
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


             EXTREME NETWORKS ESTABLISHES STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - April 27, 2001 - Extreme Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR)
announced today that its Board of Directors has adopted a Stockholder Rights
Plan. Under the plan, Rights will be distributed as a dividend at the rate of
one Right for each share of the company's common stock held by stockholders of
record as of the close of business on May 14, 2001.

The Rights Plan is designed to prevent an acquirer from gaining control of
Extreme Networks without offering a fair and adequate price and terms to all of
Extreme Networks' stockholders. The Rights Plan is intended to increase Extreme
Networks' ability to negotiate with potential acquiring companies to maximize
stockholder value and is not intended to interfere with takeover offers or other
strategic alternatives that the company's Board of Directors believes are in the
stockholders' best interests.

The Rights Plan was not adopted in response to any attempt to acquire the
company. Under the plan, each Right will entitle stockholders to purchase a
fractional share of the company's preferred stock for $150.00. Each such
fractional share of the new preferred stock has terms designed to make it
substantially the economic equivalent of one share of common stock. Initially,
the Rights will not be exercisable and will trade with the company's common
stock.  Generally, the Rights may become exercisable if a person or group
acquires beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of Extreme Networks' common
stock or commences a tender or exchange offer upon consummation of which such
person or group would beneficially own 15 percent or more of Extreme Networks'
common stock. When the Rights become exercisable, the Board of Directors has the
right to authorize the issuance of one share of Extreme Networks common stock in
exchange for each Right that is then exercisable.
<PAGE>

Further details of the Rights Plan are outlined in a letter that will be mailed
to stockholders as of the record date. Additionally, a copy of the Rights Plan
will be filed shortly with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Extreme Networks
----------------------

Extreme Networks, Inc. delivers a simplified approach for building networks
based on its corporate vision of Ethernet Everywhere(R) networks. The company's
family of BlackDiamond(R), Alpine(TM), and Summit(R) switching solutions
incorporate a unique combination of ExtremeWare(R) management software and an
ASIC-based common architecture to provide Global 2000 enterprises,
telecommunications companies, Internet Service Providers and content providers
with the ability to increase the flow of information and accommodate future
network growth.

Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., Extreme Networks was listed as the
"Fastest Growing Company in Silicon Valley" based on three-year revenue growth
by the San Jose and Silicon Valley Business Journal. For more information, visit
www.extremenetworks.com.
------------------------

                                     ####

Extreme Networks, ExtremeWare, BlackDiamond, Summit and Ethernet Everywhere are
registered trademarks of Extreme Networks, Inc., and Alpine is a trademark of
Extreme Networks, Inc., in the United States and other countries.
