3Com and Spirent Showcase Next Generation Network Architecture for High Performance Data Centers

3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS), a global enterprise networking pioneer and Spirent Communications, the leader in enterprise network testing solutions, today announced a live data center proof of concept demonstration that showcases the industry-leading capabilities of 3Com’s flagship H3C® S12500 and S5820X data center switches under a host of rigorous next-generation data center scenarios.

Showcased at the Spirent Proof of Concept (SPoC) Lab in Sunnyvale, Calif. through January 2010, the demonstration allows data center operators to visualize the design and performance capabilities of a next generation multi-terabit data center. Built around the 100 Gbps-ready H3C S12500 core switch and the H3C S5820X 10 GbE top-of-rack access switch, the SPoC demos showcase 3Com’s advantages in delivering twice the performance and scale, 20 times faster recovery and up to 50 percent lower cost and energy usage verses competing legacy solutions.

Visitors to the SPoC Lab will also see H3C’s innovative Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF®) technology in action. Unlike legacy technologies, IRF technology enables unprecedented scalability, allowing network operators to seamlessly manage thousands of GbE and 10 GbE ports as single virtual IP address. In addition, IRF technology enables network-based In-Service-Software-Upgrades (ISSS) to ensure network and business continuity by extending the switch fabric control plane across multiple active switches, providing a rapid, sub 50-millisecond recovery in the event of network disruption verses up to several seconds for traditional Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)-based network designs.

"Our powerful H3C S12500 is raising the bar on data center networking, transforming the way next generation data centers are built and run,” said Saar Gillai, senior vice president, Worldwide Products and Solutions, 3Com. "With the H3C S12500, customers now have the option to leverage a dramatically simplified network design that reaches unprecedented levels of performance, scale and resiliency. Our H3C data center solutions help customers cost-effectively accelerate the deployment of new services such as video streaming, virtualization and cloud computing.”

The Spirent TestCenter HyperMetrics test module also tests the performance, latency and resiliency of the H3C data center network design under various traffic and protocol conditions including layer 2 and layer 3 switching, IPv4, IPv6, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing, streaming video, and other advanced multicast services.

"The complexities of tomorrow’s data centers present critical performance, resiliency and security challenges that need to be validated across all data center infrastructure elements,” said Michel Lynge, marketing communications manager at Spirent. "Spirent’s holistic data center test architecture allows customers to benchmark this performance from network servers to storage systems, 10 GbE to 40/100 GbE, iSCI to FC to FCoE, layer 2 to layer 7, helping enterprises better design solutions that achieve their next generation data center vision.”

To learn more about the H3C data center demonstration or to schedule an in-person or ‘virtual’ visit please contact Jessica Smith at Jessica_smith@3com.com, or 508-323-3685. For details on Spirent’s holistic data center testing and Spirent TestCenter HyperMetrics visit http://www.spirent.com/Broadband/Enterprise_networks/STC_EnterpriseAndDataCenterNetworks.aspx.

About 3Com Corporation

3Com Corporation is a $1.3 billion global enterprise networking solutions provider that sets a new price/performance standard for customers. 3Com has three global brands—H3C, 3Com, and TippingPoint—that offers high-performance networking and security solutions to enterprises large and small. The H3C enterprise networking portfolio—a market leader in China—includes products that span from the data center to the edge of the network, while TippingPoint® network-based intrusion prevention systems and network access control solutions deliver in-depth, no-compromise application infrastructure and performance protection. For more information, visit http://www.3com.com.

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications (www.spirent.com) is a global provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking technologies in data center, enterprises, and broadband and wireless services. .More than 1,700 customers in 30 countries depend on Spirent Communication for testing virtualizations, cloud computing, Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), Fibre Channel, 3G/4G wireless including LTE, HSPA+, UMTS, etc., global navigation satellites, and security. Spirent customers include the world’s largest equipment manufacturers, service providers, enterprises and governments. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Spirent Communications has 1,300 employees worldwide. For more information visit http://www.spirent.com/planet-spirent/media_room/about_spirent_communications_plc.aspx

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