3Com Launches New Era of Network Connectivity
Latest Network Interface Card Technology To Offload Networking Task Driving Increased Performance, Security and Manageability
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 14, 1999--Network innovator, 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS - news) today announced a new category of high performance network interface cards (NICs) featuring an integrated 3Com® developed ASIC, the 3XP processor, and on-board encryption chip.
3Com's new family of EtherLink® 10/100 PCI NICs offloads key networking tasks from the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system to the NICs' integrated 3XP processor, delivering reliable, secure connections and optimal system performance.
''This new generation of 3Com NICs represents technical advancement and significant breakthrough in the area of networking offloads and LAN security,'' said Tom Werner, vice president and general manager for 3Com's Business Connectivity Group (BCG). ''The EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC family with 3XP processor are the only NICs to offer an advanced level of performance through Windows 2000 offloads providing interoperability, easy customer migration and maximized benefits from the highly anticipated operating system.''
Technical Advancement and Innovation Through Strategic Relationships
The EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC with 3XP processor is the result of a series of strategic alliances and joint development announced in early 1999 with Microsoft Corp., VLSI and ARM.
In January 1999, 3Com and Microsoft announced the 3Com-Microsoft alliance to accelerate deployment of a new generation of converged networks. One of the areas of collaboration is in the area of processor-based technology to enhance performance on Windows 2000 desktop, workstation and server platforms. 3Com collaborated with Microsoft on the Windows 2000 offload interface that enables hardware acceleration of key TCP/IP and security features from Windows 2000 to the NIC. Implementing this offload with the EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC significantly reduces host CPU utilization while maximizing system and network throughput.
''Windows 2000 was designed to deliver rich, secure, high-performance networking services that can be extended through hardware innovation,'' said John Frederiksen, group product manager, Microsoft Corp. ''We are pleased that 3Com is delivering products that exploit the networking and acceleration interfaces of Windows 2000. Customers will benefit from increased performance, manageability and reliability to the desktop and server.''
Within the PC or server environment, key TCP/IP tasks from Windows 2000 such as Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) and TCP segmentation offload transparently. Unlike traditional NICs, the 3Com EtherLink 10/100 NIC with 3XP processor accepts these offloads - not only relieving Windows 2000 of significant overhead but also accelerating the preparation of segmented or encrypted packets for placement on the network wire. The result is fully optimized system performance with the lowest CPU utilization and maximum network throughput.
Revolutionizing Data Security
3Com and VLSI co-developed a custom-designed encryption chip (See 3Com announcement dated January 18, 1999). Collaboration has yielded a revolutionary new way to secure data from the desktop to the network while supporting Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) specification. By using NICs with an on-board encryption chip to deliver LAN security, throughput more than doubles from 20 Mbps to 50 Mbps and CPU utilization is reduced up to 35%. The EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC with 3XP processor provides customers with strong data encryption without compromising PC performance or network throughput. The supported encryption and hashing algorithms include 3DES, DES, MD5 and SHA-1. Customer benefits include:
-- Protection for sensitive data traversing the LAN including the
strongest levels of the Data Encryption Standard (3DES-168 bit
encryption);
-- Maximized system performance through offloading and hardware
acceleration;
-- Compatibility through 3Com's standards-based IPSec
implementation;
-- Ease of implementation -supports IPSec that is integrated with
Windows 2000.
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Advancing Network Intelligence
3Com is using ARM technology in its new 3XP Processor (See 3Com announcement dated February 24, 1999). 3Com's on-board 3XP processor contains an embedded ARM9 core with 10/100 Ethernet MAC that provides customers with a new range of intelligent, high-performance, cost-effective networking solutions. With the new 3XP processor, 3Com's EtherLink NICs enable distributed processing architecture, whereby system and network performance is optimized by offloading networking tasks from the host system CPU to the NIC.
Customer benefits include:
-- Optimum system performance through reduced CPU utilization by
offloading networking tasks such as TCP segmentation and TCP/IP
checksum from the desktop or server to the NICs integrated 3XP
Processor;
-- Accelerates offloads from the host CPU through the 3Com designed
and built 3XP Processor.
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DynamicAccess® technology Adds Intelligence
3Com's Fast EtherLink 10/100 PCI NICs with the 3XP processor will ship with the networking leader's standards-based DynamicAccess technology. DynamicAccess technology offers smart solutions to complex IS problems, allowing IS/IT departments to take control of systems, manage networked applications, and optimize critical networked applications. 3Com's DynamicAccess technology features include:
-- Traffic Prioritization/Class of Service (CoS) - prioritizes
time-sensitive data to improve the performance of multimedia and
business critical applications (using IEEE 802.1p);
-- Efficient Multicast Control - improves network performance by
controlling multicast flooding in switched LANs (using IEEE 802.1
GMRP);
-- Enhanced Remote Wake Up - enables IS managers to remotely turn on
PCs from a central location, lowering cost-of-ownership by
allowing after hour system updates and inventories also resolves
address aging issues in switches and routers;
-- New Remote System theft/power alert functionality;
-- Managed PC Boot Agent - enables pre-OS upgrades and recovery even
if the PC will not boot.
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Availability and Pricing
The EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC family with the 3XP processor is scheduled to be available worldwide in Q3CY99. Initial product release will support 3DES and will be available only in the U.S. and Canada, expected to have a US list price of $120 for a single pack. The EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC family with 3XP processor will be available in singles, 25 and 100 packs and will come with a lifetime limited warranty and 24x7 support via 3Com's Knowledgebase Web service at knowledgebase.3com.com.
About 3Com Corporation
With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people to information in more ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com -- More connected(TM). For further information, visit 3Com's press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.
Note to Editors: 3Com, EtherLink and DynamicAccess are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. More connected. is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
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Contact:
3Com Corporation
Cindy Cooper, 408/326-1742
Cindy_Cooper@3com.com
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