3Com Signs Agreement for Novell Directory Services to Support Policy-Powered e-Networking

3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) today announced a licensing agreement with Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL), a leading provider of Net infrastructure software, for its NDS eDirectory. 3Com will also intensify its work with Novell to accelerate the deployment of e-Networks that are application- and user-aware. At ComNet Expo 2000 in Washington, DC this week, 3Com will demonstrate the Transcend policy management system interoperating with NDS eDirectory for user-based management applications.

The relationship between 3Com and Novell is expected to focus on user-based policies and network access policies. These capabilities will help IT managers to drive user-centric, business policies in their e-Networks, functions that are critical to support today's e-business applications. This licensing agreement ensures that 3Com policy customers will have seamless interoperability with NDS eDirectory the market leader in standards-based directory technology and simplified network management.

"This announcement demonstrates our strong commitment to support users who depend on NDS for their mission-critical applications," said Kathy Rocha, vice president and general manager of 3Com's Network Management Division. "It's a significant step in the delivery of e-Networks, providing network access and traffic policies while radically simplifying network management."

"Working together, 3Com and Novell will deliver the next generation of policy solutions that simplify and automate the management of complex networks," said Carl Ledbetter, Novell senior vice president for business and corporate development. "To fulfill this promise, our e-business partners need access to a highly scalable, cross-platform directory based on industry standards such as Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). Novell's NDS eDirectory fills this role by storing and managing policies that bring a higher level of intelligence, efficiency and control across enterprise networks and the Internet."

In addition to the user-based policy management capabilities enabled by NDS eDirectory, 3Com believes its access control services will help enhance network security. Planned for a future release of 3Com's Transcend policy management system, this capability will authenticate users before they are allowed access to their corporate network. The policy management system will examine each user profile stored in the directory and allow access to network resources based on pre-defined policies.

"With 3Com and Novell working together on policy management solutions that are fully integrated with directory technology, I'll have a more secure and manageable network," said Gary J. Habermann, associate director of the computer systems department at Widener University in Chester, Penn. "This will allow me to implement a single, consolidated directory that will not only be more accurate than multiple directories, but will also take less time to create. My 15,000 users will gain the ability to work from anywhere on the campus and have the same rights and access to applications that they now have only from a single location."

Through the use of policy-powered management, organizations will be able to implement next-generation e-Networks that will transform the way they conduct business in the new millennium. The initial release of 3Com's Transcend policy management system, expected in mid-2000, will prioritize network traffic in the WAN working with 3Com's PathBuilder and NETBuilder devices as well as Cisco routers. Through the use of NDS eDirectory, network managers will be able to create traffic policies and automatically associate them with specific named users, simplifying the implementation of prioritization. The Transcend policy management system will use these policies to prioritize user-based traffic in Layer 2 and Layer 3 network devices.

Policy Management Availability

The 3Com Transcend policy management system is expected be available in Q2 2000 for Windows NT and Sun Solaris platforms. Pricing information will be provided at that time. For more information and a demonstration of the benefits of policy-powered networking, visit 3Com's policy management Web site at www.3com.com/policy, or visit the 3Com booth #638 at ComNet Expo 2000.

About 3Com

With over 300 million customer connections worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people and organizations to information and each other in more innovative, simple and reliable ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers e-Networking solutions through information access products and network systems to enterprises, small businesses, consumers, carriers and network service providers. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. is the broadest supplier of Net infrastructure software used to integrate and manage the diverse information resources of private business networks and the Internet. Novell's worldwide channel, consulting, developer, education and technical support programs are the most extensive in the network computing industry.

For information on Novell's complete range of products and services, contact Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272), or visit Novell's Web site at http://www.novell.com. Press may access Novell announcements and company information on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

3Com, NETBuilder and Transcend are registered trademarks and PathBuilder is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company or product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.