3COM DRIVES WIDESPREAD DEPLOYMENT OF MAINSTREAM
10/100/1000 NETWORKS WITH INDUSTRY'S BROADEST AND MOST
AFFORDABLE WORKGROUP SYSTEMS
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 1998
First end-to-end systems with standards-based management and control for enhanced
policy-based networking
3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS), t he market share leader in Ethernet networking,
announced today the industry's broadest, fully-integrated 10/100/1000 megabits per second
(mbps) stackable system that delivers industry-leading performance up to 17.8 million packets
per second(1). The new SuperStack(R) 10/100/1000 system provides the most flexible and
affordable migration to both 10/100 and Gigabit Ethernet high performance networking.
Completing this new system, 3Com also announced today a new Fast EtherLink(R) XL 10/100
NIC that delivers industry-leading performance based on new, Parallel Tasking(R) II patented
technology and remote PC software (see separate release: "3Com Shatters Performance
Barriers with New 10/100 Fast Ethernet Network Interface Card"). The three new SuperStack
II product families include: -- NEW: SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub 500: first manageable,
stackable 10/100 hub offering Smart Autosensing on any desktop, using any cable from $79 US
list per user. Unique, distance extender modules overcome Fast Ethernet topology limitations to
reach up to 2000 m on fiber at full duplex. -- NEW: SuperStack II Switch 1100 and Switch
3300: first fully stackable, 10/100 switching system with stack-wide management (scalable up to
104 ports) and migration options to Gigabit Ethernet or ATM from $77 US list per port. -- NEW:
SuperStack II Switch 3900 and 9300: the industry's highest performance, highest density
100/1000 stackable Gigabit Ethernet Switching System (17.8 million packets per second(1)) at
less than half the cost ($1249 per Gigabit Ethernet port) of existing solutions. "Our message to
users is: "Why buy 10 Mbps, when you can now afford 10/100 Mbps??" commented Edgar
Masri, vice-president and general manager of 3Com's Premises Distribution Division. "We're
encouraging users to unlock the full potential of their networks with new, intelligent,
high-performance 10/100 desktops supported by bandwidth-boosting Gigabit Ethernet in the data
center or backbone. As the first major vendor to offer a proven Gigabit Ethernet solution for
production networks, we're now making Gigabit Ethernet ready for mass deployment with new
systems offering unprecedented performance at a fraction of the cost of competitor solutions."
3Com also announced today, new lower pricing on the existing 12 port SuperStack II 10/100
switch, effective February 1, 1998 at a new US list price of $2,495/$208 per port. Previous US
list price: $3,495/$291 per port. End-to-End Management and Control for Enhanced
Policy-Based Networking Integrated through 3Com's standards-based TranscendWare(TM)
software, the new SuperStack II products and the new Fast EtherLink XL NIC operate as a
coherent and highly manageable system for easy configuration, troubleshooting and network
control. Unlike products sold by other vendors, 3Com's new 10/100/1000 solutions combine
industry-leading performance and low cost with feature-rich, intelligent software that delivers
the industry's first stackable system offering end-to-end global policy, network control and
pervasive management. -- First in end-to-end Global Policy with standards-based Class of
Service (IEEE 802.1p) and IP Multicast 3Com is introducing new dynamic software features
for application and traffic prioritization using transparent, non-proprietary, multicast control.
These new capabilities deliver enhanced, real-time, multimedia networking including
multicast/broadcast applications such as on-line news services and videocasting. -- First in
end-to-end network control with standards-based VLANs (IEEE 802.1Q) 3Com's new
10/100/1000 stackable systems deliver improved traffic management based on standards-based
VLANs (IEEE 802.1Q). They also support Layer 3 Cut-through switching based on 3Com's
Fast IP software to deliver optimum throughput and enhanced network performance. -- First in
pervasive management with full RMON instrumentation and Web-based Management 3Com is
delivering the first 10/100/1000 stackable system with the most complete RMON
instrumentation (up to all 9 groups) on every port, all the time. All systems feature integrated
Web-based management: a fast and simple way to monitor, troubleshoot and configure networks
using a standard Web browser.
The three new product families combine with 3Com's CoreBuilder(TM) switches including the
recently announced CoreBuilder 3500 and 9000 solutions to form complete, end-to-end systems
that meet specific customer needs. Simple 10/100 Migration from $79 US list per port
Mainstream users, deploying general office applications require a simple and affordable
migration path to 10/100 networking. The new SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub 500 with Smart
Autosensing on every port is the first manageable 10/100 hub that automatically selects the
correct speed for each desktop using any cable to avoid repeated trips to the wiring closet.
Unique distance extender modules overcome the traditional limitations of Fast Ethernet topology
by allowing multiple hubs to be connected together over distance of 100 m on copper and up to
2000 m on fiber at full duplex. The hubs can be managed in a single stack up to 8 units high (208
ports) and are fully stackable with 3Com's existing Ethernet hubs, the SuperStack II Hub 10 and
PS Hub family.
