SANTA CLARA, CA, Feb 02, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Extreme Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXTR) is now shipping the Summit(R) X650 10 Gigabit fixed switch, designed for boosting performance and changing economics in data centers and high performance networks.

"With delivery of the Summit X650, Extreme Networks is the first and only network vendor to provide the market with a complete family of fixed switches -- from 10/100 fixed switches to dense 10 Gigabit fixed switches for top of the rack in the data center -- that work on a single modular operating system and can be managed in any combination in a stack," said Harpreet Chadha, senior director of product management for Extreme Networks. "With all these solutions, customers get the increased performance, advanced features and eased management that is required to boost performance and reduce operational costs."

The Summit X650 is designed with the same resilient and trusted ExtremeXOS(TM) operating system and SummitStack(TM) stacking technology uniquely available across the Extreme Networks switch portfolio, customers are allowed a smooth and economic 1 gigabit to 10 gigabit migration for their infrastructure while managing all switches under a single stacking management technology, SummitStack(TM). Customers, such as the State of North Dakota, will realize benefits of higher performance and the industry's most versatile stacking technology made possible with the ExtremeXOS operating system.

With the arrival of the Summit X650, organizations can support cost-effective upgrades to high performance 10 Gigabit Ethernet while protecting their existing data center investments. The Summit X650 is a purpose-built, top-of-rack, 1 Rack Unit (RU) switch supporting a unique design that results in a high performance network architecture featuring impressive capacity. The Summit X650 addresses high capacity network aggregation and "top-of-rack" data center requirements, efficiently collapsing servers and supporting high-speed, 10 Gigabit interfaces. The switch supports high density 10 Gigabit Ethernet within a single Rack Unit (1RU) with up to 32 10 Gigabit ports on a single system.

Customers are choosing the Summit X650 to meet their data center and high performance network requirements while reducing complexity. "After testing the Summit X650 for use within our State Capitol metro area network, we have found that it would be a perfect fit for a number of our drop points in our city-wide EAPS rings," said Glen Rutherford, chief network architect for the State of North Dakota. "The timing is perfect for our need to add 10 gigabit port density throughout our Metro networks. The Summit X650's ability to seamlessly integrate into our existing Summit X450 and Summit X250 stack solutions will make our upcoming Metro fiber enhancements in the coming spring and summer a much easier task."

The Summit X650 switch supports SFP+, the latest small form factor transceiver technology enabling high density 10GbE network connectivity. Extreme Networks industry-leading SummitStack(TM) stacking technology initially deployed to mix Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet switches in the same virtual chassis is now leveraged to mix Gigabit Ethernet switches with the Summit X650 10G switches (up to 256 total ports), allowing for simple and cost-effective migration to 10 Gigabit technology in the data center.

The key to Extreme Networks high performance data center switch is that it provides performance and capacity for today and capability to extend for bandwidth in the future through Versatile Interface Modules (VIMs). Additionally, using the SFP+ interface technology, Extreme Networks supports both fiber and copper connectivity. SFP+ direct attach copper cables can connect up 10 meters, while the SFP+ SR and LR modules enable fiber connectivity for up to 300 meters and 10 kilometers, respectively.

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

Extreme Networks and Summit are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Extreme Networks, Inc. within the United States and other countries.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including, but not limited to: (i) possible delays in the development of new technology and products; (ii) the ability to procure components for products from single or limited sources; (iiii) a dependence on third-party manufacturers, (iv) a highly competitive business environment for network switching equipment. More information about potential factors that could affect our business and financial results is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2001, including (without limitation) under the captions, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and "Risk Factors," which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov).

For more information, contact:
Extreme Networks public relations
Greg Cross
408 579 3483
Email Contact

SOURCE: Extreme Networks, Inc.

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