Enterprise Customers Select 3Com to Transition From FDDI to Higher
Speed and Convergence-Ready Networks
New Modules for CoreBuilder(R) Switches Provide FDDI Users Smooth,
Reliable Migration Path to High-Speed Gigabit
Ethernet, ATM and Layer 3 Convergence Ready Networks
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 1999--
3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) today introduced new FDDI
modules for its CoreBuilder 3500 Layer 3 High-Function and next
generation CoreBuilder 9000 Enterprise switches. These modules
have enabled customers, such as Sony Electronics and Fleet Credit
Card Services, to easily and cost-effectively migrate from FDDI
networks to a high-speed, fully-switched infrastructure for better
network performance and control. The new infrastructure also lays a
foundation for supporting converged voice/video/data applications
in the future.
The FDDI interface modules are easily integrated into the
CoreBuilder 3500 and 9000 switches, providing customers with
Gigabit Ethernet and ATM connectivity options and Layer 3
switching control. While other vendors offer FDDI support in their
legacy products, 3Com is the only vendor in the industry offering
FDDI migration capabilities within its next generation switching
platforms.
Typical switch configurations, for example, combine FDDI and Fast
Ethernet port modules with Gigabit Ethernet or ATM downlinks,
enabling customers to migrate their backbones from shared FDDI
concentrators to the wire-speed performance of the CoreBuilder
3500 and 9000 switches. This configuration allows new servers to
be added to the Fast Ethernet links at one-fourth the price of FDDI
connections, and new users to the high-speed backbone offering up
to 10 times the performance at approximately the same price per
port. The CoreBuilder 3500 and 9000 switches also handle IP, IPX
and AppleTalk routing and provide quality of service (QoS) and
class of service (CoS) support, enabling mission critical applications
to be prioritized over background tasks.
"We selected 3Com because the company provided the combination
of the best FDDI migration path with advanced networking
technology support, allowing us to transition to a higher-speed
network that would meet our requirements to support voice, video
and data applications," said Brian Dahill, manager of
communications infrastructure and planning for the Sony
Technology Center in San Diego. "With the 3Com infrastructure in
place, we expect to see significant cost savings while being able to
support our company growth into emerging markets."
Michael Speyer, program manager for the Yankee Group, said,
"FDDI's value as a high-performance, reliable technology has made
it the backbone technology of choice in about 6,000 of the world's
largest enterprise networks. However, as bandwidth requirements
have grown, companies need to migrate to switched backbones that
provide higher bandwidth and higher availability. Whether FDDI
customers are planning to transition to Gigabit Ethernet or ATM,
they will have to look for vendors, like 3Com, that have the
experience, technology and support to take them to the next level of
converged networking."
In February 1999, 3Com announced that the company has further
extended its leadership in the Ethernet local area network (LAN)
switching and hub market, according to fourth quarter 1998 reports
from market analysts The Dell'Oro Group and Cahners In-Stat
Group. To date, 3Com remains the undisputed leader in overall
Ethernet connectivity worldwide with a 35 percent share (Dell'Oro
Group and Cahners In-Stat Group). This is three times the market
share of Cisco, 3Com's closest competitor.
"Our concern will always be with solving customer problems and
needs, and this is evidenced by the market leadership 3Com enjoys
in the Ethernet switching arena," said Andy Gottlieb, vice president
of Large Enterprise marketing at 3Com. "With this announcement,
3Com continues serving the market with the best performing
networking solutions at the lowest possible cost while preserving
customers' investments in their existing networks." CoreBuilder
3500 Layer 3 High-Function and 9000 Enterprise Switches
The 3Com(R) CoreBuilder 3500 Layer 3 High-Function switch
redefines price/performance and functionality in high-end switching
and routing. Built around 3Com's Flexible Intelligent Routing
Engine (FIRE), a sophisticated third-generation ASIC technology,
the switch provides wire-speed Layer 2 and Layer 3 traffic
forwarding and supports real-time, multimedia network traffic using
the most advanced policy-based services found in networking
devices today. Combined with flexible virtual LAN (VLAN)
support, multicast services, multiprotocol routing, and network
management with RMON-1, RMON-2, and Roving Analysis Port
(RAP), the CoreBuilder 3500 Layer 3 switch provides a robust and
resilient networking infrastructure.
The CoreBuilder 9000 Enterprise switch offers the highest core
switching capacity in the industry today. Designed for deployment
in the high density wiring closet, campus backbone, data center, and
at the WAN edge, the CoreBuilder 9000 switch delivers exceptional
levels of performance and control mandated by the needs of today's
enterprise networks. A unique combination of Layer 2 and Layer 3
control features in the CoreBuilder 9000 switch removes the
performance bottlenecks and topological constraints of router-based
backbones. Like the CoreBuilder 3500 switch, the CoreBuilder
9000 switch is based on 3Com's FIRE ASIC, which incorporates
both ATM and Gigabit Ethernet technologies to deliver high-volume
bandwidth for diverse enterprise applications. Pricing and
Availability U.S. List pricing for the CoreBuilder FDDI modules is
as follows: CoreBuilder 3500 FDDI module - 6-port MMF
$14,995, 6-port SMF $19,995. Both available now. CoreBuilder
9000 FDDI module - 6-port MMF $17,995. Scheduled availability
Q3CY99. 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 World Wide
Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at
www.3com.com/pressbox.
3Com and CoreBuilder are registered trademarks and More
connected. is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. Other company
and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies
with which they are associated.
CONTACT: 3Com Public Relations
Jessica Lombardi
508/323-1549
jessica_lombardi@3com.com
or
The Weber Group
Beth Morrissey
617/520-7246
bmorrissey@webergroup.com
o~~~ O |
