Extreme Networks Boosts Adoption of Internet2 With IPv6 Enabled Network for Pennsylvania Community College

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Extreme Networks, Inc. is assisting Bucks County Community College in its transition to a next generation network that supports Internet2 applications, enabling video collaboration. Extreme Networks(R) provided Bucks with a new converged network with flexibility of supporting IPv4 and IPv6 switching and routing as well as 10 Gigabit core speeds and a Gigabit edge.

With 10,000 students and a vision to be the center for innovative educational opportunities, Bucks County Community College is growing its national reputation for learning. To further its vision, the Bucks IT team was seeking to improve technology performance and communication options for staff and students all while maintaining its budget.

This meant replacing its Ethernet network to realize the full complement of network convergence features and routing functionality that would allow it to connect with video conferencing via Internet2. Internet2 is a global, non- profit organization consisting of many participating universities and schools which develop and deploy advanced network applications and high speed networking technologies.

After an evaluation of each of the leading vendors products, Bucks County concluded that an edge and core solution from Extreme Networks supported all advanced IPv6 and IPv4 routing in hardware and provided added resiliency over fiber links between campuses. Not only did Extreme Networks provide performance and features that some vendors could not provide, it offered the most competitive price.

“Our goal for the new network was to gain a smooth transition enabling our Internet2 presence, therefore, we required critical switching and routing features from our partnering vendor,” said Ron Smith, IT Director for Bucks Community College. “The total solution from Extreme Networks provides us with IPv6 support in hardware, making it the best suited solution to meet our objectives and vision.

“Our new network really shines. It provides critical routing and convergence at a very compelling cost. We saved 40 percent on the cost of the hardware compared to the other potential solutions we looked at, and we have seen improvement in our network and application availability by as much as five times. Overall, the transition to IPv6 with Extreme Networks has been very simple.”

The new network for Bucks College provides a significant performance upgrade for the transfer of web traffic, administration applications. Additionally, all servers were upgraded to Gigabit speeds. Extreme Networks BlackDiamond(R) 8800 switches support the core of the network and Summit(R) X450 switches outfit the edge. These switches feature PoE as well as routing capabilities. The entire network benefits from resiliency with the EAPS protocol. To support video collaboration, IPv6 and multicast routing are used.

“Bucks County Community College’s new network signifies its commitment to high quality education,” said Scott Lucas, senior director of solutions marketing for Extreme Networks, Inc. “Extreme Networks solutions, targeted to educational institutions, help deliver on that commitment. We can build consistent networks that tackle complex problems at prices that higher education customers, especially those seeking to combine Internet2 connectivity via IPv6, can really appreciate.”

Extreme Networks hardware support of IPv6 routing as well as IPv4 and IPv6 translation with ExtremeXOS(TM) switches provides enterprises, universities and Metro service providers with a solid network foundation that takes them into the future. Tying the network together with physical redundancy, link layer resiliency and management that provides a single unified view of the network helps remove the day-to-day administrative chores that drain resources and dollars and helps ensure network availability and performance for any situation.

Extreme Networks, Inc.

Extreme Networks designs, builds, and installs Ethernet infrastructure solutions that solve the toughest business communications challenges. The Company’s commitment to open networking sets it apart from the alternatives by delivering meaningful insight and unprecedented control to applications and services. Extreme Networks believes openness is the best foundation for growth, freedom, flexibility, and choice. Extreme Networks focuses on enterprises and service providers who demand high performance, converged networks that support voice, video and data, over a wired and wireless infrastructure. 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, security, and performance of the 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/

Extreme Networks, ExtremeXOS, BlackDiamond, and Summit are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Extreme Networks, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries

Extreme Networks, Inc.

CONTACT: Gregory Cross of Extreme Networks, Inc., +1-408-579-3483,gcross@extremenetworks.com

Web site: http://www.extremenetworks.com/