Agilent Technologies Firehunter/dialup Enables Proactive Measurement of Critical Parameters Affecting Access to Internet/Intranet Services.

Business Editors, Technology Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--September 6, 2000

Leading ServiceAssurance Solution Now Allows Service Providers and

DotComs to Monitor Each Step in an ISP Connection Sequence

from Standard Modems

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today introduces Agilent Firehunter/dialup, a comprehensive solution that enables ISPs, dotcoms and enterprises to extend Firehunter's Internet/intranet QoS monitoring capabilities to the sequence of steps that establish network connections via standard modems and telephone lines. Firehunter customers can now run regular tests measuring the quality of dialup access to the Internet using standard modems with Firehunter agents located anywhere in the world.

Firehunter/dialup is designed for organizations with businesscritical interests in ensuring that endusers have fast and reliable dialup network connections, such as:

      --  dotcoms, whose businesses depend on consumers accessing their
        sites via telephone connections;

      --  ISP wholesalers, who sell dialup infrastructure to other ISPs,
        governments and enterprises;

      --  ISP subcontractors, who purchase dialup infrastructure from
        wholesalers (e.g. to gain presence in a region where they have
        no infrastructure of their own); and

      --  enterprises, who must ensure highquality dialup access to
        corporate intranets for offsite employees and others.


      The Firehunter/dialup capability enables users to monitor critical
access parameters, including:

      --  Availability -- Does the ISP answer? How often is the line
        busy?

      --  ISP connection time -- How long does it take to receive a
        login prompt?

      --  Authentication time -- How long does it take to login? Was
        login successful?

      --  Network connection time -- How soon can a customer use the
        network after login?

      --  Total connection time -- How long does it take to get online?

      --  Disconnect status -- Does the connection terminate normally or
        prematurely?

Customers can configure Firehunter to run dialup tests at userdetermined intervals, and then to hang up or run any subsequent sequence of Firehunter tests, such as tests that monitor network health and ecommerce transactions. Such tests help users distinguish problems that originate within the dialup infrastructure from those that occur elsewhere in the network. These tests also identify service-performance frustration points experienced by end users -- frustration points that may lead to lost revenue, violated SLAs or dissatisfied employees.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a diversified technology company, resulting from HewlettPackard Company's plan to strategically realign itself into two fully independent companies. With approximately 43,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent Technologies is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. In fiscal year 1999, the businesses comprising Agilent, then a subsidiary of HP, had net revenue of more than $8.3 billion.

Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.