SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 23, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Foundry Networks(r), Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end switching and routing, today announced IronWare(tm) software release 4.1.00 and IPv6 routing upgrades for Foundry's FastIron(r) Edge X/XE and FastIron Super X/SX IPv6 hardware-ready models. The IPv6 routing upgrade enables a rich set of dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 routing services allowing network operators to implement and transition to IPv6 as required.

IPv6, the next generation IP protocol, is no longer the R&D work of a select few in the industry; it offers real value and benefit to service providers and enterprise organizations alike. IPv6 will enable an entire new generation of services. It will simplify network design and operations in the important areas of address management, allocation and assignment. IPv6 is the future of networking and it will power communications infrastructure for decades to come. With this in mind, enterprise network managers are anticipating and beginning to plan for network transition to IPv6.

Foundry's IPv6-ready FastIron Edge X/XE Series and FastIron Super X/SX family enable network managers to future-readies their networks with infrastructure that is ready on day one to support IPv6 services. Network operators may implement IPv4 services today and upgrade to IPv6 routing when required. Foundry's range of IPv6-ready products includes fixed-configuration edge switches and modular chassis systems enabling enterprise operators to implement IPv6 services across the enterprise, from edge-to-core.

Highlights of IronWare Release 4.1.00 for the FastIron X/XE and SuperX/SX products:

  * Flexible Dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 Routing and Rich Layer 2 Feature Set
       -- Rich routing protocol support
            - IPv4: RIPv1/v2, OSPF, BGP-4, PIM, IGMP, ECMP
            - IPv6: RIPng, OSPFv3, IPv6 Static Routing, IPv6-to-IPv4
              static tunneling to facilitate network transition and a
              range of IPv6 edge features including IPv6 extended ACLs
       -- Advanced Layer 2 Features: Metro Ring Protocol (MRP),
          Virtual Switch Redundancy Protocol (VSRP), IEEE 802.1s,
          IEEE 802.3ad, IGMP v2/v3 snooping, MLD v1/v2 snooping,
          and more
  * IPv4 and IPv6 Co-existence and Transition
       -- Dual stack IPv4 and IPv6 operation
       -- IPv6-to-IPv4 tunnels for IPv6 routing over IPv4 backbone

"Customers across industries and global regions are already planning for an IPv6 future," said Bob Schiff, vice president and general manager, Foundry's Enterprise Business Unit. "Our solutions are designed to facilitate this transition, providing a graceful upgrade path from the network edge to core. Foundry's intelligent infrastructure is designed with an eye to the future, delivering systems to enable next generation applications, lowering total cost of ownership by maximizing infrastructure life cycle and customer return on investment."

Pricing and Availability

Foundry's IronWare Release 4.1.00 software and the IPv6 upgrades for the FastIron X Series switches will be available in May 2008. Upgrade model numbers and starting U.S. pricing are listed below.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Part Number            Description             U.S. Price  Int'l Price
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 FESX624-L3U-IPV6   IronWare IPv6 upgrade for   $4,995      $5,495
                    Full L3 IPv6 and IPv4
                    services for the FESX624,
                    FESX624E and FESX624HF.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 FESX648-L3U-IPV6   IronWare IPv6 upgrade for   $7,995      $8,795
                    Full L3 IPv6 and IPv4
                    services for the FESX648.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 SX-FIL3U-6-IPV6    IronWare IPv6 upgrade for   $10,995     $12,095
                    Full L3 IPv6 and IPv4 services
                    for the FastIron SuperX/SX
                    IPv6-ready management modules.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

About Foundry Networks

Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY) is a leading provider of high-performance enterprise and service provider switching, routing, security and Web traffic management solutions, including Layer 2/3 LAN switches, Layer 3 Backbone switches, Layer 4-7 application switches, wireless LAN and access points, metro and core routers. Foundry's customers include the world's premier ISPs, metro service providers, and enterprises, including e-commerce sites, universities, entertainment, health and wellness, government, financial and manufacturing companies. For more information about the company and its products, call 1.888.TURBOLAN or visit www.foundrynet.com.

The Foundry Networks, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2756

Safe Harbor Statement

The foregoing may contain "forward-looking statements" which are based on management's current information and beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made by management. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements by executives or spokespeople regarding Foundry's positioning and potential plans. The forward-looking statements in this press release are only predictions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. Foundry assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Furthermore, no statements made by Foundry Networks, Inc. ("Foundry") in this press release, or information contained herein, may be deemed to constitute either an amendment of an existing agreement or an implied new commitment, promise or legal obligation by Foundry to develop or deliver any specific product, feature or functionality. The development, release, and timing of any product, feature, or functionality described herein remains at Foundry's sole discretion.