Foundry Networks is No. 1 in Market Share in Layer 3 Fixed Configuration Ethernet Switch Port Shipments in North America According to Dell'Oro Group

Business Wire, Dec 6, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2001

Latest Industry Study Shows Foundry Networks Leadership

Position With 35.3% Of Layer 3 Fixed Configuration Ethernet

Switch Port Shipments In the North American Market

Foundry Networks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end switching and routing, announced today that the company has captured the top position in overall Layer 3 fixed-configuration Ethernet switch port shipments in the North American market according to a latest survey conducted by Dell'Oro Group, a leading market research firm. The survey found that Foundry captured 35.3% of the North American market for overall Layer 3 fixed configuration Ethernet switch port shipments in the latest quarter ending September 30, 2001. The survey also found that Foundry holds the top position with a 36.6% market share in 100 Mbps fixed configuration Ethernet switch port shipments in the North American market.

"The market share report from Dell'Oro validates our technology, superior feature set, and price leadership in the fixed configuration Layer 3 Ethernet switch market in North America," said Bobby Johnson, president and CEO of Foundry Networks. "The introduction of the FastIron 4802 with the JetCore ASIC chipset, and the rapid market acceptance of this new product are significant factors behind our market share achievements."

Foundry announced the availability of the FastIron 4802 fixed configuration Ethernet switch in June 2001. The FastIron 4802 is the first switch built with Foundry's new third generation JetCore ASIC chipset. Foundry's FastIron 4802 Layer 2/3 switch was recently awarded PC Magazine's distinguished Editors' Choice Award in the High-End Ethernet Switch category based on a variety of criteria including hardware design, manageability, features, scalability, and performance.

"The FastIron 4802's comprehensive feature set was matched by its stellar performance, and the switch's Web-based management interface is as much a pleasure to use as it is functional," said Frank J. Derfler, Jr., senior networking editor of PC Magazine. "After 15 minutes with the FastIron 4802, all we could say was `wow!,'" said Matthew D. Sarrel, technical director of PC Magazine Labs. "From its high-quality construction to its stellar performance and outstanding manageability, this is one serious switch."

For more information regarding The Dell'Oro Group's Layer 3 fixed-configuration Ethernet switching report visit their Web site at http://www.delloro.com.

About Foundry Networks

Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY) is a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end switching and routing including Layer 2/3 LAN switches, Layer 3 Backbone switches, Layer 4-7 Web switches and Internet routers. Foundry's 3,750 customers include the world's premier ISPs, Metro service providers, and enterprises including e-commerce sites, universities, entertainment, health and wellness, government, financial, and manufacturing companies. Some of these customers include: AOL (NYSE:AOL), EarthLink, China Telecom, MSN (Nasdaq:MSFT), Verio, Cable & Wireless (NYSE:CWP), Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO), Incyte Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq:INCY), Deutsche Bank, The University of Washington, University of Miami, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA) of France, The British Library, U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy, NASA and the National Space Development Agency of Japan. For more information about the company and its products, call 888/TURBO-LAN or visit www.foundrynetworks.com.

Note to Editors: Foundry Networks and FastIron are trademarks of Foundry Networks, Inc.