Enterasys Announces New 10 Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity

ANDOVER, MA--(Marketwire - February 4, 2008) - Enterasys Networks Inc. announced today new 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) connectivity products for edge access, distribution layer, network core and data center roles. The new connectivity solutions are complemented by the Dragon® 10GbE Intrusion Detection and Prevention System. The intelligent, automated integration of the new security-enabled infrastructure hardware with Enterasys Dragon and NetSight® software delivers granular network access control (NAC) and enables enterprises to predict and prevent threats and vulnerabilities by pinpointing the root cause of network security incidents.

"The new 10 Gigabit offerings from Enterasys clearly show the growth of the 10 Gigabit Ethernet market and Enterasys' commitment to that market," said Steven J. Schuchart, Jr., Principal Analyst at Current Analysis. "Enterasys is delivering greater capacity with embedded policy-based security and QoS with no sacrifice in performance."

The Matrix® X-series secure, non-stop core router can accommodate up to 256 10GbE ports in a single rack at a US list price per port of $3,750. The Matrix® N-Series secure, highly available L2/L3/L4 flow-based switch has doubled previous 10GbE port density with no performance loss when attached users and networked applications are prioritized and secured. NetFlow statistics for behavioral analysis and/or performance management are gathered at wire speed for each Matrix N-Series interface.

The brand new SecureSwitch™ G3-Series secure, policy-based 10GbE standalone L2/L3/L4 switch offers up to twelve 10GbE ports at $1,275 US list price per port. A new SecureStack™ C-Series model offers secure, policy-based L2/L3/L4 gigabit switching in a stackable, pay as you grow, form factor with dual 10GbE uplinks at a US list price per port of $1,900. The SecureSwitch and SecureStack products offer a limited lifetime warranty featuring advance replacement and no-charge firmware upgrades.

"Our testing has shown the G3 to be a perfect fit for enterprise networks with a rich set of functionality and a lot of customer feedback incorporated into the final design," said Reinhard Strebler, Head of the Department Networks and Telecommunication within Steinbuch Centre for Computing (SCC) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). "The support from Enterasys has been excellent and we appreciate the small form factor and modular options for high-density copper and/or fiber gigabit connectivity with ten gigabit uplinks into our distribution and core layers."

As enterprises demand more bandwidth, the Enterasys Matrix, SecureSwitch and SecureStack offerings deliver business-oriented prioritization of applications and proactive security for networked users and devices. NetSight management software avoids the need to manually reconfigure on a device-by-device basis every time there is a move, add or change. Define the policies once, and Enterasys keeps up with all the mobility, expansion and modification automatically. The network access control (NAC) privileges for an authenticated user or device are enforced dynamically, regardless of wired or wireless connectivity. The end result is high-performance capacity increases that leverage the multi-vendor management and embedded security operational expertise of Enterasys over the past two decades.

"What you need is what you get, from the networked user perspective," said Mike Fabiaschi, President and CEO of Enterasys. "Whether it is voice, video or data traffic, we offer business-oriented visibility and control, while enabling full user mobility. Our practical, achievable approach ensures cost-effective alignment of the network with business demands."

The SecureSwitch G3 combines the small size and cost-effectiveness of a stackable, with the modularity of a chassis, into a single standalone switch that supports convergence, compliance and connectivity needs. The G3 is designed to support business-critical enterprise applications such as IP telephony, HD video conferencing, distance learning, business intelligence, ERP, CRM, and Internet connectivity. All this while ensuring only the right users have access to the right information from the right place at the right time for compliance purposes.

Delivering advanced Secure Networks™ policy management capabilities, the Enterasys SecureSwitch™ G3 series provides redundant power and cooling with up to 96 ports of Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) connectivity in either 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 with integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) options or 1 GbE ports via Small Form Factor Pluggable fiber-optic transceivers (SFP). As many as twelve 10 GbE ports are supported via Small Form Factor Pluggable fiber-optic transceivers (XFP).

Bandwidth, QoS and security policy control is offered for up to eight users per port based on L2/L3/L4 traffic visibility. In addition to L2 switching and standard IPv4 RIPv1/v2 support, optional firmware upgrades enable advanced IPv4 routing or IPv6 routing. The G3 inspects and classifies incoming traffic; discovers attached users, applications and devices; authenticates them using 802.1X, Web and/or MAC multi-user authentication; then enforces priority and security policies by making the filtering, forwarding or rate limiting decision.

Availability

The new Matrix X-Series and Matrix N-Series 10GbE modules are currently shipping. The new SecureSwitch G3 and SecureStack C-Series 10GbE products will be generally available within 90 days from authorized Enterasys distributors and value-added resellers worldwide. To learn more about Enterasys Secure Networks capabilities, please schedule a live demonstration at www.enterasys.com/demo.

About Enterasys

Enterasys is owned by a private investor group led by The Gores Group, LLC and Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC. Enterasys delivers Secure Networks™ that ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of IT services and the business users that rely on them -- without sacrificing performance. Thousands of enterprises, government agencies and educational institutions in more than 70 countries worldwide rely on our convergence, connectivity and compliance solutions to deliver business-oriented, policy-based visibility and control of individual user and application priority and security. The company's culture is centered on the principle, "There is nothing more important than our customers." Enterasys' standards-based, open-architecture approach to network security offers a long technology lifecycle and significant operational and business benefits, while reducing total cost of ownership. Information about Enterasys' award winning, policy-enabled switches, routers, wireless products, security software and services is available at www.enterasys.com.

About The Gores Group

Founded in 1987, The Gores Group, LLC is a private equity firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growing businesses which can benefit from the firm's operating experience and flexible capital base. The firm combines the operational expertise and detailed due diligence capabilities of a strategic buyer with the seasoned M&A team of a traditional financial buyer. The Gores Group, LLC has become a leading investor having demonstrated over time a reliable track record of creating substantial value in its portfolio companies alongside management. The firm's current private equity fund has committed equity capital of $1.3 billion. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, The Gores Group, LLC maintains offices in Boulder, Colorado and London. For more information, please visit www.gores.com.

About Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC

Tennenbaum Capital Partners is a Santa Monica, California-based private investment firm managing over $7.5 billion in committed capital in private funds. The firm's investment strategy is grounded in a long-term, value approach, and it assists -- both financially and operationally -- transitional middle market companies in such industries as technology, healthcare, energy, aerospace, business services, retail and general manufacturing. Tennenbaum's core strengths include in-depth knowledge of equity and debt financing vehicles in the public and private markets, as well as a thorough understanding of special situations. For more information, please visit www.tennenbaumcapital.com.

Contact Information: Contact: Trent Waterhouse Enterasys Networks +1 978 684 1506 trent@enterasys.com Jackie Abramian BridgeView Marketing +1 617 584 2580 jackie@bridgeviewmarketing.com