3Com launches new era of network connectivity

3Com has announced a new category of high performance network interface cards (NICs) featuring an integrated 3Com developed ASIC, the 3XP processor, and on-board encryption chip. 3Com`s new family of EtherLink 10/100 PCI NICs offloads key networking tasks from the MicrosoftWindows 2000 operating system to the NICs` integrated 3XP processor, delivering reliable, secure connections and optimal system performance.

"This new generation of 3Com NICs represents technical advancement and significant breakthrough in the area of networking offloads and LAN security," says 3Com SA`s product marketing manager, Gavin Levin. "The EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC family with 3XP processor are the only NICs to offer an advanced level of performance through Windows 2000 offloads providing interoperability, easy customer migration and maximized benefits from the highly anticipated operating system."

The EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC with 3XP processor is the result of a series of strategic alliances and joint development announced in early 1999 with Microsoft Corp., VLSI and ARM, explains Levin.

In January 1999, 3Com and Microsoft announced the 3Com-Microsoft alliance to accelerate deployment of a new generation of converged networks. One of the areas of collaboration is in the area of processor-based technology to enhance performance on Windows 2000 desktop, workstation and server platforms. 3Com collaborated with Microsoft on the Windows 2000 offload interface that enables hardware acceleration of key TCP/IP and security features from Windows 2000 to the NIC. Implementing this offload with the EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC significantly reduces host CPU utilisation while maximising system and network throughput.

"Windows 2000 was designed to deliver rich, secure, high-performance networking services that can be extended through hardware innovation," says Levin. "We are pleased that 3Com is delivering products that exploit the networking and acceleration interfaces of Windows 2000. Customers will benefit from increased performance, manageability and reliability to the desktop and server."

Within the PC or server environment, key TCP/IP tasks from Windows 2000 such as Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) and TCP segmentation offload transparently. Unlike traditional NICs, the 3Com EtherLink 10/100 NIC with 3XP processor accepts these offloads - not only relieving Windows 2000 of significant overhead but also accelerating the preparation of segmented or encrypted packets for placement on the network wire. The result is fully optimized system performance with the lowest CPU utilization and maximum network throughput.

3Com and VLSI co-developed a custom-designed encryption chip. Levin points out that collaboration has yielded a revolutionary new way to secure data from the desktop to the network while supporting Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) specification. "By using NICs with an on-board encryption chip to deliver LAN security, throughput more than doubles from 20 Mbps to 50 Mbps and CPU utilization is reduced up to 35%," he says. "The EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC with 3XP processor provides customers with strong data encryption without compromising PC performance or network throughput. "

The supported encryption and hashing algorithms include 3DES, DES, MD5 and SHA-1.

Customer benefits include:

• Protection for sensitive data traversing the LAN including the strongest levels of the Data Encryption Standard (3DES-168 bit encryption);

• Maximised system performance through offloading and hardware acceleration;

• Compatibility through 3Com`s standards-based IPSec implementation;

• Ease of implementation -supports IPSec that is integrated with Windows 2000.

3Com is using ARM technology in its new 3XP Processor. 3Com`s on-board 3XP processor contains an embedded ARM9 core with 10/100 Ethernet MAC that provides customers with a new range of intelligent, high-performance, cost-effective networking solutions. With the new 3XP processor, 3Com`s EtherLink NICs enable distributed processing architecture, whereby system and network performance is optimised by offloading networking tasks from the host system CPU to the NIC.

Customer benefits include:

• Optimum system performance through reduced CPU utilization by offloading networking tasks such as TCP segmentation and TCP/IP checksum from the desktop or server to the NICs integrated 3XP Processor;

• Accelerates offloads from the host CPU through the 3Com designed and built 3XP Processor.

3Com`s Fast EtherLink 10/100 PCI NICs with the 3XP processor will ship with the networking leader`s standards-based DynamicAccess technology. DynamicAccess technology offers smart solutions to complex IS problems, allowing IS/IT departments to take control of systems, manage networked applications, and optimize critical networked applications, explains Levin.

3Com`s DynamicAccess technology features include:

• Traffic Prioritisation/Class of Service (CoS) - prioritises time-sensitive data to improve the performance of multimedia and business critical applications (using IEEE 802.1p);

• Efficient Multicast Control - improves network performance by controlling multicast flooding in switched LANs (using IEEE 802.1 GMRP);

• Enhanced Remote Wake Up - enables IS managers to remotely turn on PCs from a central location, lowering cost-of-ownership by allowing after hour system updates and inventories also resolves address aging issues in switches and routers;

• New Remote System theft/power alert functionality;

• Managed PC Boot Agent - enables pre-OS upgrades and recovery even if the PC will not boot.

Availability

The EtherLink 10/100 PCI NIC family with the 3XP processor is scheduled to be available worldwide at the end of this year.