New modules enable BlackDiamond 8800 switching platform to deliver complete system for end-to-end network deployments - all within a single chassis

DUBAI, UAE - 11 October 2009 - Extreme Networks, Inc. today announced a key addition to its industry-leading BlackDiamond® 8800 switching family, an Ethernet switching platform for high performance, high value and smart connectivity from the network edge to the network core and data center.  

The trend for value-based enterprise networking in the wiring closet is driven by organizations that are aiming for high performance, secure networks that can be cost-effectively deployed today while keeping an eye to the future. Extreme Networks BlackDiamond® 8500-series wiring closet modules offer a high-value solution addressing customers' needs for cost-effective, yet feature-rich switching capabilities with natural upgrade paths for scalability and growth on demand.

"With the introduction of the BlackDiamond 8500-series modules, Extreme Networks brings a strong contender to the value portion of the enterprise market, where convergence, automation of tasks, and security are complemented with the consistency of a single operating system," said Aziz Ala'ali, Regional Director for Extreme Networks, Middle East & Africa. "This further reinforces our overarching BlackDiamond 8800 platform strategy to offer customers with a range of cost and performance choices for every part of their network."  

Organizations require an end-to-end network with advanced automation features to discover and provision network edge devices, resiliency to handle fiber outages with minimal impact to users and security to identify and mitigate threats. The BlackDiamond 8800 addresses all of these

requirements with a comprehensive family of module choices on a single chassis, and a uniform operating system, ExtremeXOS®.  The result is a total modular solution to tackle the most flexible network deployments.

BlackDiamond 8500 Series Modules Highlights:

Resiliency with Automated Service Recovery: Options for Redundant Management Switch Modules (MSMs) resulting in maximum availability, coupled with a resilient modular network operating system, ExtremeXOS, for maximum protection

Limited Lifetime Warranty: Extreme Networks new Limited Lifetime Warranty is standard with BlackDiamond 8500-series modules.

Investment Protection:  Scalability and growth on demand, allowing for flexible end-to-end deployment

Value:  Cost effective switching with value-add services and Limited Lifetime Warranty to lower TCO

Automated Configuration: Open architecture to simplify manageability and Universal Port software to ease network provisioning

Automated Security Embedded security features to help protect corporate data at the access edge and dynamic ACLs for faster response to threats

Pricing and Availability

The BlackDiamond 8500-series modules will be available this quarter. The Management Switch Module (MSM), the BlackDiamond 8500-MSM24, has a U.S. list price of $4,995. The 24 port Gigabit fiber module, the BlackDiamond 8500-G24X-e, has a U.S. list price of $6,995. The 48 port Gigabit Base-T module, the BlackDiamond 8500-G48T-e, has a U.S. list price of $3,995.

-Ends-

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: www.extremenetworks.com.

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

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including without limitation statements as to features and performance of the BlackDiamond 8500 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.

For more information, contact:
Lorna Cardoz
Extreme Networks Marketing MEA
Tel: +971 (0)43 91 56 65
lcardoz@extremenetworks.com

© Press Release 2009