TippingPoint Delivers Unprecedented Intrusion Prevention System Performance With Industry’s First 60 Gigabit Platform

Austin, TX. – January 30, 2006 -TippingPoint, a division of 3Com and the leader in intrusion prevention, today set a new performance benchmark with the industry’s first Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) chassis and corresponding IPS modules able to scale up to 60 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps). The chassis, known as the TippingPoint M60, is ideal for large organizations including enterprises, universities, government agencies and service providers.

As network bandwidth and throughput increases, enterprises demand security products that can meet those performance requirements in order to ensure real-time security. 3Com’s TippingPoint division is launching the M60 chassis in response to customer demand for 10 Gigabit interfaces, increased port count for greater network segmentation and higher throughput.

“Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the TippingPoint acquisition by 3Com,” said 3Com CTO Marc Willebeek-LeMair. “We believe the TippingPoint M60 chassis and IPS modules are yet another proof point in the successful integration between 3Com and its TippingPoint division. Developers from the Huawei-3Com joint venture worked closely with the TippingPoint engineering team to build a new form factor for next-generation Intrusion Prevention Systems. The M60 chassis validates the security strategy we set to maintain the position of the TippingPoint division as the unsurpassable performance leader for IPS.”

The TippingPoint M60 chassis supports 10 Gbps interfaces, and is available in 7, 10 or 14-slot versions that hold the new IPS modules. Three IPS module versions correspond with the TippingPoint M60 chassis: the T5000, a five Gbps IPS module; the T2000, a two Gbps IPS module; and the T1000, a one Gbps module. Each module offers the same functionality as the systems in the award-winning TippingPoint Intrusion Prevention System product line. However, the new IPS modules offer 12 Gigabit Ethernet ports, either copper or fiber, which is a 50 percent increase in port density over the existing TippingPoint Intrusion Prevention System product line. This allows for a maximum of 144 Gigabit Ethernet ports, which gives customers greater ability to segment the network. In addition to working with the TippingPoint M60 chassis, the IPS modules also work seamlessly with the 3Com® Switch 8800.

Each IPS module is capable of over two million simultaneous connections and one million connections per second with switch-like latency of less than 150 microseconds. The IPS modules block worms, viruses, Trojans, Spyware, Phishing and Denial of Service attacks, and are updated on a regular basis to protect against the latest threats through the TippingPoint Digital Vaccine® service.

“3Com’s TippingPoint division has once again outdone itself in the intrusion prevention systems arena,” said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Robert Ayoub. “Customers benefit from having the option to purchase IPS functionality in a smaller form factor with greater port count and higher aggregate performance.”

TippingPoint has consistently led the market in performance and innovation. When launching the first IPS in 2002, the company released a two Gbps IPS. Competitors soon followed with their own products, but most could not reach one Gbps throughput at the time. Nearly one year ago, the TippingPoint division again pioneered the market with the launch of a five Gbps IPS, which is still ahead of today’s two Gbps maximum throughput from competing IPS solutions. The TippingPoint division was also the first to introduce anti-phishing features, Spyware protection, bandwidth management and VoIP security to its IPS devices, and recently launched the innovative TippingPoint X505, the industry’s first integrated security platform based on IPS technology.

The TippingPoint M60 chassis and IPS modules will be available in the second half of 2006.

About TippingPoint, a division of 3Com

TippingPoint, a division of 3Com, is the leading provider of network-based intrusion prevention systems. The TippingPoint IPS is the most decorated in its industry. For a full list of awards, visit http://www.tippingpoint.com/products_certifications.html. Our innovative approach offers customers unmatched network-based security with unrivaled economics, ultra-high performance, scalability and reliability. TippingPoint is based in Austin, Texas, and can be contacted through its Web site at www.tippingpoint.com or by telephone at 1-888-TRUE-IPS.

About 3Com Corporation

3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) is a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes. 3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers. Through its TippingPoint division, 3Com is the leading provider of network-based intrusion prevention systems that deliver in-depth application protection, infrastructure protection, and performance protection for corporate enterprises, government agencies, service providers and academic institutions. For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.

Don't miss