March 14, 2004

TRAPEZE NETWORKS SHIPS MAJOR UPGRADE TO WIRELESS LAN MOBILITY SYSTEM

New Hardware and Software Enable Most Flexible WLAN Topology Choices, Increased System Scalability, and Powerful Additions to RF Management Capabilities

PLEASANTON, Calif. — March 15, 2004 — Trapeze Networks™ today announced major additions to its award-winning Mobility System™ that provide IT with the most flexible and scalable deployment options available to build a secure, service-rich, and operationally efficient WLAN. With the new hardware and software, Trapeze provides the complete set of tools needed to deploy a distributed or centralized WLAN and makes system capabilities, rather than topology, the focal point for customers selecting a WLAN architecture.

"The deployment flexibility, secure mobility, identity-based network services, and low operational costs that Trapeze delivers persuaded our company to standardize on the Trapeze Mobility System as our WLAN infrastructure provider," said Logitech chief technology officer Pierre-Olivier Monnier. "With the Trapeze Mobility System, we can deploy WLANs of different sizes and topologies as they make sense in our various locations, yet deliver a consistent user experience and common IT capabilities."

The new Mobility System Software™ 2.0 allows IT to position the Mobility Exchanges™ (WLAN switches) and Mobility Points™ (access points) anywhere in the network. IT can choose to directly connect the two devices or use the existing wired network to link them. The system also provides stronger support for third-party APs, including powering them via standard Power over Ethernet (PoE) and modeling their RF patterns in a given customer's environment. All existing Mobility Exchanges and Mobility Points can support the new system functionality.

Trapeze is also expanding its line of Mobility Exchanges to include the MX-8, ideal for smaller deployments or remote offices, and a data-center oriented version, the MX-400, for centralized deployments. Rounding out the Mobility System enhancements is RingMaster™ 2.0 which delivers 3D planning and management capabilities that allow IT to plan a building rather than just single floors at a time.

"Successful enterprise-class wireless LAN deployments often involve a range of products to meet application requirements from network edge to network core," said Craig J. Mathias, a principal with the wireless advisory firm Farpoint Group. "Trapeze's new Mobility Exchanges and Mobility System 2.0 software add capabilities and features essential to scaling WLANs from small to large installations."

While all WLAN systems purport to enable mobility, only the Trapeze Mobility System delivers secure roaming over any network topology without forcing IT to change the wired backbone configuration. The system provides wireless access to customers' existing wired networks, preserving all their network engineering such as VLAN/subnet structure and filters. It integrates with authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) servers to provide services based on user identity, called Identity-Based Networking, which lets IT centralize policies for network access, traffic prioritization, and mobility services that persist wherever users roam. The Trapeze Mobility System remains the easiest WLAN to plan and run and therefore offers the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry.

Mobility System Software 2.0 Brings Topology Independence
Trapeze 2.0 Mobility System Software supports any WLAN configuration model desired including centralized deployments with the Mobility Exchange in a data center or distributed deployments with Mobility Exchanges in the wiring closets. The Mobility Exchanges support direct or indirect connections to Mobility Points and third-party APs. Trapeze enables IT to retain their existing investment in third-party APs, supporting a broad set of services including planning and integration, RF modeling, channel and power management, security, and PoE.

Mobility Exchange Family of Wireless Switches
The MX-8 supports eight 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports, providing PoE to both Mobility Points and third-party APs. IT can aggregate any combination of UTP ports on the MX-8 to provide high-bandwidth uplinks into the wired network. The MX-8 is available with either a single or redundant power supplies. An MX-8 can manage configurations for up to eight Mobility Points.

The MX-400 is designed for deployment in the data center and can control Mobility Points or third-party APs over existing wired infrastructure. The four Gigabit Ethernet ports can be aggregated to create a high-bandwidth backbone link, and the MX-400 can manage configurations for up to 100 Mobility Points. It accommodates redundant, hot-swappable power supplies.

The MX-20, shipping since 2003, provides 20 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports and two gigabit interface connectors (GBICs). With the Mobility System Software 2.0, the MX-20 can now manage configurations for up to 40 Mobility Points and can be deployed in a centralized or distributed fashion depending on the user

Need more information about Trapeze Smart Mobile™ wireless solutions? Call us today and talk to a Trapeze representative: 877.359.8779