MERIDIAN DATA INTRODUCES FIRST SOFTWARE SOLUTION ENABLING BOTH CD RECORDING
AND SHARING OVER NOVELL NETWORKS

New Universal Windows-Based Client Applications Enable Cross-Platform CD
Access for NetWare and Windows NT Networks

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (January 29, 1996) -- Meridian Data, Inc.
(NASDAQ/NMS: MDCD) today introduced CD NET V1.0 FOR NETWARE and CD
NETRECORD V1.0 FOR NETWARE, the first software products that together
enable both transparent CD sharing and recording over Novell NetWare"
networks. The software enables multiuser simultaneous access to CD ROMs
and provides advanced compact disc services such as recording for network
administrators. The new functionality addresses the information technology
needs of corporations, institutions and government agencies that rely on
CD ROM-based networks.

"Since the company was founded in 1986, Meridian Data has helped shape the
CD ROM industry through its breakthrough technology, including the
introduction of the first networked CD-Recordable system," said Gianluca
Rattazzi, president and chief executive officer of Meridian Data. "CD
Net's read/write functionality is the culmination of Meridian's expertise
in CD ROM technology and addresses today's need for CD management tools
for networks."

"We're pleased that Meridian Data is delivering this increased CD ROM
functionality for NetWare, which is the backbone of the corporate
network," said Richard King, senior vice president and general manager of
SOHO network services at Novell. "The ability to easily store, manage and
share CD-based information--integrated with NetWare Directory
Services--adds significant application value for system administrators and
network users. We look forward to working with Meridian on solutions which
benefit the large installed base of NetWare users."

CD Net for NetWare

Implemented as a NetWare Loadable Module (NLM), CD Net for NetWare installs
on an existing Novell 3.12 or 4.1 file server with attached CD ROM drives.
It supports an unlimited number of CD ROM drives per server. Through its
flexible volume grouping feature, CD Net allows administrators to map
numerous CDs under one or more Windows drive letters, eliminating the
current one-CD-per-drive-letter limitation. Its powerful CD Manager CD ROM
administrative tools provide a single management control point--across
multiple servers--for user security, application launching and automatic
disc tracking, as CDs are moved among drives and servers.

With Meridian's CD USER universal client interface, network users can
simultaneously access CDs through a familiar Windows-native interface.
Sharing titles eliminates the requirement to retrofit every PC with CD ROM
drives and optimizes CD asset control.

The administrator can easily associate CD content (files) with its
application (program). A typical association might be a specialized
database (i.e., legal, education, healthcare, etc.) and its specific
search engine. Once set up, each title is represented as a desktop icon on
the network user's desktop. Viewed as a subdirectory under a designated
drive letter, the CD is launched by simply double-clicking on the icon.
This unique feature increases user productivity by eliminating non-trivial
application set up, operational errors and lost time.

Standard network operating system vendors do not include features such as
Meridian's automated CD ROM application launcher. The new CD Manager and
CD User client applications provide common resource management tools for
mixed Novell NetWare and Microsoft Windows NT environments--an industry
first.

CD NetRecord for NetWare

Implemented as an NLM, CD NetRecord installs on an existing Novell 3.12 or
4.1 file server with an attached CD-Recordable (CD-R) drive. CD
NetRecord--the first NLM to provide automatic, reliable compact disc
creation--enables a network administrator to easily store information on
CD. The networked CD-R peripheral device is viewed like any other drive
letter, to which selected directories and files are dragged- and-dropped
to create a disc.

CD NetRecord transparently creates a single-session CD-R disc in ISO9660
format. No special recording application or training are required to make
industry-standard CDs. Using a hard disk drive as cache, a full 650MB CD
ROM can be recorded in a few minutes. Designed to work with
Hewlett-Packard's SureStore CD-Writer 4020i drive and compatibles, CD
NetRecord also supports the Kodak disc transporter, facilitating short-run
unattended CD ROM production. This unprecedented NetWare-based capability
allows an administrator to store up to 50 gigabytes of CD information,
which can then be shared over the network or distributed to remote sites.

"About ten percent of CD ROM titles are published in-house for backup and
distribution of proprietary information, such as financial records," said
Rattazzi. "With easier-to-use, lower-cost CD-R solutions like CD
NetRecord, we expect that percentage to double within the next year."

Pricing and Availability

CD Net for NetWare is available immediately from leading distributors and
value-added resellers. The CD NetRecord product begins shipping in
approximately 30 days. The products are Novell-certified and compatible
with NetWare 3.12 and 4.1 (or higher) file servers.

CD Net for NetWare is licensed on a per-server basis and has a starting
suggested list price (U.S.) of $795 for a 25 concurrent-user license, with
initial-purchase options available for 50-user and unlimited- user
licenses at $995 and $1,495, respectively.

CD NetRecord requires the installation of the base CD Net for NetWare and
is priced at $995 per server for an unlimited-user license.

To facilitate easy integration into Novell file servers, Meridian also
offers CD NETROM SCSI CD ROM subsystems. The storage modules include 4, 7
or 14 high-performance 4x- or 6x-speed CD ROM drives per subsystem,
complete with ISA or EISA host adapter card, power supply, cabling and
cabinetry.

About Meridian Data

Founded in 1986, Meridian Data is a leading provider of CD networking
software and servers. Its high-productivity CD solutions are widely
employed throughout Fortune 500 and government businesses.

Meridian is headquartered in Scotts Valley, Calif., and maintains offices
in Lawrenceville, N.J., Herndon, Va., Atlanta, Ga., Naperville, Ill., and
London, England. The company's products are available through leading
distributors and value-added resellers.

Contact: Rich Krueger
Meridian Data, Inc.
408/438-3100

Contact: Laurel Redden/Jeannie Barbieri-Low
The Hoffman Agency
408/286-2611
 
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