Foundry Networks Delivers New Layer 3 Gigabit Ethernet Core Switching Solutions for Enterprise and Metro Service Provider Networks

Business Wire, Feb 26, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2001

New BigIron Gigabit Ethernet Modules and IronWare Software

Release 7.2 with Leading Price, Performance, Port Density,

Redundancy, Optical Media Flexibility, Security,

High-Availability and Layer 3 Features

Foundry Networks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end broadband IP switching and routing, today announced new Gigabit Ethernet management and switching modules and IronWare(TM) Software Release 7.2 for enterprises and service providers enabling deployment of highly available, secure, and high-performance backbone networks with complete optical media flexibility at industry-leading prices.

The new BigIron(R) Gigabit Ethernet modules utilize Mini-GBIC connector technology allowing adaptable Gigabit Ethernet optical media between short, medium, and long distance optics while maintaining a density of 8 ports per module. These new Mini-GBIC Gigabit Ethernet modules enable optimal optics selection for intra-building, campus, and metropolitan network solutions.

With the new IronWare software release 7.2, Foundry's BigIron Layer 3 switches provide significant enhancements for building enterprise and service provider backbone network with powerful reliability, security and bandwidth management capabilities. Major enhancements include:

    --  High availability, fast convergence backbone and edge
        capabilities:

        --  IEEE 802.1w based Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol which
            ensures recovery of network link outage within 1 second

        --  IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation protocol which enables
            bandwidth aggregation and link redundancy

    --  Security Services:

        --  Private VLAN which ensures highly secured VLAN with access
            control between ports

        --  Radius and TACACS  enhancements to improve AAA server
            assignment flexibility and key security

    --  Routing Enhancements:

        --  User configurable packet forwarding optimization

        --  BGP4 next-hop recursion

    --  Bandwidth Control and Optimization:

        --  Customers can now rate limit certain control packet in
            order to secure high system integrity while control
            inbound and/or outbound user traffic.

With the extensive IronWare Release 7.2 feature set, the BigIron Layer 3 switch is the platform of choice for enterprises and service providers that require unparalleled reliability, security, performance and extensive feature set to meet their business needs. Furthermore, Foundry's family of new Mini-GBIC Gigabit Ethernet products will enable customers to build high-density, non-blocking, fully redundant (with dual redundant management modules) Gigabit Ethernet backbone networks scalable from 32 to 120 ports at a price point as low as USD $46,000 for a 32-port redundant system.

Industry-Leading Management, Route Processing and Access Control Performance

The new Mini-GBIC Management module is equipped with a top-of-the-line Power PC processor, 256MB of memory expandable to 512MB of memory and 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports with Mini-GBIC connectors. This new BigIron management module delivers sophisticated system management, routing and access control list processing functions as well as wire-speed Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. Foundry's BigIron Layer 3 switch supports full management redundancy when configured with dual management modules. With the new Mini-GBIC management module, the BigIron switch will boost performance of its address learning, route processing and other value-added capabilities such as access control, rate limiting and policy-based routing while maintaining the Gigabit Ethernet port density. The rich feature set along with the high-performance and high-availability design make the BigIron Layer 3 switch an ideal choice for the enterprise and service provider core network.

Significant Reduction of Network Down Time and Cost of Ownership

The introduction of the new family of Mini-GBIC-based management and interface Gigabit Ethernet modules enable customers to deploy high-performance LAN backbones with complete media flexibility without sacrificing Gigabit Ethernet port density. The Mini-GBIC-based modules allow customers to deploy Gigabit Ethernet with flexible combination of short, medium and long distance optics. Additional benefits of the new Mini-GBIC-based modules include minimization of network downtime by allowing fast replacement of failed optics, reduction of module sparing overhead and cost of equipment ownership.

New Price/Performance Standard for the Enterprise and Service Provider Core

With the introduction of the new management and interface modules and their aggressive Gigabit Ethernet pricing, Foundry's enterprise and service provider LAN core solutions set a new industry standard for high-density Gigabit Ethernet core deployments and price-per-port. For instance, a 32-port Gigabit Ethernet backbone with dual management module redundancy and options of short and long distance optics is listed for approximately USD $46,000.