Enterasys Networks Expands Its Secure Wireless Product Portfolio; New RoamAbout wireless switch, unified access point and thin access point deliver the full benefits of Secure Networks to enterprise wireless networks

Business Wire, Oct 17, 2005

ANDOVER, Mass. -- Enterasys Networks(R) (NYSE: ETS), the Secure Networks Company(TM), today introduced three new wireless products that expand its Secure Wireless product portfolio: The RoamAbout(R) AP4102 unified access point, the AP1002 thin access point, and the 8400 wireless switch. Key features of these products include:

--Advanced Wireless Encryption: All three products support 802.11i, which uses AES, the gold standard for wireless encryption.

--Policy-based Secure Networks(TM) Capabilities: Secure Networks policy support goes beyond wireless encryption by automatically applying uniform policy rules across both wired and wireless networks to ensure safe networking behavior (both enabling and limiting the locations and protocols for each user, based upon their role). For example, employee computers may be allowed access into appropriate segments of the corporate network, but are prevented from accessing ports commonly used by worms and viruses.

--Voice over WiFi: Both new access points support 802.11e, providing the quality of services enterprises require for voice-over-WiFi applications.

"Enterprises expect their wireless network to be as fast, reliable and--most importantly--as secure as their wired infrastructure," said John Roese, chief technology officer of Enterasys Networks. "Our unique Secure Networks strategy delivers the industry's most comprehensive embedded network security capabilities. Enterasys sees wireless as an application on the enterprise network, not a separate network. These new products make it easy for network managers to deploy the same policies across the entire network with a single click to ensure the highest level of security and protection from internal and external threats."

RoamAbout 8400

The RoamAbout 8400 wireless switch is a high-performance switch optimized for data center deployment. It has four Gigabit Ethernet connections, supporting up to 120 access points anywhere across an enterprise network. Like the entry-level RoamAbout 8100 switch--which debuted in the second quarter of 2005 and supports 24 access points--the RoamAbout-8400's key features include:

--Self-Healing and Self-Optimizing: The network can automatically adjust to changes in the customer's RF environment to ensure high wireless throughput.

--Fast Handoff and Subnet Roaming: Enterasys wireless switches support fast handoff across access points within 25 milliseconds, whether the new AP is on the same or a different subnet, and without any change to the client's IP address.

--Advanced Rogue Handling: The switch can determine the position of the rogue access point, pinpoint its location on a floor plan, and even disconnect the rogue AP from the wired network itself.

--1:N Redundancy: Each wireless switch supports 1:4 redundancy, allowing a single RoamAbout 8100 or 8400 to backup four active switches of the same type, and take over in case any of them fail.

RoamAbout AP1002

The AP1002 works with both the RoamAbout 8100 and 8400 wireless switches. It supports dual radios, enabling simultaneous "A" and "B/G" operation and providing high throughput on each radio.

RoamAbout AP4102

The AP402 is a Unified Access Point, meaning it can operate in standalone mode or in thin mode with the RoamAbout 8100 and 8400 wireless switches. In addition to having the same capabilities as the AP1002, the AP4102 also supports LAN-LAN connections in either point-to-point or point-to-multipoint mode. The AP4102 also supports two external antennae in standalone mode (one for the "A" band and another for the "B/G" bands), enabling high-gain external antennae that operate in workgroup mode and LAN-to-LAN mode.

Pricing and Availability

The RoamAbout 8400 wireless LAN is available now from Enterasys and its worldwide distribution partners at a list price of US$11,995. The AP1002 is available now in North America and will be available worldwide in December 2005 at a list price of US$449. The AP4102 will be generally available worldwide in November 2005 at a list price of US$699.

The Enterasys Secure Networks Advantage

Enterasys' industry-leading Secure Networks products and solutions provide the industry's most comprehensive embedded infrastructure security available today. Secure Networks delivers granular policy-based security, providing visibility and control down to the network device, individual user and application level, which enables network managers to quickly and easily detect, assess, locate and protect against attacks. This unmatched security comes from the integrated policy-based management software architecture that works with the embedded security capabilities Enterasys designs into its entire product line. Enterasys' unique architectural approach offers significant operational and business benefits, unmatched by vendors that add hardware or software to multiple network access points in an attempt to increase security. In fact, Secure Networks technology can even make networks with competitors' equipment more secure.

About Enterasys Networks