3Com Strengthens Fast Ethernet Product Portfolio

Adds Fast Ethernet to LANplex Family of High-Function Switches

January 29, 1996 -- SANTA CLARA, CALIF.,- Global networking leader, 3Com
Corporation today broadened its portfolio of enterprise-wide Fast Ethernet
solutions with the announcement of four new Fast Ethernet modules for the
industry- leading LANplex family of High-Function Switches. The company's
enterprise- wide Fast Ethernet system solution includes adapters,
stackable hubs, switches, and routers that provide customers with a
flexible and affordable way to scale network performance and interoperate
with a wide range of other networking technologies.

The new LANplex Fast Ethernet modules are based on 3Com's proven,
high-performance ISE (Intelligent Switching Engine) ASIC. Adding Fast
Ethernet to the LANplex switches gives network managers more options for
building high-speed networks, while also leveraging the lower cost of Fast
Ethernet for server connections.

"Providing high-performance Fast Ethernet modules to our award-winning
LANplex switches adds another technology choice for customers," said Clint
Ramsay, director of marketing for 3Com's Switching Division. "The LANplex
now offers switched Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Token Ring and FDDI - with
ATM in the future."

New Fast Ethernet Modules

The new Fast Ethernet modules introduced today all have full-duplex
capability, operate at full wire speed, and are designed for use in the
existing slots of the LANplex switches. The four modules all support the
wide range of LANplex High-Function Switching features, including IP, IPX
and AppleTalk routing, Roving Analysis Port (RAP), and broadcast firewall
support.

3Com Adds Fast Ethernet to LANplex Switches

The LANplex 2500 Ethernet/high-speed backbone switch accommodates either
one or two 8-port Ethernet modules, and up to two DAS FDDI or single-port
Fast Ethernet modules. Customers can now cost-effectively connect servers
to either Fast Ethernet or FDDI backbones, providing both flexibility and
investment protection. New Fast Ethernet modules for the LANplex 2500
introduced today include:

 Fast Ethernet Module (UTP) - provides a 100BASE-TX (RJ-45) port.
 The module is priced at US$1,495 and will be available in March
 1996.

 Fast Ethernet Module (Fiber) - provides a 100BASE-FX port. The
 module is priced at US$1,795 and will be available in the second
 quarter of calendar year 1996.

The LANplex 6000 is modular, chassis-based Ethernet/high-speed backbone
switch. The new Tri-Media Fast Ethernet Modules introduced today for the
LANplex 6000 incorporate Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and FDDI on a single
module providing another option for connecting high-performance servers
into an enterprise network. They include:

 Tri-Media Fast Ethernet Module (UTP) - features a 100BASE-TX
 (RJ-45) port, sixteen 10BASE-T (RJ-45) ports and one FDDI backplane
 connection. This module is a single, high-performance switch to
 interconnect Ethernet clients to a Fast Ethernet server and an
 FDDI-based backbone. The module is priced at US$19,000 and will
 be available in March 1996.

 Tri-Media Module Fast Ethernet Module (Fiber) - similar to the
 Tri-Media 100BASE-TX, except that it provides a 100BASE-FX port
 (SC connector). The module is priced at US$20,000 and will be
 available in April 1996.

3COM ADDS FAST ETHERNET TO LANPLEX SWITCHES

"The LANplex 2500 switch will be central to our migration to 100BASE-T
networking, and our file servers will be moved from Kalpana 10BASE-T
switches to 3Com 100Base-T hubs connected to the LANplex," said Chris
Martin, senior data processing specialist at Plymouth Rock Assurance in
Boston, Mass. "This strategy will enable our users to remain on 10BASE-T
segments (preserving our investment in Category 3 cable) and enable us to
consolidate our Novell file servers."

LANPLEX HIGH-FUNCTION SWITCHES

The LANplex switch family provides peak performance and modular, scalable
connections. Equipped with ASICs, RISC processors and high- speed
backplanes for maximum throughput, LANplex switches offer a number of
sophisticated functions - such as bandwidth management, superior packet
buffering, integrated routing, virtual LANs, user- defined packet
filtering, multiprotocol/multimedia support, fail- safe resilience, and
comprehensive network management - to accommodate complex, evolving,
high-density network environments.

For the first three quarters of calendar year 1995, the Dell'Oro Group
reported that 3Com Corporation holds the leading market share position for
backbone (data center) switching with 39% revenue share and 35% port
share.

3Com Corporation has helped more than 25 million people gain access to
critical information through high speed networks. Designed to serve large
enterprises, small offices and homes, 3Com products provide a scalable
architecture to meet the immediate and long term connectivity needs of
today's user. With research and development on three continents, 3Com is
one of the data networking industry's largest and fastest growing
companies. The company's innovative marketing, sales and support simplify
communication, optimize network reliability and protect customer
investments.
 
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