Avantas Networks Introduces Industry's Smallest and Widest-Ranging Optical Performance Management Unit for the Network Edge.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 30, 2001

Network Guardian G2(TM) and Visual Guardian(TM) EMS are the First to

Monitor DS0 to OC-192 for Datacom and Telecom On One Platform

With the introduction of the Avantas Network Guardian G2(TM), service providers now have the smallest and widest-ranging optical performance management unit available for the network edge, and the first with a datacom and telecom platform in one package. The Network Guardian G2 is also the first product of its kind to pack a monitoring platform from DS0 to OC-192 into a small 2U form factor, enhancing Quality of Service Assurance with direct visibility where most problems arise -- at collocate handoff sites, at remote POPs, or at sensitive CPE locations. Used in conjunction with the Avantas Visual Guardian(TM) Element Management System (EMS), service providers can monitor multiple G2s at strategic network points. This allows service providers to expand pricing opportunities for highly sensitive service level agreements (SLAs) by guaranteeing differentiated services at varying price levels.

The G2 can be deployed as a Universal Network Probe (UNP) for core as well as edge customer networks. Currently, testing requires that traffic be backhauled from the edge to the core, taking up precious bandwidth and constraining the use of remote test equipment at the core of the network. The G2's UNP approach provides all the required network interfaces for both datacom and telecom within a single 2U, 19" rack-mount device. Easily deployable throughout the most vulnerable points in the network (collocation handoffs, remote POPs, and CPE locations), the Guardian G2 provides monitoring coverage at crucial network points where network degradations can occur.

"From the beginning, Avantas Networks has taken a network approach to performance management," explained Giovanni Forte, vice president of product management, Avantas Networks. "With products like the Network Guardian G2 and the Visual Guardian EMS, we alert network managers to sensitive network degenerations as they occur, allowing the high level vigilance a network requires to protect SLAs and Quality of Service."

Along with testing and monitoring interfaces from DS0 to OC-192/STM-64, DWDM, the interfaces include 10/100Base TX and Gigabit Ethernet. With embedded support for multi-layer protocol testing, the G2 provides verification of TDM/PDH, SONET/SDH, ATM, and TCP/IP based services, a combination of functionality integration currently unparalleled in the industry.

With the integration of the Avantas Networks Visual Guardian Element Management System (EMS), a distributed fleet of G2 probes can be remotely managed through a secure encrypted management protocol. Through the Visual Guardian's multi-level topology maps, iconic device representations, and intuitive test setup panels, the G2 simplifies the task of service assurance for Network Operations Center (NOC) personnel. The Visual Guardian also allows NOC operators to seamlessly integrate test access to optical network elements through the use of open interfaces making this one of the most flexible element management systems available today. By seamlessly integrating with existing Operations Support Systems (OSS), the Visual Guardian allows interaction with ongoing processes such as Service Activation, Fault Management and Customer Care.

Avantas Networks will be demonstrating the Network Guardian G2 and the Visual Guardian EMS at SuperComm in Atlanta, Georgia World Congress Center Booth No. 4669, Hall E.

About Avantas Networks

Based in Montreal, Canada, Avantas Networks designs and markets leading-edge telecom/datacom performance management tools for global service providers and network equipment manufacturers. The Avantas Networks product family focuses on the testing and quality of service assurance of SONET/SDH, DWDM and datacom networks.

Avantas Networks is a privately-held company that has received funding from leading tier one venture capital firms and most recently JDS Uniphase.

For more information about Avantas Networks, please visit our website at www.Avantas.com.

Note to Editors: Packet Blazer(TM), STG(TM)Series, Network Guardian(TM), and Visual Guardian(TM)are trademarks of Avantas Networks Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.