Small Tree Communications to offer complete end-to-end network solutions for Apple Mac OS X systems. Working in tandem with Small Tree’s multi-port network interface cards (NIC), Foundry’s FastIron series of Ethernet switches will provide reliable, high performance network connections at competitive price points for Mac OS X users. Creative content facilities will now have the capability of providing users with multiple multi-port Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) connections and multiple 10GbE uplinks to file servers using a single FastIron switch. “Foundry Networks FastIron product line offers a scalable, highly available and price-performance solution that is ideal for the Apple user market,” states Corky Seeber, president of Small Tree Communications. “A typical Small Tree customer is a graphic arts design shop with anywhere from two to 10 Apple client workstations and one or two file servers. These small businesses need increased performance for demanding tasks like streaming uncompressed video using Final Cut Pro, but they are often constrained by a workgroup budget. Our customers require an affordable, enterprise-class solution that will enable them to get their work done more quickly and with greater efficiency. A solution is now available with the unique combination of our multi-port NICs, our BlazeFS file system software and Foundry’s FastIron switch supporting both GbE and 10GbE ports.” “We are pleased to collaborate with Small Tree Communications,” said Woody Akin, senior vice president of worldwide sales for Foundry Networks. “Our value-added reseller relationship will allow Apple Mac OS X users in creative content industries to leverage Foundry’s FastIron series of switches to enhance productivity, provide new performance capabilities and future-proof their network without draining their capital expenditure budgets.” Small Tree and Foundry will present a two-day, high-performance networking seminar for Apple Consultants, Specialists and Retailers August 29-30, 2006 at Small Tree’s new facility in Chippewa Falls, WI, that will detail all the features and benefits of their respective products. Seminar registration is available at its Web site. Small Tree’s multi-port cards allow users to increase their network bandwidth and expand the connectivity of their systems. Providing support for jumbo frames enables higher data transfer rates and reduced processor demands, generating an immediate performance increase on large file transfers when connecting to other network devices also supporting jumbo frames. When used in conjunction with 802.3ad load balancing software, Small Tree NICs will provide increased aggregated bandwidth, transparent load balancing between the multiple ports, and transparent fail-over if one or more ports or cables become disabled. Foundry Network’s FastIron family of switches are purpose-built to deliver high density 10/100 Mbps with Power over Ethernet (PoE), 10/100/1000 Mbps with PoE, GbE, and 10GbE for high-performance networking solutions with advanced security features. The FastIron family is built with high-performance ASICs and Foundry’s IronWare that includes advanced Layer 2 features, such as Foundry’s award winning Metro Ring Protocol (MRP), and full Layer 3 features, such as Border Gateway Protocol 4 (BGP4). Foundry’s FastIron family ensures increase in return on investment (ROI) and a much lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for both enterprises and service providers.