Ascend Introduces First Management Platform Designed Specifically to Handle Rapidly Growing Dial Networks; NetClarity provides MegaPOP-class management to internetworks with tens of thousands of devices.

AlAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 1997--Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND) today introduced NetClarity, the first solution that manages dial environments as effectively and comprehensively as conventional LANs. NetClarity integrates the Network Access Switch (NAS) into a comprehensive management solution that includes routers and other legacy network equipment. It moves beyond the element-by-element limitations of traditional management applications by grouping multiple devices into logical entities. Service providers and corporate IT departments alike can now manage at the logical group level via an easy-to-use graphical interface. (Editor's Note: Ascend will be demonstrating NetClarity at SuperComm `97, New Orleans, June 3-5. Please stop by booth number 2003.)

"As the number of access ports in today's MegaPOPs and corporate networks explodes, dial access management becomes a larger piece of the management scheme," said Ravi Gulati, general manager of Ascend's Network Management Division. "NetClarity is the first comprehensive management solution to emphasize the access side as much as the backbone. Service providers and global enterprises finally have a management solution that meets the scalability requirements of networks that have seen an order-of-magnitude increase in access-port densities."

NetClarity addresses the growth in access ports by providing powerful management tools for Ascend's industry-leading line of MAX, Pipeline and GRF product families. NetClarity further extends its reach by supporting multi-vendor routers and switches. For all of the elements supported, it provides a comprehensive suite of tools that address key network issues, such as performance, configuration, fault management and capacity planning.

The Management Bottleneck

Despite standardization efforts by the industry during the past decade, multi-vendor network management of big internetworks remains elusive. Multiple management applications are still required to handle all the different elements of the network. The views these various applications provide are not reconciled, and there is no common data repository for historical analysis or capacity planning.

NetClarity models the complex relationships among all the network elements; across the LAN and the WAN. This allows network administrators to see the entire enterprise at a glance and implement actions based on group definitions and group needs. It correlates and aggregates the activities of all network elements into logical entities, such as the "Chicago POP" or "Seattle Branch Office." Its fault monitoring and diagnostics tools can then troubleshoot a logical network connection end-to-end instead of device by device.

"When networks have 20 to 30 routers you can use a device by device approach, but some of today's ISP and large corporate networks have thousands of routers and modems to manage," said Gulati. "This presents a very different problem from the ones we used to face when 300 routers defined an extremely large network. Today's and tomorrow's networks must be managed on an aggregate basis with a much higher level of automation."

An alarm-correlation engine in NetClarity tracks network events and determines when they are combining to create chronic problems that need attention. Error thresholds can be set by the administrator so that inconsequential error messages get ignored.

Multi-Device, Multi-Vendor, Enterprise-Wide Management

Most network failures stem from faulty device configuration. NetClarity provides a number of features that ease the configuration process and help to prevent the network administrator from making mistakes.

NetClarity is designed to work with Ascend MAX, Pipeline, and GRF product families, third-party switches, and multi-vendor legacy router equipment. Devices can be configured in groups, rather than individually or port by port. The operating software on various network devices can be upgraded remotely, with the upgrades scheduled to take place during off-peak hours. NetClarity checks to make sure that the right software was sent to a particular device, and then tests the device to make sure that the upgraded software was activated.

"This new level of multi-device-type, multi-vendor, multi-service configuration management could eliminate a significant majority of the human errors that are introduced when applying the current generation of management tools," said Gulati.

Visibility Beyond Layer 3

Ascend's product family incorporates the functionality of a multiplexer, switch, router, and terminal server into a single, integrated device. While conventional management systems focus on router capabilities at the IP layer (Layer 3), this model is inadequate for addressing the diverse management requirements of Ascend products.

NetClarity fills this gap in network management technologies by providing support for Layer 1, Layer 2 and Layer 3. Layer 1 support and discovery enables administrators to manage physical interfaces (e.g., T1, DS1, E1, ISDN, xDSL) and see what is happening at the point of access to the network. Layer 2 mapping addresses the virtual network level and helps administrators manage transmission services (e.g., Frame Relay, ATM) and internetworking devices (e.g., switches, hubs).

This visibility allows network administrators to monitor the true performance of WAN connections for the first time. For example, Frame Relay connections that appear to be operating at 100 percent of a company's Committed Information Rate (CIR) may in fact be producing an effective throughput that is only 10 percent of CIR because data dropped by the Frame Relay network is constantly being rebroadcast. Graphical performance output from NetClarity can reveal such discrepancies.

"By supporting the major functions of all three layers, NetClarity is providing ISPs and business customers with an unprecedented view of the complex relationships among the devices and services that make up their networks," said industry analyst, Greg Howard of Infonetics Research, Inc. "Service providers and corporate IT departments finally have the tools they need to monitor and maximize performance across a range of dial-up, ISDN, Frame Relay, leased-line, and xDSL access methods."

NetClarity is Web enabled, providing secure access to historical performance and capacity reports. Any authorized user with a Web browser can check overall POP/network utilization and identify trends in the percentage use of network resources.

Pricing and Availability

Products will be commercially available in July. The NetClarity console is available for the following platforms:

HP OpenView 4.1 (on HP UX 10.x and Solaris 2.5)   $4,995
Stand-alone for Solaris 2.5                       $2,995
Stand-alone for Windows NT 4.0                    $995

An Advanced Agent for SNMP support is available on a
per-device basis as follows:

Pipeline 50 & 75                                  $25
Pipeline 130                                      $49
MAX 200Plus                                       $129
MAX 1800                                          $395
MAX 2000 series                                   $550
MAX 4000 series                                   $995
MAX TNT                                           $3,995
GRF series                                        $4,995

About Ascend Communications

Ascend Communications, Inc. is a leading, worldwide provider of remote networking solutions for corporate central sites, Internet Service Providers' points of presence, remote offices, mobile workers and telecommuters. Ascend develops, manufactures, markets, sells and supports products that utilize bandwidth on demand to extend existing corporate networks for applications such as remote LAN access, Internet access, telecommuting, SOHO connectivity and videoconferencing/multimedia access. Detailed information on Ascend products, news announcements, seminars, service and support is available on Ascend's home page at the World Wide Web site http://www.ascend.com .

Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, California 94502. Phone: 800/ASCEND4; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail].

CONTACT: Gallagher PR

Shannon Malliet, 510/747-2254

[e-mail]