3Com ATM Solutions Excel in Rigorous Tests to Achieve IT-21
Certification from the U.S. Navy - BW, 12:31 p.m. Jun 02, 1998
Leading Networking Solutions Provider Outperforms Competitors to Gain
Eligibility for Participation in Billion-Dollar Overhaul of Navy
Information Systems
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 2, 1998--
3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) today announced that the U.S. Navy has
certified its ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) core and edge switches
for participation in IT-21 (Information Technology for the 21st
Century).
Launched in 1997, IT-21 is the Navy's sweeping initiative to upgrade
networked communications and data delivery in its fleets and shore-based
facilities using advanced, commercially available technologies.
3Com, which provides scalable, high-performance enterprise networks,
received certification for all eight products it submitted, surpassing
the number of products certified by any other vendor. 3Com's high-function
switches and network interface cards (NICs) also delivered far more
consistent performance than competing hardware.
"Achieving IT-21 certification reflects 3Com's commitment and ability
to provide the Navy and other branches of our armed forces with proven
networking solutions," said Steve Roth, 3Com Director of Federal
Operations. "Over the course of the IT-21 testing, 3Com uniquely
demonstrated that its high-function switches can satisfy the Navy's
most stringent bandwidth, scalability and reliability needs, and
we are looking forward to serving in this important initiative."
Modernizing for the Next Century
IT-21 is a response to the Navy's need to modernize voice, video and
data infrastructures onboard its 300-ship Pacific and Atlantic fleets
and strategic worldwide land installations with state-of-the-art
systems. Having previously used a variety of networking architectures,
the military institution battled performance problems emanating from
multiple protocols that complicated user training, network management
and interoperability. These networks also lacked sufficient bandwidth
and quality of service to rapidly and consistently deliver the latest
multimedia applications critical to the Navy's mission, such as
ship-to-ship videoconferencing and operation simulations.
To remedy this, the Navy developed IT-21 and implemented a rigorous
testing program to qualify networking vendors. The Navy stipulated
that vendors support local area networks (LANs) with 622 megabit per
second (Mbps) OC-12 ATM backbone connectivity and 155 Mbps OC-3 ATM
or a minimum of 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet connectivity to edge devices,
servers and desktops. With standardization of protocols a top priority,
the Navy also required that all equipment must be operable in mixed
vendor environments.
The Broadest Range of Solutions for High-Speed Shipboard Communications
During IT-21 testing, each 3Com device passed every phase of the Navy's
uncompromising test plan. In one battery of tests to determine how
reliably switches transfer data between high-capacity DEC servers
and Pentium Pro-based workstations, a critical process for shipboard
operations, 3Com switches and NICs delivered the most consistent
performance of all competing products.
Even test-induced failures in primary backbone links or LAN Emulation
(LANE) services did not impede the performance of 3Com's switches.
The 3Com devices excelled at providing end-to-end OC-3 and OC-12
throughput, enabling the Navy to converge voice, video and data in a
single networking infrastructure.
3Com's high-function CoreBuilder(TM) 3500 switch also provided flawless
wire-speed Layer 3 switching, which the Navy can use to enhance
communications among ships' subnetworks and simplify network
reconfigurations.
"The breadth of 3Com products gives us the flexibility to meet the
Navy's needs more precisely and cost-effectively than any other
vendor," said Roth. "In addition to exceptional ATM performance,
3Com's interoperable solutions provide unsurpassed scalability, which
is critical during combat situations when increased bandwidth is
needed to handle surges in network traffic.
"3Com is also the only vendor to certify core-to-NIC solutions with
the capability to provide full ATM redundancy, ensuring continuous
availability in environments where a communication failure can be
potentially disastrous."
In addition to the CoreBuilder 3500 platform, the Navy certified the
following 3Com products and modules:
-- CoreBuilder(TM) 7000HD ATM switch equipped with a 5.0 gigabit per
second switching engine, a Dual Port OC-12 Module, an Eight-Port
OC-3 Module and a 16-Port Fast Ethernet Module
-- CoreBuilder(TM) 5000 high-function switch configured with an ATM
Switch Module, a Four-Port Fast Ethernet Fiber Module and a
Four-Port Fast Ethernet UTP Module
-- CoreBuilder(TM) 2500 high-function switch with an ATM Module
-- SuperStack(R) II Switch 1000 12-port switch with an ATM Module
-- SuperStack(R) II Switch 3000 10/100 switch with an ATM Module
-- SuperStack(R) II Switch 3000 FX switch with an ATM Module
-- ATMLink(TM) NIC -- one of only two network adapters that provided
the performance and dependability to earn IT-21 certification
"The CoreBuilder family of switches can provide enterprise-wide ATM or
Gigabit Ethernet connectivity for the largest ship and land-based
installation," noted Roth. "They deliver high port-density and features
such as remote monitoring (RMON) to safeguard network operations. The
SuperStack II switches offer scalable performance in compact chassis
hat are ideal for the tight quarters on-board Navy vessels.
"These systems can deliver the Navy's applications -- from unclassified
email to mission-critical combat data -- under the most trying conditions.
Using 3Com's IT-21-certified products, we believe the Navy now has the
tools it needs to meet its communications needs, improve operational
processes and bolster its military preparedness well into the next
century."
About 3Com
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to
communicate and share information
and resources at anytime from anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent
suppliers of data, voice and
video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions
to more than 100 million
customers worldwide. The company provides large enterprises, small and
medium enterprises, carriers and
network service providers, and consumers comprehensive, innovative
information access products and
system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance
local and wide area networks. For
further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at
3com.com or the press site at
3com.com and its Federal site at
3comfederal.com.
This is exactly what 3COM needs to do to stem the tide
of their stock, call out the US Navy.<g>
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