ZYNX Networks, provider of High Availability networking and 
telecommunications products, and Force Computers (NYSE:SLR) are partnering to 
produce a line of Compact Packet-Switching Backplane (CPSB) platforms, which 
integrate into larger systems and enable next-generation telecommunications 
providers to immediately design and build products.  

ZYNX Networks, whose clients include Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola, Lucent, Cisco 
Systems, Boeing and Sun Microsystems, provides open source application 
switching-on-silicon technology to communications and network Original 
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).  With ZYNX Networks’ OpenArchitect, customers 
can design new switching solutions in half the time, running 
commercial-off-the-shelf networking applications without modification. 

Connie Austin, president and CEO, is available to discuss how ZYNX Networks’ 
OpenArchitect cuts project development in half.  Visit ZYNX Networks at 
Spring 2001 Voice on the Net (VON), March 20-23, Phoenix (Arizona) Civic 
Plaza, Booth 222; and at CeBit, March 22-28, Hannover (Germany) Expo Site, 
Hall 15, Booth B24.

Contact Desirée Earl at 650-328-6064 or <A HREF="mailto:desireearl@aol.com">desireearl@aol.com</A> to schedule an 
interview.  

Regards, 
Desirée Earl
Account Executive
PRTitan
375 Hawthorne Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(T) 650-328-6064
(F) 425-790-4271



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
 
FORCE AND ZNYX PARTNER TO PROVIDE LEADING-EDGE COMPACT PACKET-SWITCHING 
BACKPLANE PLATFORMS

CPSB Platforms Integrate ZNYX Ethernet Technology and Force Embedded 
Solutions For a Highly Available NEBS Level 3 Design Communications Platform

SAN JOSE, Calif. (March 20, 2001)—Force Computers, a Solectron company 
(NYSE:SLR) and a leader in embedded computing,and ZNYX Networks, a leading 
provider of High Availability networking and telecommunications products, 
have combined resources to produce a line of Compact Packet-Switching 
Backplane (CPSB) platforms.  Dubbed the Centellis™ CO 21000-12U series, these 
platforms integrate ZNYX’s leading-edge Ethernet switch technology into 
Force’s NEBS Level 3 design Centellis chassis to provide the ideal solution 
for network infrastructure applications.  Third-generation (3G) wireless, 
Internet protocol (IP) and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) functionality 
are prime examples where CPSB platforms enhance network utilization by 
consolidating multiple rack components into one CompactPCI®system.

“With these CPSB platforms, Force continues to supply its customers with 
innovative, market-leading, open systems-based embedded solutions,” said 
Chris Williams, Force vice president of Standard & Telecom Platforms, the 
Americas.  “Based on interest expressed by leading telecom OEMs and data comm 
startups, the Centellis CO 21000-12U series will be integrated in many 
rack-space-saving network solutions.”

Adheres to PICMG 2.16 Compact Packet-Switching Backplane specification

Closely adhering to the latest draft of the PICMG 2.16 Compact 
Packet-Switching Backplane specification, the Centellis CO 21000-12U series 
has been engineered to be easily integrated into larger systems, so 
communications equipment developers can immediately start designing and 
implementing it into products.  And developers can take advantage of Force’s 
open-systems expertise that’s been leveraged into these CPSB platforms, which 
is reflected in redundant, hot-swappable features like:
·        Linux™-based ZNYX OpenArchitect™ ZX4500 Ethernet switches (with 
eight external ports each)
·        N+1, 500W 48V power supplies (1500W total power)
·        Dual fan trays
·        Up to four 3.5-inch media bays

In addition, the Centellis CO 21000-12U platforms offer 14 PICMG 2.16 draft 
specification Link slots, a 12U FaultZone™ Technology NEBS Level 3 design, 
19- or 23-inch rack-mounts and an optional Telecom Alarm Module (TAM).

ZNYX Networks switches: performance, faster development

The ZNYX Networks OpenArchitect™ ZX4500 Linux-on-silicon application switch 
provides carrier-grade features for Layers 2 and 3 in the Centellis CO 
21000-12U platforms.  The switch allows OEMs to implement multi-Gigabit 
Ethernet switching applications on silicon and run open-source, 
commercial-off-the-shelf networking applications without modification.  The 
new Force platform includes two OpenArchitect ZX4500 non-blocking switches, 
providing switch-to-switch and port-to-port failover, 64MBytes buffer RAM and 
line-rate forwarding of over 6.6 million packets a second.

“OpenArchitect will help OEM designers to cut project development time in 
half,” said Connie Austin, ZNYX Networks president and CEO.  “Our 
switching-on-silicon technology offers the performance of hardware with the 
flexibility of using standard or customized Linux networking applications.”

Voice on the Net (VON) and CeBITtrade show appearances

The first Centellis CO 21000-12U platform—the Centellis CO 21542-12U—will be 
at Spring 2001 Voice on the Net (VON), March 20-23, Phoenix (Ariz.) Civic 
Plaza, Booth 222; and at CeBIT, March 22-28, Hannover (Ger.) Expo Site, Hall 
15, Booth B24.

About ZNYX Networks
ZNYX Networks is the leading provider of open source application 
switching-on-silicon technology to communications and network Original 
Equipment Manufacturers. ZNYX Networks provides a CarrierClass™ new-product 
environment that is comprehensive, adaptable, high performance and fully 
managed.  With ZNYX Networks’ OpenArchitect™, customers can design new 
switching solutions in half the time, running commercial-off-the-shelf 
networking applications without modification.  The company also makes a 
complementary line of high availability network software and adapters.  Its 
technology enables “five 9’s” availability for fault-tolerant network 
equipment building systems (NEBS-compliant).  OEM customer solutions are 
purchased by carriers, service providers, large enterprises and governments 
to grow the worldwide telecommunications and Internet infrastructure.  ZNYX 
Networks is privately held.  Corporate headquarters are at 48421 Milmont Dr., 
Fremont, Calif. 94538.  Contact ZNYX Networks at (510) 249-0800 or 
www.znyx.com.

About Force Computers
Force Computers (www.forcecomputers.com) was founded in 1981 and is a leading 
designer and worldwide supplier of standard and custom systems and 
board-level computer platforms and services for the embedded market.  The 
processor-independent company helps its customers develop embedded 
applications based on Alpha, MIPS, Pentium®, PowerPC™, PowerQUICC™, SPARC®, 
StrongARM and 68K™ technologies for embedded UNIX®, Linux™, Windows NT® and 
real-time applications.  Force supports VME, CompactPCI®, PCI, PCI/ISA and 
PMC bus architectures as well as custom form factors.  An ISO 9001 certified 
company, Force Computers practices Total Quality Management principles in all 
phases of the company’s global operations.  The company, along with its 
parent company, Solectron Corporation, is the 1997 winner of the prestigious 
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for manufacturing.  Force’s corporate 
headquarters and Asia Pacific headquarters is located in San Jose, 
California.  Force’s European headquarters is located in Munich, Germany.

###

Note: All brands are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective 
companies.  Specifications may change without notice.  Monetary amounts are 
stated in U.S. dollars.