IPSILON Networks Introduces First IP Switch, Designed Specifically to Accelerate IP Networking; 'Boosts IP Performance Fivefold For a Fraction of the Cost of Conventional Devices'

Business Wire, March 4, 1996

IP Switch ATM 1600 Architecture

The basic design of the IP Switch ATM 1600 is simple. Take the best standard hardware platform, an OC-3 ATM switch based on the MMC Networks, Inc. chipset, supporting 155 Mbps per port today and scalable to 622 Mbps, and higher, port throughputs in the future. Couple it with a high performance Intel Pentium Pro processor, for increased scalability and long-term cost effectiveness. Then add the best intelligence -- Ipsilon IP Switch system software.

The IP Switch system software controls the ATM switch engine, handles flow classification, and allows multiple IP Switches or hosts and IP Switches to communicate. It is fully compatible with existing IP protocols, including the open shortest path first (OSPF) protocol, routing information protocol (RIP), distance vector multicast routing protocol (DVMRP), and the Internet group management protocol (IGMP). Support for the next-generation IP (IPng), resource reservation protocol (RSVP), border gateway protocol (BGP), and intermediate system-to-intermediate system (IS-IS) routing protocols is planned.

Published specifications of the Ipsilon IP Switch protocols are available from Ipsilon's World Wide Web home page (http://www.ipsilon.com), and have been submitted to be published as informational RFCs. To further interoperability, Ipsilon provides reference implementations and source code to ATM NIC, LAN switch, and router vendors wanting to support IP Switching directly.

Pricing and Availability

A fully loaded IP Switch ATM 1600, supporting up to 5.3 million IP PPS throughput and 16 155Mbps ports, has a U.S. list price of $46,000. The product will ship in April and will be demonstrated at Networld InterOp in Las Vegas April 2.

About Ipsilon Networks

Founded in October 1994 and based in Palo Alto, Calif., Ipsilon Networks, Inc. is the premiere provider of high performance IP switching. The IP Switch ATM 1600 is the company's first product designed specifically to accelerate IP networks. The company's financial backers include Merrill, Pickard, Anderson & Eyre; Mohr, Davidow Ventures; and Sutter Hill Ventures.

Ipsilon has attracted talent from ACC, BBN, Cisco, NET/Adaptive, Newbridge, Kalpana, Novell, Sun, and other leading networking vendors. Founder Tom Lyon is a 12-year veteran of Sun Microsystems, where he was the principal architect of the SunLink product family. Lyon is the author of the ATM Adaptation Layer 5 (AAL5) standard and is a recognized expert in IP. He serves as Ipsilon's chief technical officer and chairman of the board.

President and CEO Brian NeSmith was formerly vice president and general manager of the VIVID Group at Newbridge Networks, which he founded in 1992. Vice President of Marketing Larry Blair was co-founder and vice president of marketing at Kalpana, the inventor and leading supplier of Ethernet switches.

-0-

Note to Editors: For More Information Customers wanting more information about Ipsilon products can contact the company headquarters at 415-846-4600 or visit its World Wide Web home page at http://www.ipsilon.com.