IRVINE, CA – September 18, 2006

Solarflare first to demonstrate 10GBASE-T PHY reaching 100 meters

High-performance Ethernet connections for copper cabling will lower the cost of 10G networking for data center and enterprise customers

Solarflare delivers 10GBASE-T samples to customers

Solarflare Communications announced today that it is the first company to demonstrate a 10GBASE-T physical layer (PHY) chip reaching 100 meters over an IEEE 802.3an standards-compliant Category 6A link. This demonstration, shown to development partners and customers, was achieved under worst-case conditions, full reach, and with four connectors. Subsequent tests were repeated at full 100-meter reach and four connectors with the presence of alien cross talk (ANEXT and AFEXT). Solarflare has already delivered early evaluation units to customers. Solarflare’s 10Xpress™10GBASE-T PHY evaluation kit is orderable as Part Number SFE-7101.

Solarflare is publicly repeating its demonstration this week during the Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) Fall Conference. The demonstration is in the Agilent booth, #514-516, September 18-21, at the MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.

According to the recently published IEEE Standard 802.3an-2006, all 10GBASE-T physical layer chips must reach 100 meters. The Solarflare demonstration of 100-meter reach over a worst-case channel and its delivery of samples show that 10GBASE-T is ready for customer evaluation and design into switch and NIC products. Now that the 10GBASE-T for copper media is proven, 10GBASE-T switch and NIC products will be forthcoming later in 2007. 10GBASE-T is poised to fulfill its promise to lower the cost of 10G networking for data center and enterprise customers.

“This is a significant milestone,” said Jag Bolaria, senior analyst with the Linley Group. “By demonstrating 100 meters on a standards-compliant channel, Solarflare shows that it is on track to deliver robust solutions to its customers.”

David Passmore, research director for the Burton Group , believes , “This announcement is very timely. We have been getting many questions about 10GBASE-T and cabling options that support this flavor of 10 Gb Ethernet on copper cabling.  Solarflare’s demonstration shows not only that standards-based 10GBASE-T reaches 100 meters on worst case links, but also that now is the time for IT managers to prepare their copper cabling infrastructure for 10 Gb communications.”

10 Gigabit Ethernet links using optical transceivers are already in use in large enterprise data centers hosting such IT equipment as switches, servers, and data storage platforms. But optical transceivers are relatively expensive , and 10Gb optical switch ports cost over $2,600 according to third-party market research. Now that switch and server manufacturers can design in Solarflare’s10GBASE-T silicon, 10 Gb Ethernet on copper will more than halve the cost of 10G links by enabling higher port density as well as transceivers that can follow a Moore’s Law Curve of cost reduction.

Because 10GBASE-T supports installed as well as new unshielded twisted pair (UTP) copper cabling, it maintains the plug-and-play simplicity and low operational cost of copper cabling. 10GBASE-T enables network managers to scale their networks from one to 10 Gigabit speeds while leveraging their investment in installed copper cabling infrastructure, and for new installations, to leverage the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of copper structured cabling.

“10GBASE-T will dramatically expand the 10 Gb market by lowering costs,” said Russell Stern, chief executive officer for Solarflare. “The Solarflare 10Xpress™ PHY solution lowers operational costs by supporting RJ-45 plug-and-play connectivity and lowers capital expenditure costs by enabling switch and server vendors to lower per port cost of 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Customers are now designing with our parts for products to be introduced in 2007.”

About Solarflare Communications, Inc.

Solarflare Communications Inc. is a leading silicon vendor delivering Ethernet products that enable the rapid adoption of 10 Gigabit for data center and enterprise networks. The privately held company is headquartered in Irvine, California , with a development center in Cambridge, UK. For more information, visit http://www.level5networks.com.

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