Cabletron Unveils Complete Token Ring Switching Product Line

New Product Offerings Deliver The Industry's Broadest Line of Standalone,
Modular Chassis and Enterprise-Wide Token Ring Switching

ROCHESTER, NH -- February 5, 1996 -- Cabletron Systems (NYSE: CS) today
unveiled its product line and two-phase broad strategy for token ring
switching, addressing the bandwith needs of customers from standalone to
high-end enterprise switching hub applications. Phase I features
deliverable token ring switching products including the TSX-1620
standalone line and the new ATX modular switching chassis. Phase II will
include the first MMAC SmartSwitch token ring modules for the MMAC-Plus,
MMAC and MMAC Workgroup switching hubs.

Cabletron's product line will provide customers with the industry's most
complete token ring switching solutions for every level of network
deployment. In support of Cabletron's Synthesis framework, the plan
provides a strategic solution for migrating existing token ring users from
traditional, router-based networking infrastructures to connection-
oriented, switched-based virtual internetworks.

"We will now offer the token ring customer a complete and flexible
switching solution that spans from standalone to enterprise, providing
cost and performance efficiency along with a migration path to
next-generation high-speed topologies such as FDDI and ATM," said Robert
A. Travis, product development and marketing manager for token ring at
Cabletron. "In addition, we can preserve their current network investment
while utilizing established infrastructure such as NICs and cabling," said
Travis.

THE TSX-1620: BIG FEATURES IN A SMALL PACKAGE

The TSX-1620, the first component implemented in Cabletron's token ring
switching strategy, is a customer-driven, entry-level product in the
three-tiered product line. The TSX-1620, a 8/16 port stand- alone device,
is currently shipping and experiencing high customer demand. The product
will soon be available with either an FDDI or ATM Uplink Option (the
TSX-1620-F4 or A4). The TSX-1620 family of switches feature redundant
power/fans and support for source-route, source-route transparent and
transparent switching. The switch is fully manageable under Cabletron's
SPECTRUM, SPECTRUM Portable Management Applications and Remote LANVIEW for
Windows, as well as standard SNMP management.

THE ATX: CHASSIS-BASED, MULTI-PROTOCOL MODULAR SWITCHING

Cabletron's first chassis-based token-ring switch, the ATX, is a flexible,
scaleable switching hub that offers the industry's only solution for token
ring to FDDI connectivity along with integrated switching and routing
capabilities. The ATX, formally the ES/1, joined the Cabletron switching
family as a result of last month's acquisition of Standard Microsystems's
(SMC) Enterprise Networks Switching Group (ENSG) of Andover, MA. Unlike
many recent acquisitions by other networking vendors, Cabletron has been
able to skillfully integrate the ATX (as well as FastNET Fast Ethernet
technology) within a brief 90-day time period from the finalization of the
SMC acquisition.

The ATX switch chassis offers a five-slot, modular configuration scheme,
delivering unparalleled scalability and performance for token ring and LAN
switching. The ATX Token Ring modules furnish switching for 4 or 16 Mbps
LANs, providing customers with the ability to efficiently collapse
backbones using UTP or STP with high-speed uplinks. Already a proven
success in the internetworking marketplace, the ATX also excels at
providing full support for Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, FDDI and ATM
topologies and is now backed by Cabletron's legendary service and support
infrastructure.

The ATX features a high-speed, dual-RISC Packet Processing Engine, which
incorporates core switching functions such as bridging, routing,
programmable filtering and statistic gatherings. In addition, the ATX
features a 1.6 Gpbs backplane, along with redundant power, support for IP,
IPX, AppleTalk, integrated local routing and switching. Designed for
high-capacity departmental or backbone network deployment, the 5-slot ATX
can provide a maximum of 20 ports of switched token ring, 20 ports of
100BaseT Fast Ethernet, 5 ports of FDDI, 40 ports of Ethernet, or a
combination of these topologies.

TOKEN RING MMAC SMARTSWITCHES -- THE UTMOST IN SPEED AND PERFORMANCE FOR
THE ENTERPRISE

Addressing the workgroup and high-end enterprise switching hub needs of
token ring networks, Cabletron will deliver their first token ring
switching modules in the MMAC SmartSwitch Series, the industry's most
highly reliable and manageable switches.  Phase II of the program, slated
for 2H '96, will feature the MMAC-Plus, MMAC and MMAC Workgroup
SmartSwitches. All of these internally-developed modules are based on new
application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology developed in
conjunction with California-based LSI Logic Corporation.

The Token Ring SmartSwitches boast a forwarding rate of 750,000 packets-
per-second (pps). The introduction of the SmartSwitch modules for the
MMAC-Plus will enable users the functionality and scalability of greater
than 100 ports of switched token ring, ideal for implementation in large
enterprise networks comprised of thousands of clients and servers. The
switches can also be configured for user-per-port switching, utilizing
their ability to dedicate bandwidth and network resources per desktop. In
addition, Cabletron is also a member of the IEEE 802.5r committee, which
is currently working on the dedicated token ring (DTR) standard to allow
for operational, full duplex token ring switching in the near future.

