Xylan shipping "Superswitch" hardware for OmniSwitch products.

CALABASAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 1996--Xylan Corp. Friday announced that it has created and is shipping an entirely new generation of hardware for its high-end OmniSwitch product line.

All of the OmniSwitch physical interfaces -- Ethernet, token ring, FDDI, CDDI, Fast Ethernet and ATM -- are included in the new release. The new switching modules use large numbers of ASICs and RISC processors to support powerful software capabilities like any-to-any switching, IP and IPX routing, ATM LAN Emulation, and network-wide virtual LANs.

A nine-slot OmniSwitch filled with the new generation of hardware contains 17 RISC processors, 40 ASICs, at least 24 MB of RAM, and enough CAM (content-addressable memory) to support 8,000-12,000 devices. This is more processing power than any other switch on the market.

The result of the new Xylan technology is that the largest OmniSwitch is now positioned into the same applications as a "superhub." It can support up to 96 Ethernet segments and up to 48 token rings, with every Ethernet and token ring port fully switched. But unlike superhubs, the Xylan "superswitch": -- links any type of device or LAN to any other type of device or

LAN, without having to use routing -- supports a large number of Ethernet segments and token rings --

not just a lot of ports on a limited number of segments and

rings -- implements powerful VLANs, across FDDI, ATM and Fast Ethernet

backbones, grouping users by port, by MAC address, by protocol

type, by IP subnet, or by IPX network.

Each of the new modules incorporates Xylan's Pizza ASIC set, which uses leading-edge .3.5 micron CMOS ASIC technology.

Twelve-Port Ethernet Switching Module (ESM-C-12)

The ESM-C-12 switches 12 Ethernet ports, on RJ-45 connectors, over Category 3, 4 and 5 cable. The ESM connects to 10 Mbps Ethernet devices or hubs. The ESM-12 is priced at $5,450 and is now shipping.

Twelve-Port Telco Ethernet Switching Module (ESM-T-12)

ESM-T-12 is similar to the ESM-C-12, but uses a single 50-pin "telco" ("RJ-21," "AMP," etc.) connector. It's intended for applications where a connectorized cross-connect block is used for wire distribution. The ESM-T-12 is priced at $5,450. The module is now being field tested, and will be in general customer release in May.

Eight-Port Ethernet Fiber Optic Switching Module (ESM-F-8)

The ESM-F-8 is similar to the ESM-C-12, but supports eight Ethernet segments on 62.5/125 micron multimode fiber optic cable. It is compatible with 10BaseFL Ethernet. As many as 64 direct fiber connections to individual Ethernet devices or to hubs are supported in a single nine-slot OmniSwitch. The ESM-F-8 is priced at $6,950. The module is now being field tested, and will be in general customer release in May.

OmniSwitch High-Speed Switching Module (HSM)

The High-Speed Switching Module is the basis for token ring, FDDI, CDDI, Fast Ethernet and ATM switching in the OmniSwitch. It provides a powerful generalized switching platform, onto which each of the MAC layer options can be mounted. This makes it easy to transition from one technology to another. For example, an HSM can be easily converted from an FDDI module to an ATM access module when a backbone transition is needed.

The new version of the High-Speed Switching Module replaces the earlier FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) with custom ASICs, and provides two RISC processors instead of one. One of the two processors is used for traffic received from the network, the other for traffic transmitted to the network. This greatly increases speed and throughput.

The price of the HSM is included in the prices of the various complete modules (token ring, FDDI, ATM, etc.). The module is now being tested, and will be in general customer release in July.

Four-Port and Eight-Port Fast Ethernet Modules (ESM-100C-4 and ESM-100C-8)

The ESM-100 Switching Modules support four or eight 100BaseTX Fast Ethernet interfaces, grouped into one or two segments per module. As many as 16 Fast Ethernet segments can be connected to a single nine-slot OmniSwitch. The ESM 100C module supports IEEE-standard 100BaseTX devices or hubs over Category 5 UTP cable, using RJ-45 connectors.

The ESM-100-4 is priced at $6,750 and the ESM-100-8 at $8,950. Both are shipping now.

Six-Port Fiber Optic Token Ring Module (TSM-F-6)

The TSM-F-6 provides six 4/16Mbps token ring ports over 62.5/125 micron multimode fiber optic cable, using dual ST connectors for each port. The power budget is 12 dBm. A cable length of up to 2000 meters is supported for long cable runs.

Each port can be individually configured by user software selection as a lobe port, station port, or RI/RO (Ring In/Ring Out) port. The lobe and station ports conform to the IEEE 802.5j specification. The RI/RO ports conform to vendor-specific implementations, since no standard is available; the first options supported are SynOptics and Bytex, and others are being added.

The module is priced at $10,950, and is released and shipping now.

FDDI Single Mode Module (FSM-S-1/2)

The FSM-S supports one or two dual-ring FDDI interfaces over single mode fiber optic cable, using dual SC connectors for each port. Both SAS (single-attached stations) and DAS (dual-attached stations) are supported. The power budget is 13 dBm and a distance of up to two kilometers is supported for long cable runs.

The OmniSwitch has supported FDDI for some time, over multimode and UTP cable. The new single mode option makes it easy to extend an OmniSwitch FDDI backbone over longer distances.

The FSM-S module is priced at $10,950 for one dual-ring connection and $16,950 for two dual-ring connections. The module is released and shipping now.

Single Mode Fiber Optic Ethernet Adapter Board (ESM-AB-FL-S)

ESM-AB-FL-S is a single mode 10BaseFL adapter board which mounts in Xylan's Universal Ethernet Switching Module (ESM-U). The ESM-U also supports 10BaseT, 10Base5, 10Base2, and multimode 10BaseFL. The new adapter board uses dual ST connectors, has a power budget of 13 dBm, and connects to a 10BaseFL hub port or device.

The ESM-FL Adapter Board is priced at $1,450. The module is released and shipping now.

With headquarters in Calabasas, Calif., Xylan Corp. is a leading provider of high-bandwidth switching systems that enhance the performance of existing local area networks and facilitate migration to next generation networking technologies such as ATM. Its OmniSwitch and PizzaSwitch products connect Ethernet, token ring, FDDI, CDDI, 100BaseT, and ATM, at wire-speed, with automatic any-to-any translation. Low cost is coupled with powerful software features, including: AutoTracker virtual LANs; ATM PVCs, SVCs and LAN Emulation; IP and IPX routing; and graphical network management on a broad set of standard management platforms. Xylan provides a wide range of platforms, all of which use the same hardware technologies and run the same code. Extensive redundancy and reliability features are integrated into the products.

Xylan anticipates that OmniCell, Xylan's cell switching capability, will be integrated into the OmniSwitch backplane in the first half of 1996 and that modules to support 25Mbps, OC-3, and OC-12 rates will be available in the second half of 1996. Xylan anticipates that the OmniSwitch with OmniCell will be both a powerful backbone ATM switch and a cost-effective ATM desktop switch.

This news release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including the timely availability of new products and other risks detailed in the company's prospectus and report Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 1996.

CONTACT: Xylan Corp., Calabasas

Douglas Hill, 818/880-3500, Ext. 3518

818/880-3505 (fax)

[e-mail]

John Mazzaferro, 818/880-3500, Ext. 3714

818/880-3505 (fax)

[e-mail]

or

Tony Fisch Consulting

Tony Fisch, 818/501-6608

818/501-1303 (fax)