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New H3C Modular Chassis Switch from 3Com Extends Secure Network Fabric to Core and Data Centre Networks

Announcement posted by 3Com 25 Feb 2010

H3C S9500E Switch uses resilient virtual switching fabric to deliver double the performance while enabling customers to reduce complexity and enhance security

SYDNEY – February 25, 2010 – 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) today announced the H3C S9500E modular switch chassis, a new enterprise core switch optimized for enterprise core and medium-sized data centre networks.The H3C S9500E delivers up to two times the IPv4 and up to four times the IPv6 performance of other competitive productsi. It also features exceptional port density to support, simplify and secure the migration to virtualized core and data centre environments. Leveraging Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF™) technology, multiple H3C S9500E switches can be linked as a single virtual switch, doubling performance and utilization, increasing capacity, while also eliminating the need for legacy resiliency protocols and their associated complexityii

Virtual environments must meet the same stringent network, security and compliance requirements as their physical counterparts. With the H3C S9500E customers will be able to extend 3Com’s Secure Network Fabric to their next-generation enterprise core and data centre networks. Combined with the new TippingPoint network security offerings announced today, 3Com is helping organizations achieve greater business continuity by reducing network security risks across the organization while decreasing management complexity and infrastructure costs. 

“The virtualization of server environments for efficiency and cost reasons makes clear demands for a change in how companies handle their networking infrastructure. 3Com's vision for the new virtualized data centre, deployed with IRF technology and a security by design approach has many benefits compared to traditional approaches.  The combination of 3Com’s system design with the new H3C S9500E series of modular switches and best of breed security expertise from its TippingPoint division make a compelling case for data centre managers looking for next generation networking.” Steven J. Schuchart Jr, Principal Analyst for Data Centre, Current Analysis

Common across the H3C data centre and enterprise LAN switching portfolio, IRF technology is used to create a Resilient Virtual Switch Fabric (RVSF) that delivers greater than “five nines” availability, flexible deployment options and unprecedented levels of networking performance, ensuring business continuity and network availability.Additionally, IRF and RVSFreduce network complexity, providing complete and transparent network redundancy. These capabilities offer customers a powerful combination to address rapidly growing virtualized and dispersed application environments because they offer a simplified approach to network virtualization management that is more resilient and higher performing.

“3Com’s new H3C S9500E platform was designed to address the growing demand for 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity and virtualization services,” said Saar Gillai, senior vice president Product and Solutions at 3Com. “Coupled with the TippingPoint IPS and the overall total cost of ownership advantages of the H3C portfolio, 3Com offers today’s enterprises a compelling security and network infrastructure solution for virtualized networks and data centres that is unique in the industry.”

The H3C S9500E platform is available in three chassis models offering 12, eight and five input/output (I/O) modules respectively, the H3C S9512E, the H3C S9508E-V (vertical alignment) and the H3C S9505E. It fills an important market need for a high performing, high capacity, energy-efficient switch between the H3C S7500E 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch and the H3C S12500 core data centre, “big iron” switch. The H3C S9500E offers a maximum switching capacity of 1.4 Terabits/second and up to 192 10-Gigabit ports or 576 Gigabit ports (fiber or copper), with embedded, extensible security and robust network and service virtualization to help consolidate, secure and simplify network deployments for large data centres and virtual networks.

The H3C S9500E options include the network-embedded H3C SecBlades for VPN Firewall, NetStream Monitoring, Load Balancing and, expected later this year, a TippingPoint IPS module. Integrated visibility, management and security are a key component to 3Com’s Secure Network Fabric strategy, enabling network administrators to distribute network applications and services throughout the network, maximizing control and minimizing bottlenecks.

The H3C SecBlades are available for the H3C S9500E and H3C S7500E chassis, and are ideal for customers requiring integrated high-end firewalls/VPNs for the network core or data centre, where the virtualized firewall capabilities allow for secure network segmentation. Base pricing for the H3C S9500S switching series ranges from $20,000 USD to $44,500 USD. These products are available now. The TippingPoint IPS module is scheduled to be available in the second half of 2010, marking an important milestone in the announced road map for the Secure Network Fabric and the integration of the Tipping Point and H3C product lines.

Availability of the S9500E is one of several announcements being made by TippingPoint and 3Com today for securing the next-generation data centre. For further details on these announcements, please visit the TippingPoint news release page.

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About 3Com Corporation

3Com Corporation (3Com) is a global enterprise networking solutions provider. 3Com has three global product and solutions brands: H3C, 3Com, and TippingPoint that offer networking and security solutions to enterprises large and small. The H3C enterprise networking portfolio includes products that span from the data centre to the edge of the network and is targeted at large enterprises. TippingPoint features network-based intrusion prevention systems (IPS) that deliver application, infrastructure and performance protection. Its portfolio of products and solutions enable customers to manage business-critical voice, data, video and other networking technologies in a secure network environment. 3Com’s portfolio of products and services enable customers to deploy and manage data, voice, video and other advanced networking technologies in a secure network environment.

Safe Harbor

This news release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our strategy and the availability of certain products and features. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the risks detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC, including those discussed in the Company's quarterly report filed with the SEC on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 27, 2009.

Copyright 2010 3Com Corporation. 3Com, the 3Com logo, IRF, H3C, and TippingPoint are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its wholly owned subsidiaries in various countries throughout the world. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective holders.

i H3C comparison based on published competitive figures

ii Throughput and capacity increase based on enabling active links usually blocked by STP/VRRP