NETGEAR Introduces Entry-Level Copper Gigabit Products Ideal for Small Business Networks

The 32-bit Gigabit Adapter for Power Workstations and Small Office Servers; and Desktop and Rack-Mountable Switches Provide an Affordable Transition to Gigabit Networks

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — November 7, 2001 — NETGEAR Inc., a worldwide provider of innovative small business and home networking products, today announced the availability of the latest improvements to its award-winning Gigabit over Copper product line for small businesses: the GA302T Copper Gigabit Adapter, the FS309T 8-port Fast Ethernet Switch with Copper Gigabit Uplink and the FS509T 8-port Fast Ethernet Switch with Copper Gigabit Uplink. These products accelerate a business’ transition to super-fast, gigabit performance networks at a breakthrough price. The GA302T provides over fifty percent superior throughput and performance in competitive benchmarks. The FS309T tabletop and FS509T rack-mountable switches both feature a copper gigabit uplink, which provides workgroup network users with simultaneous and super-fast access to the server or network backbone.

"Small business customers continue to choose NETGEAR’s Gigabit products and Fast Ethernet switches because of the broad portfolio offering that we designed to best meet specific customer needs and is highly reliable at an attractive price," said Patrick Lo, president and chief executive officer of NETGEAR. "NETGEAR uses only the best quality components for its products, and the GA302T, FS309T and FS509T are ideal for smaller businesses that seek optimal performance for high-powered workstations or servers."

"All of these products use existing Category 5 networking cables and can boost the connection speed with full-duplex bandwidth to 2000 Mbps. Additionally, they all have Auto Uplink™ technology, which eliminates the need for crossover cables in any configuration, making installation quick and easy," said Vivek Pathela, director, product management & marketing of NETGEAR. "All PCs are equipped with 100 Mbps network adapter cards and need super-fast access to a single server at the same time. Having a gigabit link to the server is like feeding multiple highway lanes into a ten-lane freeway, instead of jamming them into a two-lane highway."

The GA302T works with all popular Microsoft operating systems, including Windows XP to ensure trouble-free setup and ease of use. In performance testing, the GA302T has shown superior performance to competing gigabit products on the market. The GA302T enables the rapid transfer of large data files such as images or multimedia and comes at an expected street price of $90.

The FS309T and FS509T have one port of Copper Gigabit and make it easy to add as many as eight computers or peripherals to a Gigabit server or backbone. Both products provide wire-speed performance for maximum throughput. The FS309T’s trim desktop case has LED indicators on both front and rear allowing for easy setup and monitoring, and includes a locking slot for physical security. The FS509T includes a rack mount kit and provides premium performance. The expected street price for the FS309T is $199 and the $290 for the FS509T.

    NETGEAR’s GA302T features and benefits:
  • Powerful — Runs at 1000 Mbps using standard Category 5 networking cables with up to 2000 Mbps full-duplex network speed.
  • Flexible — Runs at 10/100/1000 Mbps so users can plug in immediately, and upgrade the rest of the network when ready.
  • Self-Reliant — Detects speed and duplex without any manual setup, and features Auto Uplink™ to instantly identify and configure ports.
  • Well Equipped — Delivers extensive Windows driver support for interoperability within all major Windows systems, including Windows XP.
  • Practical — Uses existing Fast Ethernet Category 5 cables – no extra cabling is needed.
    The FS309T and FS509T share the following features and benefits:
  • Dynamic — Connects server or switch at 1 Gbps over Category 5 UTP cables for up to 100 meters.
  • Extensive — Eight switched 10/100 Mbps ports provide maximum throughput.
  • User-Friendly — Simple to install and run with PnP installation.
  • Resourceful — All ports feature automatic speed and duplex sensing, plus Auto Uplink™ to always make the right connection.

For more information on these products, please visit www.netgear.com or visit us at Booth #L909 at COMDEX Fall 2001.

About NETGEAR Inc.
NETGEAR was recently named to Deloitte & Touche’s "2001 Technology Fast 50" Program for Silicon Valley due to its 4,527 percent growth over the last five years. NETGEAR provides easy-to-use, reliable networking solutions for homes and businesses worldwide. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, NETGEAR designs and develops products that enable home and small business users to share Internet access, peripherals, digital content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. The company markets and sells its products through a global network of resellers, including more than 4,500 retail stores, mail order catalogs and online retailers. Additionally, NETGEAR offers customers free support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information visit the company's Web site at www.netgear.com or call (408.907.8000).