Foundry Networks Introduces Global Ethernet — Delivering Switched Layer 2 Ethernet Connectivity Across SONET Infrastructures

Business Wire, Sept 26, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NetWorld Interop Atlanta 2000

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 26, 2000

Foundry Enables Worldwide Deployment of Ethernet Over

SONET by Service Providers and Carriers

Foundry Networks(TM), Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a leader in high-performance, end-to-end switching and routing solutions, today unveiled its Global Ethernet technology, which combines the best features of Ethernet and SONET, and delivers native broadband Ethernet solutions to local, Metropolitan, regional and global networks.

Global Ethernet is suitable for providing metropolitan multi-tenant building and campus network connectivity, virtual co-location facilities, as well as Ethernet-based services on multi-continental global networks. Based on Foundry's unique Layer 2 Packet Over SONET (POS) technology, Global Ethernet combines the simplicity and robustness of Ethernet with the fault protection and high availability of SONET. Global Ethernet enables carriers and service providers to offer scalable, broadband, secure virtual private network services based on their SONET infrastructure investment.

"Global Ethernet is a highly sought after networking component for communication service providers, ASPs, ISPs, and the newly emerging Building Local Exchange Carriers (BLECs)," said Bobby Johnson, president and CEO of Foundry Networks. "All of these organizations are focused on increasing overall customer satisfaction and want to differentiate themselves by creating multi-tiered services and a 'pay as you go' networking infrastructure," continued Johnson.

Global Ethernet treats SONET link technology as a transport technology supporting virtual Ethernet LANs. Combined with Foundry's Super VLAN-Aggregation capability, Global Ethernet can be used by network service providers to create a highly scalable VPN infrastructure, delivering 2.5 Gbps bandwidth over a single OC-48c link or 5.0 Gbps with two OC-48c ports trunked together using the IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation standard and up to 16,000,000 virtual private networks, allowing seamless integration of distributed facilities within a city or around the world.

Foundry is providing a complete Global Ethernet solution by leveraging its expansive and highly flexible service provisioning, network management, bandwidth management, Quality of Service (QoS), accounting and billing capabilities. These value-added functions enable service providers to provision Global Ethernet services to meet their business needs. Foundry's Rate Limiting and Rate Shaping capabilities allow provision of Ethernet bandwidth on demand from 256 Kbps to 10 Gigabits.

Service providers can ensure service quality using QoS features such as high-speed packet classification, packet prioritization, priority mapping and priority enforcement. Foundry's flexible QoS features ensure the delivery of high-priority traffic throughout the Global Ethernet infrastructure.

Global Ethernet also includes detailed accounting and billing capabilities to enable service providers to bill their customers based on actual application and bandwidth usage.

Securing customer networks is a major Global Ethernet feature. Global Ethernet offers VLAN security by creating separate broadcast domains while allowing customers' virtual private networks to share a common broadband infrastructure. Also included with this offering are Foundry's famed IronShield(TM) security features, which allow service providers and carriers to protect customer networks from malicious Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.

Pricing and Availability

Global Ethernet is available immediately on all BigIron(TM) Packet Over SONET (POS) products; OC-3c/STM-1, OC-12c/STM-4, and OC-48c/STM-16. U.S. list price for BigIron POS products starts at $14,995.

About Foundry Networks

Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY) is a leader in high-performance, end-to-end switching and routing solutions, including Internet routers, Layer 3 switches and Layer 4-7 Internet traffic and content management switches. Foundry products are installed in the world's largest ISPs, including AOL (NYSE:AOL), EarthLink (Nasdaq:ELNK), AT&T WorldNet, MSN, and Cable & Wireless (NYSE:CWP). Foundry products are also installed in large enterprise, entertainment, pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies as well as search engines, e-commerce sites, universities and government organizations. Some of these customers include: The University of Washington, University of Miami, LucasFilm, Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO), LTV Steel (NYSE:LTV), Incyte Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:INCY), U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy, NASA and NIH. For more information about the company and its products, call 1.888.TURBO.LAN or visit our Web site at www.foundrynetworks.com.

Note to Editors: Foundry Networks, IronShield and BigIron are trademarks of Foundry Networks, Inc. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective holders.