1000 Mbps ports, two Gigabit interface converter (GBIC) slots, two stacking connectors, and an RS-232 console port. Up to six units can be stacked to offer increased usability for up to 150 users without losing critical Gigabit ports and performance.

"There is a large market for layer 2 managed switches and we are pleased to see NETGEAR introduce the FSM726S," said Ken Savage, President of Waypoint Business Solutions, and a NETGEAR Powershift Partner. "Our customers have been asking for a high-quality, reliable Layer 2 switch at a reasonable price. NETGEAR has met these needs, while providing us an easy and cost-effective upgrade path for our customers' growing businesses."

"Many of our customers use NETGEAR products as they bring advanced, enterprise-level technologies with a high degree of quality and reliability," said Greg Milam, Business Development Manager of Networking Solutions from Comark. "We are excited to know that NETGEAR is extending their product offerings into managed switches which will increase our enterprise solution offerings to growing businesses."

"As businesses grow, they require more advanced networking equipment to keep up with demands and network challenges. The NETGEAR FSM726S managed switches enable companies to increase performance and flexibility so they can take on today's increasingly complex global marketplace," said Patrick Lo, president and chief executive officer of NETGEAR. "The FSM726S offers an enterprise-level solution for a growing business complete with NETGEAR's quality and ease of use assurance."

The FSM726S is ideal for businesses because it works as soon as it is plugged in without having to tap into management functions. When they are ready for it, businesses can ease into network management through the intuitive, browser-based GUI for visibility into the network to gain more control and relieve high traffic ports. This gives administrators the flexibility to proactively manage the abilities of a network to provide greater bandwidth. The results are more network uptime and faster network responsiveness than unmanaged switches with limited capacity for network troubleshooting and bottleneck identification.

Other features of the FSM726S include error detection, fault isolation, capacity planning, and traffic management. The intuitive GUI makes these benefits easy to use, including descriptions on each screen so that new management users will understand them.

Advanced features of the FSM726 include simple network management protocol (SNMP), remote monitoring (RMON), Port trunking, Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) snooping, Spanning Tree, port mirroring and traffic prioritization.

The estimated street price for the NETGEAR FSM726 is $850. The FSM726S includes everything needed to stack and/or rack-mount the switch: a stacking cable, the hardware for installation in a 19-inch rack, as well as a null-modem cable and NETGEAR's 5-year warranty. The unit is available from NETGEAR Powershift partners, as well as other channels including catalogs and e-commerce sites.

For more information on this product, please visit www.netgear.com

About NETGEAR Inc.

NETGEAR provides branded, easy-to-use, reliable and technologically advanced networking solutions for homes and small businesses. Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara, Calif., NETGEAR designs and develops products that enable home and small business users to share Internet access, peripherals, digital content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. NETGEAR primarily markets and sells its products through distributors based in North America, Europe and the Asia/Pacific region to a network of resellers, including more than 4,500 retail stores, mail order catalogs and online retailers. NETGEAR was recently named to Deloitte & Touche's "Technology Fast 500" and to its "2001 Technology Fast 50" for Silicon Valley. For more information visit the company's Web site at www.netgear.com or call (408.907.8000).

NETGEAR is a registered trademark of NETGEAR, Inc. in the United States and other countries.