The token ring modules will join the Cabletron SmartSwitch family in
embracing the largest variety of networking technologies, including
Ethernet, 10BaseT, 100Base-T, FDDI and ATM. Similar in architecture to the
existing SmartSwitches, the new high-end Token Ring SmartSwitch for the
MMAC-Plus attaches to the chassis high-speed, 2.5 gigabit- per-second
Internal Network Bus (INB) backplane. Designed to simultaneously support
both packet and ATM cell transport, the INB preserves investment in
existing LAN equipment and technology while providing a viable and
cost-effective migration path to switched virtual internetworking.

Through per-port RMON support, all SmartSwitches include extensive network
trend and analysis tools. The switches can be managed using local
management tools or remotely controlled through any SNMP-compliant network
management system, including Cabletrons SPECTRUM for Open Systems suite of
enterprise and element management products.

TOKEN RING SWITCHING OUTLOOK SOLUTIONS FOR TODAY, MIGRATION PATH TO THE
FUTURE

"Cabletron appears to be right on target with their enterprise-wide token
ring switching program," said John Morency of The Registry, Inc. in
Stratham, NH. "With burgeoning switching technologies, the ability to
coexist with ATM and advanced capabilities such as full duplexing, we
believe the large majority of users can find a sound justification for
continued token ring investment over the next several years, if not into
the next century."

Further study of market conditions also confirms the explosive growth and
market potential for Token Ring Switching. According to new research by
International Data Corporation of Framingham, MA, token ring unit
shipments totaled 3.8 million units in 1995, up almost 19 percent from the
previous year, while token ring revenues registered just under $1 billion.
This increase helped fuel the explosive growth in the overall LAN switch
market, which skyrocked from $350 million in 1994 to nearly $1.5 billion
during 1995.

"Customers are clearly adopting large numbers of LAN switches to ease
workgroup and backbone congestion," said Lee Doyle, IDC's vice president
of local area networks and data communications technology.

THE POWER DUO SMARTSWITCHES and SecureFast Virtual Networking

Cabletron's new Token Ring SmartSwitches (along with the previously
installed base of switches) will provide support for SecureFast Virtual
Networking -- a revolutionary virtual networking strategy that propels
customers in a quantum technology leap, enabling administrators to
automate their complex network management policies.

SecureFast is an integrated hardware and software solution that will be
implemented in three distinct components: SecureFast Virtual Network
Servers, SecureFast Switches and SecureFast Management Applications.
SecureFast enables customers to seamlessly implement virtual routing,
policy administration, call management and accounting services from a
single workstation.

Pricing and Availability

TSX-1620 TOKEN RING SWITCH                   AVAILABILITY    PRICING
---------------------------------------------------------------------
TSX-1620-8 Standalone Token Ring Switch       Immediate      $13,995.00
TSX-1620-8UGK Modules (Upgrades to 16 port)   Immediate      $12,995.00
TSX-1620 with FDDI Uplink (TSX-1620-F4)/TD>   2H '96         TBA
TSX-1620 with ATM Uplink (TSX-1620-A4)        2H '96         TBA

ATX LAN SWITCHING CHASSIS

ATX Switch Chassis (3C05-ATX)                 Immediate      TBA
ATX Packet Processing Engine (3X00-ATX)       Immediate      TBA

ATX SWITCHING MODULES/TOKEN RING

ATX 4-port Token Ring UTP Module (3T02-04)    Immediate      TBA
ATX 4-port Token Ring STP Module (3T01-04)    Immediate      TBA

ATX SWITCHING MODULES/FDDI

ATX 1-port FDDI DAS MMF/MMF MIC Module (3F00-01)   Immediate    TBA
ATX 1-port FDDI DAS SMF/SMF MIC Module (3F55-01)   Immediate    TBA

TOKEN RING SMARTSWITCH MODULES

SmartSwitch for MMAC Workgroup                2H '96         TBA
SmartSwitch for MMAC                          2H '96         TBA
SmartSwitch 9000 series for MMAC-Plus         2H '96         TBA
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Cabletron Systems is the largest company in the world dedicated exclusively
to computer networking products and services. With corporate headquarters
in Rochester, NH, the company has 90 offices around the world and employs
more than 5,700 people. Based on its Synthesis product framework,
Cabletron develops, manufactures, markets and services both shared and
switched-access internetworking products as well as the industry's most
advanced network and systems management software.

Cabletron directly services customer sites around the globe and provides 7
X 24 support coverage, including free telephone support during normal
business hours.

A component of the S&P 500 index, Cabletron's common stock is traded over
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CS. Over the last four
quarters the company has reported record revenue of approximately $1
billion and earnings of $202 million.

 
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