Army's Soldier and Biological Chemical Command Launches Gigabit Ethernet Network Based On 3Com Layer 3 Switches

Business Wire, April 16, 1999

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 1999--

3Com(R) High-Speed Gigabit Ethernet Backbone to Expedite

Mission-Critical Research, Internet and Intranet Communications

3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS) today announced that the U.S. Army SBCCOM (Soldier and Biological Chemical Command), based in Edgewood, MD, is initiating an ultra-fast enterprise network standardized on 3Com systems. Powered by 3Com's CoreBuilder(R) high-function switches, the 1500-user local area network (LAN) will utilize a Gigabit Ethernet backbone and Gigabit Ethernet uplinks to connect servers and users. The network is designed to meet SBCCOM's increasing needs for higher bandwidth to support research and information sharing critical to its mission of providing the U.S. military with the world's most advanced chemical and biological defense equipment.

Upon completion, expected in the first half of 1999, SBCCOM's fully switched network will significantly accelerate the organization's use of Microsoft Exchange email, file transfers and print services via the CoreBuilder 3500 systems' ultra-fast connections. Engineers working on research and development projects will benefit from higher-speed links to Internet-based SBCCOM databases and Web sites and faster connections to wider military installations and supercomputers.

For securing sensitive data not yet available to the outside world, the command is operating a proprietary intranet that will also gain increased power from the new infrastructure. In addition to providing SBCCOM with faster data transfers for research collaborations, the intranet will let users instantly access SBCCOM's employee directory, rules and regulations, its bulletin board and its organizational flowchart. The high-speed network will also enable SBCCOM employees to provide better support to affiliated academics and institutions working on projects relating to the organization's mission.

"At SBCCOM, our reliance upon network-based services has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 15 years," stated Ron Ward, the command's information technology manager. "With faster PCs, upgraded software and vehicles like the intranet, which generate increasing backbone traffic, we needed a resilient network able to support rising and shifting traffic. Using Gigabit Ethernet and Layer 3 switching solutions, we found a cost-effective way to meet our needs now and for many years to come."

Higher Networking Power and Flexibility

SBCCOM's migration to its new LAN emanated from the inability of its pre-existing legacy router-based FDDI network to support users' growing needs for bandwidth. The command considered an ATM backbone, but opted for Gigabit Ethernet and Layer 3 solutions because of their cost-effective speed and the organization's familiarity with packet technology. The CoreBuilder 3500 Layer 3 switch provides multi-protocol wire-speed routing at 10 times the performance of a traditional backbone router for as low as one-tenth the cost. The switch also features advanced policy-based management and Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, FDDI and ATM interfaces.

The new network will consist of up to 10 CoreBuilder 3500 switches in the network backbone, furnishing Gigabit Ethernet links to servers and to the latest 3Com SuperStack(R) II 1100 (10Base-T) and 3300 (10/100 Mbps) workgroup switches located in building wiring closets. The SuperStack II switches will provide switched Ethernet and Fast Ethernet connectivity to users' PCs employing 3Com's Fast EtherLink(R) 10/100 Mbps network interface cards (NICs). 3Com's Total Control(R) remote access concentrators will provide ISDN connectivity for remote sites lacking fiber optic links. Using 3Com's OfficeConnect(R) 500-series remote access routers, employees at those locations will gain rapid dial-in access to the main SBCCOM network. CoreBuilder 7000 ATM chassis-based switches are already installed at several campus facilities.

SBCCOM uses 3Com's Transcend(R) Enterprise Manager network management solution to monitor and configure the entire network from a single management console. The software's range of features, which include virtual LAN (VLAN) configuration and remote monitoring (RMON), will enable command technicians to better safeguard the network's health by taking a more proactive stance toward network management. The command also plans to take advantage of 3Com's Express (SM) service contract for dial-up support and its Guardian (SM) service plan for 24-hour hardware maintenance.

"Layer 3 switching will let us confidently stay one step ahead of our bandwidth requirements," said Ward. "With Fast Ethernet to the desktop, Gigabit uplinks and a Gigabit backbone enterprise-wide, we'll be able to insure that our employees have all the networking power they need to carry out their crucial defense tasks."

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.>