DIGITAL EXTENDS ATM STRENGTHS

Releases ATM Forum compliant LAN Emulation Client code to public domain ...
Introduces ATM PCI adapter

ATLANTA, Georgia -- September 27, 1995 -- Digital Equipment Corporation
today continued its rollout of ATM offerings in support of its enVISN
network architecture with two key initiatives. First, the company
announced that it has placed its ATM LAN Emulation (LANE) Client source
code in the public domain to be used as a reference implementation for
networking, computer and operating system vendors who are developing ATM
solutions. Additionally, the company announced immediate availability of
its ATMworks 350 adapter, which delivers maximum ATM performance to
industry-standard PCI bus systems.

The LANE Client code is fully compliant with the recently approved ATM
Forum LANE specification (LUNI V1.0), which describes how systems that
work with more traditional LAN technologies such as Ethernet connect to
high-speed ATM networks. This specification eliminates the need for
proprietary LAN emulation schemes which lock customers into a single
vendor solution. The LANE Client code will be used in Digital's ATM
adapters and edge devices and will be available on the ATMworks 350
adapter within ninety days.

"Use of a LAN emulation reference implementation will simplify ATM
multivendor interoperability, which in turn will accelerate acceptance of
ATM in the LAN market," said Diana Larrea, marketing manager for
high-performance networks in Digital's Network Product Business. "Our LANE
Client code is solid. It performed well at recent multivendor testing,
interoperating successfully with over 15 vendors' implementations."

Industry Welcomes Availability of Reference Implementation

Several players in the ATM market support Digital's decision to put the
LANE Client code in the public domain. A few examples of their comments
follow:

    "As a vendor of comprehensive switching solutions, we are
    pleased with Digital's move to put its LANE Client code in
    the public domain," stated Douglas Hill, director of
    corporate marketing at Xylan, Inc.  "In fact, we have
    already ported this code onto our OmniSwitch and have
    successfully interworked with other vendors at a recent
    interoperability testing forum."

    "Development of standards is only half the battle in making
    multivendor ATM networks a reality," said Ralph Ungermann,
    CEO and President of First Virtual Corporation (FVC).  FVC's
    mission is to enable the widespread deployment of multimedia
    applications over ATM-based networks.  "The availability of
    a reference implementation such as this LAN Emulation source
    code from Digital will greatly accelerate the process of
    installing large, multivendor, interoperable ATM networks."

    "Availability of a common base of software promotes
    interoperability," commented Ron Pashby, manager of the ATM
    Interoperability Lab at the University of New Hampshire.
    "The fact that Digital's LANE Client code is open will allow
    more companies to bring standards-based ATM products to
    market faster."

Written in the C language, the code is highly portable. The LANE code,
along with documentation, is available over the World Wide Web. Check
Digital's Network Product Business home page
(hhtp://www.networks.digital.com) and click on "products and technology."

LANE Plays Key Role In enVISN Architecture

LAN Emulation is an important element of Digital's enVISN network
architecture, which builds on VLANs to achieve Enterprise Virtual
Intelligent Switched Networks. To run over ATM, VLANs require the
emulation of LANs. The use of standard LAN Emulation enables these
emulated LANs to work across equipment from multiple vendors and thus
broadens the scope of the enVISN architecture.

ATMworks 350 Adapter Delivers Top Performance

The ATMworks 350 adapter enables systems based on the industry-standard PCI
bus to connect with high-performance ATM networks. It shares honors with
Digital's ATMworks 750 TURBOchannel bus adapter in achieving full line
rate for maximum ATM performance. By taking advantage of the guaranteed
bandwidth and low latency capabilities of ATM networks, the ATMworks 350
enables systems to handle networked multimedia applications.

The ATMworks 350 interface card currently supports Digital UNIX and is
available immediately at $1,995. Support for Windows NT and NetWare is
planned within ninety days.

Market Leadership

Digital holds a leadership position in major elements of the convergence
market -- switching, routing, FDDI, and remote access. The company
pioneered a convergence model for networking, in which hubs, routers, and
switches are deployed on a single integrated platform -- the DECswitch 900
MultiSwitch.

According to revenue figures from International Data Corporation (IDC), and
Dataquest, Digital hold the number three position in LAN switching, and
high-end and low-end routers and the number two position in Ethernet
switching and FDDI hub technology. These same industry analysts rank
Digital number two in Remote Access in North America and number two in
both LAN switching and routing in Western Europe. Digital's experience in
networking is evidenced by the fact that the company has networked more
than 13 million users worldwide.

Digital Equipment Corporation is the world's leader in open client/server
solutions from personal computers to integrated worldwide informations
systems. Digital's Intel and Alpha platforms, storage, networking,
software and services, together with industry- focused solutions from
business partners, help organizations compete and win in today's global
marketplace.
 
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