3Com Corporation Doubles ATM Backbone Switch Capacity; Adds New ATM
Migration and Desktop Connectivity Solutions

3Com's CELLplex ATM Switch First to Feature Scalability from 2.5 to 5 Gbps
Using Same Backplane

SANTA CLARA, CALIF., -- Adding to its leading ATM campus backbone
solutions, 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) today announced new products and
developments for three major initiatives: ATM at the backbone, ATM/LAN
devices at the boundary and ATM desktop connectivity. This announcement
compliments and adds strength to 3Com's Transcend Networking framework.

For large-scale ATM backbones, 3Com today unveiled a new switching engine
for the CELLplex 7000 ATM switch. The new engine, named the CELLplex
7000HD, doubles both the switching capacity and port density of the
CELLplex 7000 -- all using the same chassis platform. New ATM boundary
offerings include the 155 Mbps ATM interface for the LANplex 2500 High
Function LAN Switch and the high density 7400 Ethernet/ATM interface card
for the CELLplex 7000 ATM switch. For ATM desktop connections, 3Com today
announced pricing and availability for its comprehensive 25 Mbps ATM
solution, including its CELLplex 4000 switch, 25 Mbps module for the
ONcore multifunction chassis system and a family of 25 Mbps ATM network
interface cards.

"3Com continues to lead the industry in providing the broadest range of
standards-based, campus ATM solutions for every need," said Nachman
Shelef, vice president and general manager of 3Com's ATM division. "We
have already established a highly successful product line, as demonstrated
by large production networks that we have installed. Now, we are extending
this product line to improve serving the special needs of larger
Ethernet/ATM networks."

ATM at the Backbone: New CELLplex 7000HD ATM Switch Engine

The new CELLplex 7000HD now features a 5.0 Gbps switching engine that
provides the capacity for up to 32 non-blocking OC-3c 155 Mbps ports. A
new eight-port interface card will also be introduced to reach 32 ports.
This higher density solution is ideal to support large infrastructures of
ATM/LAN switches positioned in the wiring closet. Higher density of ATM
ports are also needed to support an increasing number of large,
centralized server farms with Fast Ethernet and ATM connections.

The new switch engine can be easily inserted into the current CELLplex 7000
chassis. It is backward compatible with all current CELLplex interface
cards and physical port modules, enabling users to preserve their CELLplex
investment. The CELLplex 7000HD also supports the same software-based
features as the CELLplex 7000, including UNI 3.0, UNI 3.1, LAN Emulation
1.0 and enhanced IISP for automated routing within large ATM networks. The
CELLplex 7000HD also features a new I960 microprocessor for high
performance signaling and LAN Emulation services, as well as the ability
to expand memory sizes to accommodate large connection tables.

CELLplex 7000 and CELLplex 7000HD Gives Customers Flexibility

The current 2.5 Gbps CELLplex 7000 switch is well-suited for large networks
to support switched LAN interfaces, as well as in the backbone of small-to
medium-sized networks. The CELLplex 7000HD is ideal for use in the
ATM-only backbones of large Ethernet/ATM networks as well as for demanding
server farm installations. The combination of the CELLplex 7000 and
CELLplex 7000HD switch engines provides a complete, standards-based
Ethernet/ATM backbone solution for the largest switched networks.

"Based on the experience we have accumulated deploying Ethernet/ATM
networks, 3Com developed the CELLplex 7000HD switch engine for larger ATM
networks and increased use of large ATM- and Fast Ethernet-based server
farms," said Shelef.

ATM at the Boundary: ATM for the LANplex 2500; High Density Ethernet/ATM
Card for CELLplex 7000

3Com announced today details and availability of the LANplex 2500 ATM
Module, an intelligent module that provides a single OC-3 multimode fiber
port within a single high-speed slot in the system. The LANplex 2500 High
Function Switch features up to 16 Ethernet segments and two high-speed
switched connections. These high-speed connections include any combination
of FDDI, TP-DDI, Fast Ethernet (Tx or Fx), and now ATM. With the new
interface, the LANplex 2500 High Function Switch provides an easy ATM
migration path for customers using legacy FDDI or Fast Ethernet backbones.
The LANplex supports both LAN Emulation 1.0 (including LES/BUS services)
as well as Classical IP (RFC 1577).

