ATLANTA, GA -- Extreme Networks Inc., (NASDAQ: EXTR), a leader in Ethernet switching for Metro networks, and Sycamore Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCMR), a leader in intelligent optical networking, today announced the companies have completed customer-driven interoperability testing that validates the compatibility of their combined switching platforms to increase reliability of the network and speed the deployment of flexible and efficient Ethernet services for carriers. As service providers look to ways to offer differentiated services to increase revenues, they have begun to migrate their network infrastructures to combine optical switching and Ethernet for end-to-end service delivery based on Gigabit Ethernet technology. Ethernet has emerged as a key technology for service providers as it delivers higher bandwidth with low cost of ownership. Combining leading-edge optical and Ethernet technology represents a measurably improved network infrastructure for the delivery of flexible, scalable and quickly deployed IP services that are being demanded by businesses. Service providers gain additional capacity, the ability to deliver incremental bandwidth, and the benefit of fast time-to-market for new services resulting in the potential for accelerated revenue generation. In the Extreme-Sycamore tests, the companies demonstrated bandwidth aggregation and interaction between Sycamore's leading edge optical platforms and Extreme Networks' high performance multi-layer Ethernet switches. The combined solution provides reliable and tested products to meet requirements at both the core and edge of service provider networks. Sycamore's SN 3000 and SN 16000 Intelligent Optical Switches were tested with Extreme Networks' award winning Alpine(TM) modular switching systems and its Summit(R) edge switching devices for the customer's premises. Some highlights from the interoperability testing include: -- Aggregation and extension of standard L2/L3 protocols, allowing service providers to offer seamless Ethernet private line services from the access point through the core of the network. -- Flexibility of Sub and Full Rate Gigabit Ethernet services into the Optical Core, providing service providers with the flexibility to offer their customers a variety of bandwidth services to meet changing application requirements -- The Compatibility of Optical Path Protection Capabilities for both Ring and Mesh based protection schemes enabling service providers to offer a range of service level agreements for Ethernet applications. Extreme Networks' Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) capability for instantaneous service recovery was also tested for compatibility over optical network infrastructure from Sycamore. "Our companies are focused on providing our mutual customers with ways to leverage their existing network infrastructures and, at the same time, offer new, high value services to their customers," said Bonnie Sitsis, director of product management for Sycamore Networks. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to test such a solution with Extreme Networks. The interoperability of Sycamore's Intelligent Optical Switch platform and Extreme's multi-layer Ethernet switches will permit our mutual customers to deliver more efficient and flexible Gigabit Ethernet services across their networks. "Sycamore Networks and Extreme Networks are committed to providing our mutual customers with network technology that is proven to work cohesively and deliver on the promise of next generation switching," said Paul De Zan, vice president of corporate marketing for Extreme Networks. "This best-of-breed infrastructure provides carriers with better services for their customers with faster time to market, assisting them to drive and sustain profitability from the networks." For more information visit www.extremenetworks.com or www.sycamorenet.com.