CNT DELIVERS NEW STANDARD IN LEGACY EAI.

Computer Network Technology (Nasdaq: CMNT) (CNT(R)) has introduced Enterprise/Access 2000, the next generation of the company's EAI server that links legacy enterprise applications with new customer relationship management (CRM), e-commerce, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications. Whether these newly deployed systems are custom or packaged, like Siebel, Enterprise/Access extends their reach to a wide variety of host-based systems. Enterprise/Access 2000 embraces Java, and includes a new "zero coding" legacy systems modeling tool that sets a new standard in legacy EAI, an area that has typically involved significant programming investment.

Corporations deploying CRM, e-commerce, and ERP applications can't afford to wait for access to the business-critical information in their legacy systems. Once accessed, the information must be available in real time -- without the delays associated with many legacy access techniques. Enterprise/Access meets this important business requirement by rapidly deploying integrated systems, leveraging existing corporate information assets, protecting existing mission-critical applications, and minimizing expensive re-development and testing efforts to offer real-time legacy access.

"Zero Coding" -- Legacy Integration without the Headache

Time-to-market continues to be a driving factor in application integration projects. Enterprise/Access has always integrated legacy applications into newer systems without requiring any change to those legacy applications. Now, with Enterprise/Access 2000 and its new legacy systems modeling tool, the integration process has gotten even faster and easier. The new modeling tool enables customers to graphically configure access to information in legacy applications, exactly as required, without writing code. The Enterprise/Access 2000 approach to "zero coding" reduces or eliminates programming. The tool captures application screens; analyzes the interaction between the legacy system and the user; builds a model of the legacy application; and establishes all of the necessary data paths, transformations, and logic for integrating the legacy application with the new front-end application.

Flexible, Scalable Solution Delivers Improved Performance

Enterprise/Access 2000 leverages the flexibility of Java and Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB). Built entirely in Java, this updated version has a more flexible, dynamic architecture that offers significant performance improvements over more traditional binary C and C++ -based solutions. The CNT product allows customers to generate EJBs, which customers can deploy with any application servers that support the EJB specification. Enterprise/Access 2000 also adds features for improved scalability and reliability, including enhanced load balancing capabilities for distributing transactions among multiple servers and enhanced fault tolerance to support 24 x 7 operations.

"With Enterprise/Access 2000, we have taken the most scalable legacy integration solution and made it even better, setting new standards in rapid deployment, ease-of-use, and real-time legacy access," said Scott Opitz, vice president of marketing for the Enterprise Integration Solutions Division of CNT. "The crucial task of Web-enabling or customer-enabling enterprise applications should not mean re-writing either the legacy or enterprise applications. Enterprise/Access 2000 lets each component keep its identity while acting as an intelligent server between them. Our customers and partners gain a competitive advantage by quickly developing and deploying new applications that tap into legacy systems. That's part of the reason that industry leaders such as Siebel and Sun/NetDynamics, along with systems integrators like Deloitte Consulting, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Cap Gemini offer Enterprise/Access as their legacy access solution."

Platforms and Availability

Enterprise/Access is available for a wide variety of platforms, including Hewlett-Packard HP-UX, IBM AIX, Sun Solaris, and Microsoft Windows NT. Enterprise/Access 2000 will ship in September 1999.

About Computer Network Technology (CNT)

Computer Network Technology, based in Minneapolis, Minn., is a global company providing high-performance Enterprise Application Integration tools, Storage Area Networking solutions, and world-class support services. The company's Enterprise/Access and Enterprise/Connect products integrate legacy applications with frameworks, packaged applications, or new environments, while also providing mainframe connectivity. For more information, visit CNT's web site at http://www.cnt.com or call 800-638-8324 (U.S.) or 612-797-6000 (International).