The LANplex 2500 high function switching features - such as multiprotocol
routing, multicast snooping/routing, virtual LANs, user-defined packet
filtering, and comprehensive network management - are supported over the
ATM module, allowing customers to use the LANplex to route between
emulated LANs, filter out certain traffic, deploy multicast services over
an emulated LAN, and more. All of the ATM features in the LANplex are
standards based and therefore interoperate with other standards-compliant
devices.

High Density Ethernet/ATM Card for CELLplex 7000

The 7400 Interface Card for the CELLplex 7000 ATM switch features 36
Ethernet ports and one ATM port, and is ideal for bringing switched
Ethernet to the desktop. A CELLplex 7000 fully populated with the 7400
Interface Cards (four cards) supports 144 Ethernet ports and four 155 Mbps
ATM ports. The four ATM ports in the CELLplex 7000 chassis provide load
sharing and link redundancy -- critical features especially in large
networks. Using load sharing over multiple ATM links, the network
administrator can optimize the ratio of Ethernet traffic to ATM downlinks
to fit the traffic patterns in the network. Link redundancy ensures that
failure of specific fiber links do not effect the ability of traffic to
flow through the network. The ATM ports can be configured without
occupying valuable slot space in the chassis itself.

Desktop Connectivity: 3Com's Comprehensive 25 Mbps ATM Solution

3Com now offers a comprehensive 25 Mbps solution, providing customers with
ATM-to-the-desktop with high speed downlink options to the backbone. The
3Com 25 Mbps ATM solution includes the CELLplex 4000 25 Mbps ATM switch,
12-port 25 Mbps module for the ONcore Integrated System and ATMLink 25
Mbps adapters.

The CELLplex 4000 features 12 ports at 25 Mbps, lists at &#36;7, 695 and
will be available in June 1996. Also coming for the CELLplex 4000 are 155
Mbps ATM downlink modules for both multimode and single mode fiber. These
modules are standards based, allowing interoperable connections to either
the CELLplex 7000 ATM switch or the ONcore Integrated System. The
multimode fiber module has a list price of $1,205, and will be available
in June 1996. The single mode fiber version will be available in August
1996. The ATM 25 Mbps module for the ONcore Integrated System is listed at
$4,615. 3Com's new ATMLink ISA 25 Mbps adapter for the desktop is now
shipping at a list price of $325. The ATMLink PCI 25 Mbps adapter will
ship in August 1996 for $325.

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                  Pricing and Availability

Product           Specs                  ATM Availability/Price
                                         (when available)

Backbone
CELLplex 7000HD   32 155 Mbps ports       Switch engine available
                                          in July 1996
                  5.0 Gbps switching      Eight-port Interface Card
                                          in October 1996
                  engine                  Switch Engine:  $16,000
                                          Interface Card:  $6,000

ONcore            I/O Cards for 155 UNI   Shipping
                  Module                  Singlemode Fiber: $3,795
                                          Multimode Fiber:  $1,380

Boundary
CELLplex        7400 Interface Card:      Available in August 1996
                36 Enet ports/one
                ATM port                  $19,800

LANplex 2500    155 Mbps ATM Module       August 1996
                                          $5,995
Desktop
CELLplex 4000   12 25 Mbps ports          June 1996
                                          $7,695

CELLplex 4000   155 Mbps MMF/SMF
                downlink                  June 1996/August 1996
                                          $1,205/$3,845

CELLplex 4000   expansion chassis         October 1996
                                          $3,955

ONcore          25 Mbps module; 12 ports  Q3 1996
                                          $4,615

ATMLink         PCI/ISA 25 Mbps adapters  Shipping
---------------------------------------------------------------------

3Com Corporation has helped more than 28 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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