DIGITAL'S LAN EMULATION OFFERING SIMPLIFIES BLENDING OF ATM AND LEGACY
LANS

First to provide integrated ATM Forum-compliant LAN Emulation (LANE)
products from the desktop to the backbone

Supports enVISN network architecture through multiple virtual LANs based on
LANE

MAYNARD, Mass., February 19, 1996 -- Using LAN emulation (LANE) products
announced today by Digital Equipment Corporation, network managers for the
first time have a single standards-compliant source for networks that
interconnect Ethernet and ATM LANs from the desktop to the backbone.

The new products build on Digital's expertise in LANE technology, enabling
customers to run existing applications over ATM (Asynchronous Transfer
Mode) with no modifications, whether the network comprises ATM products
from Digital or one of the many ATM vendors with whom Digital has
demonstrated interoperability. This means that network managers can easily
provide the performance advantages of ATM-attached hosts to users, for
example, of SUN workstations, Digital's 64-bit Alpha systems, or
Intel-based PCs.

The new products -- including adapters and enhancements for the
GIGAswitch/ATM and DECswitch 400 switches -- all support the ATM Forum
LANE V1.0 specification. They also feature advanced capabilities, such as
support for multiple emulated LANs and virtual LANs (VLANs) that fit into
Digital's enVISN network architecture and are based on industry-standard
emulated LANs. These VLANs are implemented via industry-standard switched
virtual circuits (SVCs) and give network managers the flexibility to link
logically on a common "express lane" users who are physically separated,
reducing both bandwidth problems and the cost of adds, moves, and
changes.

"Until now, network managers had limited choices in meeting business needs
with ATM. They could stay with industry standards, but use only the IP
protocol, or they could support multiple protocols but be locked into a
proprietary solution," said Peter Dunbeck, business manager for high
performance networks in Digital's Network Product Business. "The products
we announced today eliminate those tradeoffs. Their support for the ATM
Forum's LANE specification and desktop-to-backbone breadth give customers
a standards-compliant solution for interconnecting legacy Ethernet LANs
and applications, regardless of protocol, with ATM backbones."

New products and capabilities include:

     o  ATMworks 350L adapter for PCI-based systems.  Designed for
        cost-effective use of ATM at the desktop, the 155 Mbps
        ATMworks 350L supports the LANE Client specification and
        includes drivers for Microsoft Windows NT and Novell NetWare
        on Intel systems.  Prices for ATMworks 350L begin at a
        competitive $995.  Windows NT drivers will be available in
        March; Novell NetWare drivers will be available in May.

     o  ATMworks 950L adapter for S-bus systems.  Like the ATMworks
        350L, the 155 Mbps ATMworks 950L is designed for cost-
        effective use of ATM at the desktop.  It supports the LANE
        Client specification and includes drivers for SunOS and
        Solaris on Sun systems.  ATMworks 950L prices begin at a
        competitive $1,295.  Products will be available in March.

     o  Support for Novell NetWare and Microsoft Windows NT for the
        ATMworks 350 adapter, including LANE Client support on Intel
        and Alpha platforms, respectively.  Downline-loadable
        drivers are available free of charge on the Internet*
        immediately.

     o  New firmware for the GIGAswitch/ATM switch. Version 1.4
        firmware supports multiple emulated LANs, enables network
        managers to limit broadcast traffic on a LAN, and adds
        support for the UNI 3.1 specification (UNI 3.0 is already
        supported).  Downline-loadable firmware will be available
        free of charge on the Internet* within 60 days.

     o  Enhancements to the DECswitch 400 Ethernet-to-ATM switch.
        A new nine-slot chassis is available immediately at $6,850,
        offering more growth at a lower cost per port, than the
        five-slot chassis. Version 2.0 firmware provides LANE
        Client, support for multiple emulated and virtual LANs,
        support for VLAN membership based on data link layer and
        network layer, and IPX routing between VLANs. Downline-
        loadable firmware will be available within 90 days free of
        charge on the Internet*.  Also new are GUI-based network
        management applications for Microsoft Windows, Windows NT,
        and Windows 95 systems, available within 90 days at $995;
        and the ATM VLAN Manager that allows network managers to
        define VLANS, available within 90 days at $495.

GIGAswitch/ATM Key to Multivendor Geneva MAN Project

Through interoperability testing conducted at leading academic and
commercial laboratories, Digital has established that its LANE products
interoperate with products from most other leading ATM vendors, including
Adaptec, Efficient Networks, Xylan, and 3COM.

Multivendor interoperability has been key to the GIGAswitch/ ATM's role in
the MAN project in Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva MAN is an initiative to
strengthen Geneva's telecommunication infra- structure, especially for the
international community. It is an innovative ATM-based metropolitan area
network which will support new applications and working methods and set
the foundation for an information highway in Geneva. The current network
was established with the cooperation of the Swiss Tilicom PTT and selected
industry sponsors such as Digital, and developed by the Geneva MAN Task
Force under coordination of the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU).

"With a comprehensive strategy in the area of ATM switching and networking
solutions, Digital is among the eight pre-selected ATM equipment suppliers
of Geneva MAN," stated Luis Rodrigues, chairman of the Geneva MAN Task
Force, International Telecommunication Union. "We appreciate the
flexibility and the performance of Digital's GIGAswitch/ATM switches and
ATMworks 750 155 Mbps TURBOchannel adapters for Alpha platforms.
Integrated in a multivendor environment, Digital equipment is used to test
and demonstrate real business solutions and capabilities of the ATM
technology, such as workgroup videoconferencing, video-on-demand and real
time multimedia transfer, including high-speed Classical IP backbones."

Digital Equipment Corporation is the world's leader in open client/server
solutions from personal computing to integrated worldwide information
systems. Digital's scalable 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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