SANTA CLARA, CA, Mar 17, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Extreme Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXTR) today announced that Buena Vista University (BVU) is automating its operations and saving resources, including configuration, operations and management of its LAN and connected edge devices, with a converged network based upon Extreme Networks network solutions.

Buena Vista University implements Universal Port software, unleashing an innovative feature set that is standard with the ExtremeXOS(R) operating system. BVU's network serves its students and staff and through its recent upgrade has added necessary features, including security, network resiliency and bandwidth capacity. This allows BVU to manage a unified foundation for voice and video using both wired and wireless LANs.

To address its day-to-day network management requirements while reducing its operational costs, BVU is leveraging Universal Port, a comprehensive, event-driven management framework that spans the entire network edge, supporting connected devices. Universal Port leverages an open architecture supporting multi-vendor strategies, including the University's Avaya VoIP system, automating configuration, authentication and provisioning functions.

"Extreme Networks' Universal Port puts the control into our hands to save us money," said David Boyer, senior IT manager, for Buena Vista University. "Universal Port dynamically configures ports based on the devices plugged into them, which amounts to huge time savings. Also, it used to be that if we needed to make a change in the network, we would have to wait for a vendor to make a change and send out scripts. Now if we have to address a virus, we can write our own scripts and make changes ourselves to the entire network. Extreme Networks has given us a great deal of control with Universal Port. I consider the strength of Universal Port to be the fact that it's whatever each institution needs it to be. I can adapt the behavior of a port to our specific needs rather than hoping a given feature eventually makes it into the hardware or software. That's huge."

Extreme Networks provided BVU with its powerful product portfolio, including the BlackDiamond(R) 8800 modular switches for its core and Summit(R) X450e fixed switches featuring Power over Ethernet (PoE) for the edge. The network spans the entire distributed campus, which includes more than 30 buildings, including eight residence halls, communications, recreation, administrative, and technology centers, as well as classroom buildings, science and art centers.

Extreme Networks EPICenter(R) provides comprehensive network management, simplifying configuration, troubleshooting and status monitoring, and it also allows the University to handle similar tasks for all switches at the same time, saving time and resources.

BVU's network resiliency is provided with Extreme Networks' Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) protocol, which provides sub50 millisecond service recovery across the network, allowing for continuous operation, even in the event that a fiber ring is cut or interrupted.

"From a standpoint of administration, interruptions with the old network used to cost us quite a bit of productivity loss," said Boyer. "Network outages would happen about once every 90 days and that would cost us at least an hour of downtime for the entire university, not to mention those students who take courses online. That's just not acceptable, and now it's not a worry. The network as it is now has earned everyone's trust, and instructors now make different assumptions about teaching, planning their curriculum any way they want because the network is up all the time."

About Extreme Networks, Inc.

Extreme Networks provides converged Ethernet networks that support data, voice and video for enterprises and service providers. The company's network solutions feature high performance and high availability switching that deliver insight and control enabling customers to solve their real-world business communications challenges. Operating in more than 50 countries, Extreme Networks provides wired and wireless secure LANs, data center infrastructure and Service Provider Ethernet transport solutions that are complemented by global, 24x7 service and support. For more information, visit: http://www.extremenetworks.com

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including without limitation statements as to features and benefits of ExtremeXOS and Universal Port, BlackDiamond and Summit products are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties, including network design and actual results of use of the product in different environments. We undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking information in this release. Other important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are contained in the Company's 10-Qs and 10-Ks which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. http://www.sec.gov

Copyright 2008 Extreme Networks Inc. All rights reserved. Extreme Networks, ExtremeXOS, BlackDiamond and Summit are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Extreme Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For more information, contact:
Extreme Networks Public Relations
Greg Cross
(408) 579 3483
Email Contact

SOURCE: Extreme Networks, Inc.

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