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Foundry Verifies LLDP/LLDP-MED Open Convergence Functionality At The UNH InterOperability Laboratory

Foundry's Commitment to Open Network Architecture and Protocols Benefits Enterprises by Reducing Costs through Simplifying and Automating Network Operations

SANTA CLARA, Calif. and DURHAM, N.H. – (Oct. 10, 2007) – Foundry Networks®, Inc. (NASDAQ: FDRY), a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end switching and routing, today announced that it has successfully verified IEEE Std. 802.1AB™-2005, 802.1Q™-2003, and ANSI TIA 1057 Link Layer Discovery protocol (LLDP) and Link Layer Discovery Protocol-Media Endpoint Discovery (LLDP-MED) standards compliance at the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL).

"These newest developments to the LLDP protocol promote 'plug-and-play' networking through advanced features like auto-discovery and local database creation, which companies in Power over Ethernet and VoIP are looking at for optimizing their operation in the network and for things like E911, where unmediated device logging is key," said Kari Younsi, manager of the UNH-IOL Bridge Functions Consortium. "Obviously, interoperability and compliance to standards have everything to do with success where multi-vendor networking is the rule and not just an option."

LLDP and LLDP-MED are important LAN standards helping to accelerate open convergence, enabling organizations to build advanced multi-vendor networks without constraining them to a single vendor solution. Today's networks are configured and managed using proprietary protocols, preventing many customers from deploying multi-vendor solutions. Configuring IP endpoints, such as Voice over IP (VoIP) handsets, can be a complex task requiring time-consuming manual configuration. LLDP and LLDP-MED addresses these challenges by providing organizations with a standard and open method to configure, discover and manage network nodes and end-point devices.

LLDP greatly simplifies and enhances network management, device inventory and troubleshooting, especially in multi-vendor environments. For example, it enables discovery of accurate physical network topologies, including those which have multiple VLANs where all subnets may not be known. LLDP also ensures proper aging, so that only valid network device data is presented. It simplifies inventory management through support of system name, description, capabilities and management address. Having accurate topologies greatly simplifies troubleshooting of the network, and the ability to discover devices that are configured incorrectly or unreachable is an excellent ease of use feature.

For voice and video, LLDP-MED has a threefold advantage, with new functionalities, ease of use and clear business benefits for converged networks. LLDP-MED extends IEEE's 802.1AB LLDP to enable media- and IP telephony devices to communicate with each other on the network. LLDP-MED provides exceptional interoperability, IP telephony troubleshooting, automatic deployment of policies, inventory management, advanced PoE, and E911 location/emergency call service capabilities. These sophisticated features make converged network services easier to install, manage and upgrade, all of which means network operators benefit from reduced operations costs and the ability to build error-free multi-vendor solutions. Such benefits include:

  • Plug-and-play provisioning speeds initial deployments and reduces configuration errors with QoS and VLAN assignments
  • Accurate physical topology and device inventory simplifies management and maintenance
  • Subsequent moves, adds and changes take minutes instead of hours or days
  • Consolidated management tools ease network administration
  • Automated diagnostic and consistency checking reduces operator and configuration errors and helps maintain uptime

"We are pleased to be the first to announce full LLDP/LLDP-MED standards compliance and to demonstrate this robust implementation at the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory," said Bob Schiff, vice president and general manager for Foundry's Enterprise Business Unit. "Networks have become an integral infrastructure component for enterprises making it imperative that networking vendors continue to develop and encourage open standards to facilitate network deployment and operations. Foundry is committed to open and standards-based solutions, like LLDP and LLDP-MED, allowing organizations to quickly simplify their network configuration and management as their network topology grows and becomes more complex."

For more information on the UNH-IOL, please visit www.iol.unh.edu.

About UNH-IOL

Founded in 1988, the UNH-IOL is one of networking's premier third-party proving grounds for developing technologies. Approximately 200 companies use the lab's 32,000+ sq. foot facility to extend their development and quality assurance efforts by testing and fine-tuning technologies, protocols and products for multi-vendor interoperability and conformance to standards. For more information, visit http://www.iol.unh.edu.

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 routers 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.

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