Santa Clara, CA --March 18, 2003-- To deliver breaking news to readers, daily newspapers like The Cincinnati Enquirer use advanced, computer-driven editorial and printing applications. In order to ensure staff's uninterrupted access to these programs, the Ohio-based Enquirer recently deployed a fully redundant, high-speed network from 3Com Corporation. Today, using highly reliable 3Com Gigabit Ethernet and Fast Ethernet switches at its 16 Cincinnati sites, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Enquirer produces, manufactures and delivers its papers without missing a beat. "At the Enquirer, where nearly every aspect of the business is deadline driven, we can't afford any network downtime," said Terri Preston, network administrator, The Cincinnati Enquirer. "Thanks to the 3Com system's built-in redundancies, we've eliminated the risk of network failure to ensure timely delivery of the news to our subscribers." Previously, the Enquirer's 1,092 employees relied on an older generation of 3Com equipment. However, as the paper planned to deploy a new bandwidth-demanding editorial application, it sought a fully redundant network solution. Also, to prioritize delivery of the new software over legacy publishing programs, the Enquirer sought robust network switches with easy to manage, built-in prioritization capabilities. To best assist the Enquirer in its upgrade, 3Com proposed an unbeatable solution - the 3Com Switch 4007 Gigabit Ethernet switch supported by its new class of Fast Ethernet traffic prioritization switches, the SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 Family. Renowned for network-level resilience, the 3Com Switch 4007 gives Enquirer staff non-stop availability for all network transactions. Its setup wizard makes configuration a breeze and the built-in Web-based management allows the paper's network administrators to manage the system on-site or remotely via a standard Web browser. Moreover, the switch's compatibility with the 3Com Network Supervisor network management application allows the Enquirer's IT staff to easily monitor, support and troubleshoot their enterprise-wide network. Using 3Com solutions, the Enquirer easily and reliably supports its key business applications. Staff enjoy seamless access to the network-powered CCI Europe NewsDesk Baseline program that facilitates news writing and pagination processes. Additionally, the 3Com LAN supports Net-Linx SII publishing classified ad system, as well as financial and business programs. Furthermore, the Enquirer's new network drives a database of circulation, retail advertising, purchase order, payroll, billing and customer tracking data. Deployed by value added reseller XiTech, the Enquirer's network is based on a single core Switch 4007 Gigabit Ethernet switch in its headquarters. The redundant Switch 4007 delivers Fast Ethernet connections to 15 SuperStack II and 3 Switch 3300s also at headquarters, which in turn, send the network at 10/100 Mbps links to hundreds of desktops. The Switch 4007 further connects at speeds of 100 Mbps over the regional telephone company's fiber-based Ethernet-over-ATM service offering to a 3Com Gigabit Ethernet switch in the production plant two miles away. The redundant core switch additionally distributes 10/100 Mbps links over the phone company's fiber network to three 3Com SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 prioritization switches and several SuperStack II and 3 Switch 3300 switches at the Enquirer's remaining 14 sites. Within the next few months, the paper will install five additional SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 switches at its main office. "3Com's solutions provide us with invaluable peace of mind," said Preston. "Working with our VAR, 3Com delivered exceptional implementation services. The companies configured everything before installation, enabling us to complete our migration in just one night. From implementation to day-to-day performance, 3Com has been nothing short of superb."