3Com's DynamicAccess Software Increases Network Performance, Control and Management Through NICs; DynamicAccess Software for Non-3Com Desktops and Servers in Early 1998
Business Wire - December 01, 1997 19:52
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SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 1, 1997--3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS), a global networking leader, today announced a major new release of its DynamicAccess(TM) software.
DynamicAccess software version 1.5, expected availability in Q1 '98, adds intelligence to network interface cards (NICs) to optimize overall network performance, control and management. As a standard part of 3Com(R) NICs, DynamicAccess software and features, such as Fast IP, are being offered as a free web download for existing 3Com NICs today and on shipping 3Com NICs expected to begin in Q1 '98. In Q2 '98, DynamicAccess software is expected to extend support to include non-3Com desktops and servers.
As part of 3Com's TranscendWare(TM) software solution, DynamicAccess 1.5 software release is an integrated software suite that leverages emerging and existing network standards, allowing it to work in multivendor environments. DynamicAccess 1.5 delivers four solutions to network managers including:
-- Traffic Prioritization, based on the emerging IEEE 802.1p standard;
-- Efficient Multicast Control, also based on IEEE 802.1p;
-- dRMON, or distributed remote monitoring;
-- Fast IP, a software solution based on Next Hop Routing Protocol (NHRP), for accelerating Intranet performance via short-cut routing.
DynamicAccess software is implemented as an advanced network driver, efficient low level code that runs on top of existing NIC drivers. It is designed for easy centralized installation and configuration under the control of the IS organization, and can be transparent to end users. To facilitate central control and updating, DynamicAccess 1.5 software includes an embedded Tivoli management agent which makes desktops Tivoli-ready and also allows for easy updates of from a centralized management console.
"3Com's decades of research and development in building high performance network interface connections has yielded many important innovations," said David Flynn, director of Marketing for 3Com's Interface Products Group (IPG).
"Hardware innovations, such as 3Com's Parallel Tasking(R) technology, are complimented by software breakthroughs such as DynamicAccess software. With DynamicAccess software running on NICs, businesses can monitor their network, and decide what applications are important and need to receive network priority. As a result, the network can be customized to the specific business it serves."
Networked Businesses Want More Performance, More Control -- DynamicAccess Software Delivers
As businesses worldwide become more dependent on data networks, they increasingly regard network interface connections as strategic decisions. Given the fact 3Com's desktop and PC Card NICs are nearly 50% of all connections currently being sold, 3Com is clearly the strategic network interface connection of choice.
3Com DynamicAccess software is one of the key reasons for this preference because it makes the network, and the computers connected to the network, run faster and gives businesses the ability to customize and monitor their networks in ways never before possible.
Fast IP Available Today for 3Com NICs and Broadly Available in Q1 '98
The newest feature in the DynamicAccess software suite is Fast IP. Fast IP, based on Next Hop Routing Protocol (NHRP), lets data avoid router bottlenecks, leveraging the speed of switching, while maintaining the control of routing. With Fast IP software in clients and servers, only the initial packets in a data stream flow through the routed path. The data that follows the initial packet flows through a Layer 2 switched connection that offloads the router.
This means that the data takes the fastest possible path across a network, and overworked routers can be offloaded. In testing completed in 3Com laboratories, networks with Fast IP on its NICs can experience up to a 700% improvement in performance compared to networks without Fast IP.
Early last year, 3Com announced plans to deliver Fast IP support for 3Com NICs in Fall 1997, and then extend that support to non-3Com desktops. 3Com is delivering on this commitment and is making Fast IP software available today through 3Com's Website for 3Com's EtherLink(R) and Fast EtherLink XL NICs. DynamicAccess 1.5 will make Fast IP readily available for most networked desktops and servers, by extending the Fast IP technology to work on Network Interface Cards from other vendors.
Traffic Prioritization Lets Network Managers Put Business-Critical Applications and Data in "Fast Lane"
DynamicAccess software 1.5 includes the ability for network managers to specify the priority level applications should receive from the network. Some applications, such as video conferencing, need a fast path through the network. Other applications, such as databases and transaction processing are critical to the success of a business.
Whatever the case, network managers can tune the network so that it gives preferential treatment to these applications. DynamicAccess 1.5 can recognize existing applications, so prioritization can be implemented without rewriting applications. It uses the emerging IEEE 802.1p standard to signal priority through the switched network bringing end to end prioritization to multivendor environments.
Efficient Multicast Control Stops Unwanted Network Traffic
Internet information feeds, video training and other forms of multicast data can degrade the performance of a network due to the fact that they flood through a switched network to every client. Efficient Multicast Control is based on the IEEE 802.1p draft standard which defines protocols allowing NICs to work with 802.1p-compliant switches to register multicast group membership. The result is multicast traffic contained only to those parts of the network that actually need to receive the data, rather than saturated throughout the entire network.
Distributed RMON (dRMON) Gives Network Managers Detailed View of Network
As businesses become more dependent on data networks, it becomes increasingly important for network administrators to understand, with precise detail, how well a network is working. Getting this information is difficult in switched LANs because full RMON management is generally not provided on switches.
DynamicAccess software 1.5 includes dRMON (distributed RMON) SmartAgent(R) software that collect and report network performance statistics, bringing full RMON management to switched LANs. dRMON, shipping since March 1997, is being enhanced in the 1.5 release to offer easy centralized installation and improved performance.
Easy Updates Based on Tivoli Agent and DynamicAccess Manager
3Com has made it especially easy for an enterprise to benefit from the most current version of DynamicAccess software. The software can be centrally installed via existing software distribution tools or login scripts. To meet the needs of companies not currently utilizing software distribution tools, 3Com has teamed with Tivoli Systems, Inc. to deliver a simple, low cost software distribution application to continually update and enhance NIC functionality, including drivers and DynamicAccess software. Tivoli's management agent will be shipped as part of DynamicAccess software 1.5 scheduled for Q1 '98.
In Q2 '98, 3Com is scheduled to release the DynamicAccess Manager, a central point of control and distribution for DynamicAccess software. This application will include a software updating function based upon Tivoli technology.
Availability
DynamicAccess 1.5 software, offering Fast IP and Tivoli agent support for most Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet NICs. dRMON, Traffic Prioritization and Efficient Multicast Control for 3Com NICs will be available in Q1 '98 as a free download, and as a standard component of 3Com NICs.
Fast IP software for 3Com's EtherLink XL and Fast EtherLink XL NICs is immediately available from 3Com's web page. A subsequent release of DynamicAccess software will make all of the features available for non-3Com desktops and servers, scheduled for Q2 '98. Pricing has not yet been set.
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. With global reach and local touch, the company provides enterprises, network service providers and carriers, small businesses and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. 3Com has worldwide revenues of approximately $6.0 billion and employs about 13,200 employees in 45 countries. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at 3com.com, or the press site at 3com.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: 3Com, EtherLink, Parallel Tasking and SmartAgent are registered trademarks and DynamicAccess and TranscendWare are trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
CONTACT: 3Com Corporation
Brian D. Johnson, 408/326-1962
brian_d_johnson@3com.com |
