SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Extreme Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR - News) is providing its leading-edge Ethernet network infrastructure and network management solutions to Oakland County Michigan, allowing it to deliver increased levels of resiliency, Layer 3 functionality and network monitoring capabilities as part of an end-to-end network upgrade that has created a powerful and highly reliable Metro Ethernet network.

Oakland County, which is pioneering the adoption of e-Government initiatives within cities such as Auburn Hills, Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Southfield and Pontiac, is completing a network upgrade based on Extreme Networks' Alpine® modular switches and its high performance Summit® 48si and Summit 5i edge switching systems that deliver Gigabit scalability with VLANs for segmenting traffic, Access Control Lists (ACLs) and Quality of Service (QoS). The network operates under a single software platform, ExtremeWare®, and is managed with Extreme Networks' EPICenter® and ServiceWatch® management applications.

Oakland County sought out a new network to replace its existing ATM infrastructure that was rapidly becoming outdated, costly to maintain and lacked the QoS prioritization functionality necessary to run converged applications such as point-to-point IP video streams and to deliver increasing levels of Internet access.

Extreme Networks' high performance Ethernet switching solutions work to enhance Oakland County's Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System, (CLEMIS), a state-of-the-art computer technology system used by more than 150 criminal justice and public safety agencies in the region. CLEMIS allows for communications links to be established in order for the sharing of criminal justice information, critical for the organization and execution of local law enforcement. With Extreme Networks' Ethernet foundation, video feeds run over the network and are used for conducting court arraignments, reducing the number of people that need to be transported between the jail and the courthouse.

Oakland County planned a smooth migration to Ethernet over a 12-month period in order to utilize an all IP network infrastructure to operate its Emergency 911 dispatch services as a part of its countywide Public Safety System. This system connects public safety agencies, including police departments, fire departments and related emergency services.

"We are very pleased with the performance and stability of the Extreme Networks' equipment," said Guy Compton, network systems supervisor for Oakland County. "We have not incurred any unexpected downtime throughout the step-by-step process of transitioning our data communication system to IP from ATM technology with Extreme Networks' solutions. The new equipment and software has been very predictable and it makes for an excellent result considering the size of our network revitalization project and the critical nature of the communications systems we support."

By using Extreme Networks' EPICenter and ServiceWatch management tools, the IT staff has been able to monitor the entire network from a single management console while responding to security threats by activating customized Access Control Lists (ACLs). This reduces the cost to operate the network while extending consistent control.

"The decision to select the Extreme solution has given us a strategic advantage in keeping our cost of ownership under control," stated Phil Bertolini, director of information technology for Oakland County. "As personnel costs, such as health care, continue to rise, we must find ways to bring our total cost of ownership down. The Extreme solution has provided us another tool to reach that goal."

"Extreme Networks is delivering Metro Ethernet networks that replace complex legacy technology while allowing for advanced services and applications," said Suresh Gopalakrishnan, vice president of marketing for Extreme Networks. "Supporting the critical communications and network services for Oakland County made it essential for us to deliver the resiliency, scalability and complete network management solutions that leave nothing to chance."

Extreme Networks Inc.