03/27/08 - Extreme Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR ), and its Channel Partner Converged Networks, LLC of Charleston SC announced that its network solutions, including leading products, network design and ongoing maintenance expertise were selected by the Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four of S.C., where an advanced Ethernet network now supports ten separate school sites.

Today, the Orangeburg SD4 is excelling in providing its students with advanced communications and applications that allow for e-learning. The Orangeburg network was designed and installed to efficiently support the rapid growth of emerging multimedia and e-learning initiatives, and connect staff, students and visitors over the multiple campuses. In addition to providing speedy Internet access to each school in the district, classrooms are implementing advanced technology supporting 'class rooms of the future,' with wireless network connectivity to LCD televisions for a visually rich display system.

The network, built with Extreme Networks Summit(R) fixed switches, has the enterprise-class features and performance, centralized device management and protocol resiliency so that the district is ready to handle cutting-edge educational applications. Orangeburg District Four Schools are ready from the start to support convergence, and other bandwidth-sensitive applications and services that promote the latest and most advanced educational programs available.

"We are fully committed to providing our students, teachers and staff with a state-of-the-art network that supports high-bandwidth applications," said Randy Johnson, Technology Director for the Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four. "With the support of Converged Networks and Extreme Networks, the entire district now has an easy-to-manage, advanced network that enables us to live up to that commitment. The network provided by Extreme Networks, which is designed and installed by the experts from Converged Networks exceeds our current educational needs, and we are confident that it will continue to do so as the demands for technology grows."

To design and implement its new network, Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four worked with Converged Networks, a value-added reseller and communications systems integrator with deep experience designing, building, and maintaining full converged solutions for K-12 school districts and commercial businesses.

Working closely with Converged Networks, Orangeburg has implemented Extreme Networks Summit Gigabit and 10/100 fixed edge switches. Network management is centralized and monitored with Extreme Networks EPICenter(TM) management suite, a scalable full-featured network management platform capable of establishing and maintaining networks that are undergoing rapid change. Additionally, the open architecture of EPICenter accommodates a multi-vendor, service-rich environment to provide voice-class availability and the enforcement of complex security policies.

"We are pleased to partner with Extreme Networks to provide Orangeburg with its network, providing a superior learning experience to students and increased levels of efficiency for its staff," said Robert Thorn of Converged Networks. "We have combined the right technology for the needs of Orangeburg to build a highly available, feature-rich, and standards-based network which provides a boost to local education."

Keywords: extreme networks summit, orangeburg consolidated schooleme networks inc, consolidated school district, orangeburg consolidated school district four, johnson technology, bandwidth applications, district classrooms, speedy internet, Wireless Security