Enterasys Introduces D-Series Workgroup Switch

ANDOVER, MA--(Marketwire - April 28, 2008) - Enterasys Networks Inc., the Secure Networks Company™, announced today the Enterasys® D-Series Gigabit Ethernet enterprise workgroup switch. Advanced QoS features automatically discover, classify and prioritize voice, video and data applications such as IP telephony, HD video conferencing, and business intelligence analytics. Redundant power supplies and standards-based IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) options ensure availability while supporting the connection of wireless access points, IP telephones, and IP security cameras. "What You Need Is What You Get" role-based policies assure service level agreement (SLA) requirements and proactively prevent security incidents based on user and application privileges that ensure only the right users have access to the right information from the right place at the right time.

"It is small, quiet and integrates with the rest of our network access control policies," said Doug Olson, Network Services Director at Bethel University. "Beyond the rich features, Enterasys support is extremely easy to work with as they quickly address any of our issues or questions as our infrastructure adapts to new needs over time."

Ideally suited for guest networking applications, the Enterasys D-Series is integrated with the Enterasys Secure Networks™ architecture to offer business-oriented visibility and control by user and application over priority and security privileges while embracing user mobility across wired and wireless networks. When deployed and configured in training rooms for distance learning and conference rooms for guest/contractor public Internet access, an ability to embed security in the LAN infrastructure prevents other internal IT assets from being placed at risk.

"The Enterasys D-Series offers a cost-effective, versatile foot print solution for enterprise-class LAN workgroups," said Steven J. Schuchart Jr, Principal Analyst at Current Analysis. "The D-Series also satisfies increasing customer demand for PoE as well as embedded policy-based security and QoS."

A no-hassle limited lifetime warranty featuring advance replacement and no-charge firmware upgrades is included at no additional cost. Designed for a 10-year useful technology lifecycle, the Enterasys D-Series offers 12 ports of Gigabit Ethernet connectivity via RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbps copper ports with two small form factor pluggable (SFP) slots for multi-mode or single-mode gigabit fiber uplink connectivity. All triple-speed ports can support 15.4 watts of IEEE 802.3af Class III PoE. Wire-speed performance of 17.86 million packets per second throughput and 24 gigabits per second of bandwidth is maintained even when advanced L2/L3/L4 rate limiting, packet filtering or security quarantine features are enabled. Eight QoS hardware queues are available per port with support for 16,000 Layer 2 MAC addresses and 1024 VLANs.

LEDs are placed on the top, front and back of the Enterasys D-Series to allow for a variety of mounting options and orientations. Able to be mounted on a wall, in a lock-box, under a table, or in a rack -- the D-Series workgroup switch can withstand extreme temperature conditions up to 140° Fahrenheit or 60° Celsius in locations that may lack adequate cooling or ventilation.

"We listened to our customers, partners and prospects who were asking for a small switch with enterprise-class features that was quiet enough to be placed directly in conference rooms and classrooms," said Mike Fabiaschi, Enterasys President and CEO. "The result is the new D-Series which offers a very attractive combination of competitive pricing, wire-speed performance and unique identity-based policy features that optimize network operations efficiency."

In addition to Layer 2 switching, the Enterasys D-Series:

--  Identifies and classifies incoming traffic
    
--  Discovers attached users, applications and devices (LLDP-MED)
    
--  Authenticates them using 802.1X, Web or MAC authentication
    
--  Enforces priority or security policies through wire-speed rate
    limiting, filtering or forwarding decisions
    
--  Leverages industry-standard IPv6 management, SNMPv3, RMON, Rapid
    Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) and
    IP Multicast (IPMC) support
    

Enterasys NetSight® management software avoids the need to manually reconfigure on a device-by-device basis every time there is a move, add or change. Define the policies once, and Enterasys keeps up with all the mobility, expansion and modification automatically. The network access control (NAC) privileges for an authenticated user or device are enforced dynamically, regardless of wired or wireless connectivity. The end result is high-performance capacity increases that leverage the multi-vendor management and embedded security operational expertise of Enterasys over the past 25 years.

Pricing and Availability

The Enterasys D-Series pricing starts at $100 per port US list price. The workgroup switches are available immediately from authorized Enterasys distributors and value-added resellers worldwide. The Enterasys D-Series is backed by the industry-leading Enterasys Global Technical Assistance Center (GTAC). Enterasys does not outsource or off-shore support. The skilled technicians that staff the Enterasys GTAC have an average tenure of 10+ years and a cultural commitment to help quickly solve a problem, regardless of the vendor involved, without pointing fingers.

About Enterasys

Enterasys is owned by a private investor group led by The Gores Group, LLC and Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC. Enterasys delivers Secure Networks™ that ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of IT services and the business users that rely on them -- without sacrificing performance. Thousands of enterprises, government agencies and educational institutions in more than 70 countries worldwide rely on our convergence, compliance and connectivity solutions to deliver business-oriented, identity-based visibility and control of individual user and application priority and security. The company's culture is centered on the principle, "There is nothing more important than our customers." Enterasys' standards-based, open-architecture approach to network security offers a long technology lifecycle and significant operational and business benefits, while reducing total cost of ownership. Information about Enterasys' award winning, policy-enabled switches, routers, wireless products, security software and services is available at www.enterasys.com.

About The Gores Group

Founded in 1987, The Gores Group, LLC is a private equity firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growing businesses which can benefit from the firm's operating experience and flexible capital base. The firm combines the operational expertise and detailed due diligence capabilities of a strategic buyer with the seasoned M&A team of a traditional financial buyer. The Gores Group, LLC has become a leading investor having demonstrated over time a reliable track record of creating substantial value in its portfolio companies alongside management. The firm's current private equity fund has committed equity capital of $1.3 billion. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, The Gores Group, LLC maintains offices in Boulder, Colorado and London. For more information, please visit www.gores.com.

About Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC

Tennenbaum Capital Partners is a Santa Monica, California-based private investment firm managing over $7.5 billion in committed capital in private funds. The firm's investment strategy is grounded in a long-term, value approach, and it assists -- both financially and operationally -- transitional middle market companies in such industries as technology, healthcare, energy, aerospace, business services, retail and general manufacturing. Tennenbaum's core strengths include in-depth knowledge of equity and debt financing vehicles in the public and private markets, as well as a thorough understanding of special situations. For more information, please visit www.tennenbaumcapital.com.

Contact Information: Contact: Trent Waterhouse Enterasys Networks +1 978 684 1506 trent@enterasys.com Jackie Abramian BridgeView Marketing +1 617 584 2580 jackie@bridgeviewmarketing.com