The next generation, feature-rich, SuperStack II Switch 1100 and 3300 stackable switches are
based on the enhanced ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) technology of 3Com's
new, BRASICA(TM) II chipset. They offer a unique migration path to higher-speed backbones
via a switch module option slot for fiber Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet or ATM planned for
shipment during CY98. 3Com is the first vendor to offer a truly stackable, high-density 10/100
system that allows any combination of four separate 10 and 10/100 switches (up to 104 ports) to
be managed within the same stack using a single IP address. Priced from just $77 US list per
port for switched Ethernet and $175 US list per port for switched 10/100, no other vendor can
match the price/performance features of these new solutions. Investment in existing network
infrastructure is protected by backwards compatibility with existing SuperStack II solutions
including the SuperStack II Desktop Switch, 1000 and 3000 models. Giga-Performance for
Power Users - up to 17.8 million packets per second(1) Power users transferring large files for
software engineering, server back-up or other compute-or graphic-intensive applications, are
demanding Gigabit Ethernet performance today, in order to aggregate switched 10/100 desktops.
3Com is providing unmatched price/performance with a new, high-density, Gigabit Switching
system consisting of two new stackable switches based on 3Com's SAGE (Switching
Architecture for Gigabit Ethernet) ASIC technology. The SuperStack II Switch 3900 ($243 per
port) is a 10/100 to 1000Mbps switch with the industry's highest port density: 36 or 24
autosensing 10/100 ports, and up to three Gigabit Ethernet ports (one built-in 1000BASE-SX and
two optional 1000BASE-SX or 1000BASE-LX ports). The new SuperStack II Switch 9300 is
12-port Gigabit Ethernet switch offering absolute wire-speed performance (17.8M packets per
second(1)) at pricing more typical of fiber Fast Ethernet switches. Priced at just $1,249 per port,
less than half the cost of competitor solutions, it enables affordable Gigabit Ethernet deployment
in workgroup aggregation and data center applications. The SuperStack II Switch 9300 is
designed for use with a CoreBuilder 3500 or 9000 core switch to provide the performance and
control of multi-protocol Layer 3 switching. It complements the existing SuperStack II Switch
9000 which has been enhanced to provide support for Layer 3 switching for users operating in
IP-only router-based networks. Layer 3 functionality is planned for shipment as standard on the
SuperStack II Switch 9000 in Q2CY98 and will be available to existing users via a free software
upgrade. Pricing and Availability: -- NEW: SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub 500: 10/100 stackable
hub: 12 port $1,275/$106 US list per port, 24 port $1,895/$79 US list per port. Shipping: January
1998 -- NEW: SuperStack II Switch 1100: stackable Ethernet switch: 12 port: $1,495/$107 US
list per port, 24 port: $1,995/$77 US list per port. Shipping: January 1998 -- NEW: SuperStack II
Switch 3300: stackable 10/100 switch: 24 port: $4,195/$175 US list per port. Shipping: Feb 1998
-- NEW: SuperStack II Switch 3900: 10/100/1000 switch: 24- 10/100 Ports w 1 GE uplink:
$7,475/$299 US list per port 36- 10/100 Ports w 1 GE uplink: $8,995/$243 US list per port.
Shipping: March 1998 SuperStack(R) II Switch 3900 1000Base-SX Module: US list Price:
$1,445. Shipping: March 1998 SuperStack(R) II Switch 3900 1000Base-LX Module: US list
Price: $1,995. Shipping: March 1998 -- NEW: SuperStack II Switch 9300: Gigabit switch:
12-Port 1000Base-SX: $14,995/$1,249 US list per port, 10-Port 1000Base-SX w 2-Port
1000Base-LX: $16, 495/$1,375 US list per port. Shipping: March 1998 SuperStack II Switch
9000: Gigabit switch with Layer 3 support: 8 port 1000Base-SX: $19,885/$2,500 US list per port.
Layer 3 support available as a free software upgrade to existing SuperStack II Switch 9000
users in Q2CY98 -- NEW LOWER PRICING: SuperStack II Switch 3000 10/100: 12 port:
$2,495/$208 US list per port. Previous US list price: $3,495/$291 per port. Optional high-speed
backbone modules: Fast Ethernet ($995 US list), Gigabit Ethernet (42,995 US list) and ATM
($2,995 US list) 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 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. For further information, visit 3Com's World
Wide Web site at 3com.com, or the press site at 3com.com.
3Com, EtherLink, Parallel Tasking, and SuperStack are registered trademarks and CoreBuilder,
TranscendWare, and BRASICA are trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other names are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. (1) Indicates performance in
packets per second independently verified by The Tolly Group, January, 1998. See documents
no. 8251 and no. 8252, available at http:www.tolly.com.
CONTACT:
3Com Public Relations
Julia Kisch
+44 (0) 1442 438273
julia_kisch@3mail.3com.com
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