3Com offers distributed enterprise LAN core solution with delivery of XRN Interconnect Kit

3Com Corporation has announced the delivery of the 3Com XRN Interconnect Kit, as part of Phase One of its three-phase roll-out of the innovative XRN technology to build scalable, highly reliable enterprise networks, announced earlier in the year.

Comprised of two modules, an interconnect cable and version 3.0 of 3Com`s Gigabit Multilayer Switching software, the XRN Interconnect Kit creates a distributed fabric core by interconnecting two switches that are managed as a single entity. The benefits for enterprise customers include a higher level of network availability, investment protection with a flexible LAN infrastructure and the ability to grow the network over time as needed.

"3Com has done what it promised it would do - deliver an innovative technology that allows enterprise customers to build reliable, scalable networks," said Zeus Kerravala, vice-president, Enterprise Computing and Network Planning, Yankee Group. "XRN technology is intriguing because of the technical advancement for network reliability combined with the business benefit of lower total cost of ownership."

"Running on our network, 3Com`s XRN technology completely met our expectations. The installation and the management of the XRN Interconnect Kit are simple and do not require much time. The Distributed Link Aggregation has brought the clear benefits of increased redundancy to our network," said Dr Holger Beck from GWDG, the computer centre for the University of G"ottingen in Germany. "Our experience with XRN technology has been positive across the board."

"3Com`s XRN technology is helping Methodist Ladies` College, which won the Australian School of the Year Award of 2002, meet its cutting edge technology needs by providing LAN core technology with impressive reliability and uptime," said Janet Smith, director of technology: Planning and Development at MLC in Melbourne, Australia. "We have also been delighted by the ease of installation of the 3Com XRN equipment."

"Delivering new enterprise technology with the XRN Interconnect Kit is another step forward in building up 3Com`s portfolio of enterprise products that combine innovation, practicality and great value," said Patrick Guay, vice-president and general manager, LAN Infrastructure Division, 3Com. "The feedback we have received from our beta customers of the XRN Interconnect Kit has been positive. We look forward to helping enterprise customers in 2003 reap the benefits of optimising their business and embracing 3Com`s pay-as-you-grow approach."

3Com`s XRN Interconnect Kit - easily deployed with 3Com`s fixed-configuration switches, the 3Com Switch 4060 and Switch 4050, as well as with the SuperStack 3 Switch 4900 family - allows two switches to behave as a single management, Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching entity. It utilises the performance capabilities of both switches, delivering a scalable, high-performance and highly available LAN core. In future phases of the XRN technology, 3Com plans to increase the number of switches that can be interconnected, extend the distance of the interconnected switches across longer distances, and scale the XRN fabric up from Gigabit Ethernet to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Enterprise customers that choose 3Com have a long-term, flexible path of scalability and network optimisation.

The XRN Interconnect Kit is available for the US list price of $6 995. The optional 5-meter XRN Interconnect Cable is available for the US list price of $695.