DALLAS, June 24, 1997 -- Olicom (Nasdaq: OLCMF), a leading global supplier of high-performancenetworking solutions, today announced a licensing agreement that will enable 100Mbps Token-Ringserver-to-switch links for the first time. Olicom has licensed Cisco Systems' InterSwitch Link(ISL) protocol to develop the Company's next generation of Fast Ethernet (10/100) networkinterface cards, which will be capable of simultaneously transporting Ethernet and Token-Ringframes over a single 100Mbps connection to an ISL-enabled switch or router. Olicom'snext-generation 10/100 NICs will be available in the fourth quarter this year.
This agreement represents a particularly important advance for Token-Ring users, as networkmanagers can now boost bandwidth to congested servers from 16Mbps to 100Mbps with little or nochange to their surrounding Token-Ring infrastructure. This capability figures prominently inOlicom's strategy to migrate its Token-Ring users to faster networking technologies whileprotecting their customers' existing investment in networking equipment. No other NIC vendortoday supports both Ethernet and Token-Ring ISL on the same network interface card.
"The most significant implication of our new ISL adapters is that we are in essence delivering'Fast Token-Ring' or the ability to run Token-Ring at 100 megabits per second," said NielsJorgensen, vice president of R&D at Olicom. "Giving our Token-Ring customers a bandwidth boostwhere they need it most -- at their servers -- not only extends the life of their currentToken-Ring infrastructure, but gives them a crucial stepping stone to future high-speednetworking technologies."
Kevin Tolly, president and CEO of independent industry research firm The Tolly Group, recentlyproposed a "Fast Token-Ring" initiative to address the most pressing and current needs ofToken-Ring users as they prepare to make the leap to future technologies such as ATM. Comingin response to just such a need among its Token-Ring customers, Olicom believes it will be thefirst vendor to deliver a high-speed Token-Ring server connection. Said Jorgensen: "Olicom'sISL network interface card is exactly the kind of solution that Token-Ring managers need todayto get the most out of their existing network while planning a cost-effective and intelligentmigration path to other high-speed networking technologies."
Cisco's ISL protocol was originally designed to transport standard Ethernet, Token-Ring, orFDDI frames and their associated VLAN (virtual LAN) information over high-speed switched FastEthernet and future switched Gigabit Ethernet campus LAN infrastructures. VLAN technologyallows users on different physical LANs to be linked logically as if they were on the samesegment, and can be used to create logical workgroups across many different switches, hubs,routers, and servers. Olicom now extends this capability to the network interface card.
"The ability to connect servers via a high-speed 100-megabit-per-second link to both Token-Ringand Ethernet networks is a growing requirement for customers," said Randall Campbell, productline manager for the Cisco Interworks Business Unit. "Our agreement with Olicom is anotherexample of Cisco partnering with leading vendors to meet evolving customer requirements and toprovide comprehensive solutions that maximize the value of networks."
Both Olicom and Cisco will be implementing Token-Ring ISL functionality on the companies'jointly developed Token-Ring switch, which is scheduled to be available in the second half ofthis year. This agreement also includes licensing certain semiconductor (ASIC) technology fromCisco that will enable Olicom to develop additional products with ISL functionality.
Olicom Background
Olicom designs, develops, manufactures, and markets high-performance, high-availabilitynetworking solutions for the corporate enterprise, specializing in providing end-to-endconnectivity solutions and a migration path to high-speed LANs. Olicom products aredistributed worldwide by a network of strategic partners and resellers. More information onOlicom is available from the company's SEC filings or by contacting the company directly. Olicom news and product/service information are available at the company's World Wide Web siteat http://www.olicom.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties thatcould cause actual results to differ from predicted results. Further information on factorsthat could affect the company's results are detailed from time to time in Olicom's filings withthe Securities and Exchange Commission.
Olicom is a registered trademark. All other brand and product names are registered trademarksof their respective holders.Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is theworldwide leader in networking for the Internet. athttp://www.cisco.com.
Cisco IOS is a trademark, and Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo areregistered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. All othertrademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
