Apple Ships Free Internet Domain Name Server, Unveils Plans for MacDNS 2.0

CUPERTINO, California--May 1, 1996--Responding to the webmaster community,
Larry Tesler, vice president of Internet platforms at Apple Computer,
Inc., announced yesterday at Internet World, San Jose that a new version
of Apple's domain name server software, MacDNS 1.0.2, is available for
free on the Apple Web site at http://cybertech.apple.com. The new MacDNS
1.0.2 provides domain name services on any Mac OS Internet server,
enabling domain names to be translated into network IP addresses and
vice-versa. In addition, Apple outlined its plans for the upcoming MacDNS
2.0, which is expected to include secondary name server capabilities and
support recursive name resolution and subdomain delegation.

MacDNS provides core services that free Web site visitors from having to
memorize the IP address of the hosts they want to access. MacDNS also
provides the traditional ease-of-use and reliability that Apple customers
expect, making DNS setup and administration simple.

"Apple is fortunate to enjoy healthy communication with our talented
webmaster community. When our Mac OS webmasters urged Apple to make MacDNS
accessible through additional channels, we listened and responded to their
needs by making MacDNS 1.0.2 available for everyone on our Web site," said
Tesler.

Apple Internet Server customers using MacDNS 1.0 or 1.0.1 will receive more
than 10 important customer-requested reliability and functionality
enhancements with MacDNS 1.0.2.

MacDNS 1.0.2 Features

MacDNS' easy-to-use user interface makes configuration rapid and
straightforward. It is simple to assign names and IP address information
for host machines as well as to create host "aliases" (multiple names
which map to the same IP address) and set up mail exchanger information.
MacDNS acts as a primary DNS server for some or all domains in an entire
Web site. An ISP need not be consulted for any new hosts that are
installed at that site.

Customers have the option to create redundant arrays of independent
computers (RAICs) through MacDNS round-robin load balancing. By reducing
the load on each individual host, customers are able to improve
performance of a heavily accessed Web site with smaller incremental
expense. MacDNS decreases network traffic on the connection to the
Internet by caching information about remote hosts on the Internet.

MacDNS also includes a sophisticated mechanism for forward and reverse
information synchronization. This mechanism automatically handles the
maintenance of reverse "in-addr.arpa" domains, based on the forward domain
information. Most DNS servers require two separate zone files, and the
administrator must keep them synchronized manually. MacDNS imports and
exports data files in standard DNS zone format, allowing customers to
import existing host entries from UNIX-based DNS servers.

Availability and Distribution

MacDNS is available online at http://cybertech.apple.com/ today under the
terms of a no-fee license agreement. MacDNS will continue to ship as a
standard component of the Apple Internet Server Solution for the World
Wide Web, Apple's inexpensive, easy-to-use combination of Web server
hardware and software.

System Requirements For best performance, Apple recommends that customers
upgrade to Macintosh System 7.5.3 and Open Transport 1.1. The minimum
recommended configuration is Macintosh System 7.5.1 and MacTCP 2.0.6.
MacDNS requires 1.5 MB available RAM and less than a megabyte of hard disk
space.

Support

Apple encourages MacDNS customers to participate in the "macdns-users"
mailing list. To join the "macdns-users" mailing list, follow the
instructions outlined in the MacDNS FAQ at http://cybertech.apple.com/.

MacDNS 2.0 Unveiled Apple expects to announce the availability of MacDNS
2.0 this fall. It is planned to include secondary name server capabilities
and support recursive name resolution and subdomain delegation. Pricing
for MacDNS 2.0 has not been determined.

MacDNS 2.0 is expected to be accelerated (or native) for PowerPC processors
and fully Open Transport native. It is also expected to be able to act as
a secondary server, and automatically import zone information from another
(primary) DNS server for a given domain. This would provide webmasters the
ability to have multiple secondary MacDNS servers automatically updating
their zone information from the primary server. MacDNS 2.0 plans include
the ability to support subdomain delegation, which would allow
administrators of large domains to break up their domains and delegate
responsibility for a subdomain to someone else. By supporting recursive
name resolution, MacDNS 2.0 would eliminate the need for a "parent server"
in order to resolve names outside of the local domain.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry
and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on
easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, personal
digital assistants and Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino,
California, Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions,
products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer,
entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in over
140 countries.

If you are considering the purchase of an Apple product and would like to
have product information faxed to you, please call 1-800-462-4396 in the
U.S. or 1-800-263-3394 in Canada. If you do not have a fax machine or
would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, please call
1-800-538-9696. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local
Apple representatives for information.

Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/
 
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