Cabletron Unveils Industry's Broadest Fast Ethernet Solution

Includes Switch, Repeater, Uplink and Network Interface Products

WASHINGTON -- COMNET -- January 30, 1996 -- Cabletron Systems (NYSE:CS)
unveiled here today the industry's most complete line of Fast Ethernet
products, including a new FastNet family of products for small to
mid-sized Fast Ethernet network applications. To address the needs of
high-end switching customers, Cabletron also outlined plans for
incorporating Fast Ethernet capabilities into its SmartSwitch product
line.

When deployed in combination, Cabletron's new Fast Ethernet product
offerings span the enterprise, augmenting the throughput and performance
of existing LANs with Fast Ethernet and providing cost-effective,
high-speed connectivity options for linking workgroups and servers. The
products address the growing demand for additional switched network
infrastructure options through switch-to-switch and switch-to-server
connections.

Fast Ethernet Switching -- High-Speed Networking for the Workgroup and the
Backbone

Cabletron is adding three new switches to its product lineup: the FastNET
10 for dedicated 10 megabit-per-second (Mbps) switched Ethernet
connectivity; the FastNET 100 for mixed 10/100 Mbps workgroup and backbone
switching; and the ATX, for high-capacity, multi-protocol LAN switching.

"With this announcement, Cabletron brings a full line of Fast Ethernet
products to market, ranging from switches and adapters to workgroup hubs
and high-speed uplinks, said Wade Appelman, director of advanced product
engineering. When deployed, these products provide high-speed, dependable
workgroup and backbone connectivity between switches and key resources in
customers rapidly evolving switched infrastructures."

Providing high-speed uplinks from Cabletron's existing installed base of
products, the company also announced the BRIM-E100 Bridge Router Interface
Module for Cabletron's Multi Media Access Center (MMAC) and MicroMMAC
switching platforms. The BRIM-E100 provides quick connections for both
100FX and 100TX Fast Ethernet LANs, alleviating the need for more
expensive standalone devices and allowing users to easily connect to Fast
Ethernet backbones or workgroups.

To provide Fast Ethernet connectivity at the desktop, Cabletron has
announced the availability of the FastNET 10/100 Desktop Network Interface
(FastNET DNI) card. Based on Intel's EtherExpress PRO/100 technology, the
PCI adapter links high-end clients and servers over 10 and 100Mbps
Ethernet LANs. Auto negotiation on the adapter, coupled with Cabletron's
auto-negotiating hub features, allows the card to sense the highest common
speed and configuration.

FastNET Virtual LAN Support

FastNET switches can be used to establish and maintain virtual LANs,
enabling physical segments to be logically assigned to logical workgroups.
These virtual workgroups can be administered on Broadcast, Multicast and
Unicast packets on any combination of 10Base-T and/or 100Base- TX ports.

FastNET HubSTACK -- Stackable Solutions

In addition to the LAN switching products, Cabletron is also delivering 100
Mbps shared-access stackable products through the FastNET HubSTACK.
Designed to provide economical, scaleable solutions for workgroup or
remote site networks, the new FastNET HubSTACK includes the SEHI100TX- 22
(intelligent) and SEH100TX-22 (non-intelligent) hubs. With up to 24 ports
of 100Base-TX connectivity for the SEH and up to 23 for the SEHI, a fully
configured HubSTACK can support up to 119 ports of connectivity. As many
as five non-intelligent SEH hubs can be stacked together, or four SEH hubs
and an SEHI hub can be stacked together to provide SNMP management for the
entire stack.

SmartSwitch Fast Ethernet Product Strategy

Cabletron will unveil a series of modules in the second quarter targeted at
providing Fast Ethernet capabilities for its high-end SmartSwitch Family. 
To provide customers with strategic platforms for deploying highly
manageable Fast Ethernet switching solutions for both workgroup and wiring
closet applications, Cabletron will release new modules for the Workgroup
and MMAC SmartSwitch. Cabletron is also currently in development to
provide Fast Ethernet capabilities for data center environments through
its high-performance, MMAC-Plus switching platform.

Implementation of Fast Ethernet technology in the SmartSwitch Family
leverages features of the modular hub including fault tolerance,
port-level management, security, redundant power and links. By leveraging
the features of Cabletron's industry-leading smart-hub technology, the
SmartSwitch family allows corporations to rely on the switched network
infrastructure as a strategic and reliable utility for managing the
business.

THE SECUREFAST ADVANTAGE

Cabletron's new Fast Ethernet SmartSwitches, as well as its existing
installed base of switches, will encompass support for SecureFast Virtual
Networking -- a revolutionary virtual networking strategy that allows
organizations to automate network management policy.

SecureFast is an integrated hardware/software solution that will allow
customers to seamlessly implement virtual routing, policy, call management
and accounting services.

Cabletron's FastNET and SmartSwitches can be managed using local management
tools or remotely controlled through any SNMP-compliant network management
system, including Cabletron's SPECTRUM for Open Systems suite of
enterprise and element management products.

Pricing and Availability

FASTNET PRODUCTS           STARTING PRICE (U.S.)        AVAILABILITY
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FastNET 10                  $8,660.00                    90 Days
FastNET 100                $16,800.00                    90 Days
BRIM-E100                     $995.00                    90 Days
SEHI100-TX                  $7,995.00                    90 Days
SEH100-TX                   $6,995.00                    90 Days
FastNET 10/100 DNI Card       $249.00                    90 Days

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
5,500 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.

Cabletron, SecureFast, MMAC, MMAC-Plus, SmartSwitch, FastNET, SPECTRUM and
SPECTRUM for Open Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Cabletron Systems. EtherExpress is a trademark of Intel. All other
products or services found in this document are identified by the
trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or
organizations.
 
 =========================================================
 From the 'New Product News' Electronic News Service on...
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) and Delphi (GO COMP PROD)
 =========================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 company/author mentioned. For additional details, please
 contact them directly at the address/phone# indicated.
 Trademarks are the property of their respective owners!
 =========================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  USA
 Email:   rbakerpc@aol.com   --or--   rbakerpc@delphi.com
 =========================================================
