Cambio Networks Unveils Command 5.0 Enterprise Network Documentation System, a Breakthrough Solution for Documenting Infrastructure of Mission Critical Networks; Includes Enhanced Usability Through Windows NT/95 Client.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 1997--Cambio Networks, Inc., the pioneer of network infrastructure documentation solutions, today announced the release of its COMMAND 5.0 Enterprise Network Documentation System.

Designed to function as an essential corporate information system, COMMAND provides users with a complete client/server software system that allows network and business support professionals to create, maintain and access a centralized model of the entire network, its components and their relationships. COMMAND provides a foundation to facilitate and reduce network related costs for a variety of business needs including relocations, mergers and acquisitions, network outsourcing, backup and disaster recovery planning and tax reporting.

"COMMAND has evolved into a critical corporate business information system that is essential to any organization with a large distributed communications network," said Tammy Fennell, director of product marketing at Cambio Networks. "The increasing reliance organizations place on their networks underscores the requirement to document and maintain all network component information. COMMAND addresses this requirement by delivering an integrated documentation system that can be tightly coupled with the overall business information strategy."

Product Overview

The COMMAND 5.0 Network Documentation System is a set of integrated applications implemented in a 3-tier client/server software architecture with both HP and Sun UNIX client and server elements, and a newly developed Windows 95/NT client, providing enterprise-wide access to a centralized repository of network information. This repository is based on the COMMAND documentation model which resides within industry-standard database platforms supplied by Oracle, Sybase, or Informix.

Enhanced Usability

The COMMAND systems new Windows client increases management control over distributed network assets by providing valuable network information to technicians, HelpDesk personnel and other front-line support personnel who are often mobile and distributed. The new COMMAND for Windows client functions as a data entry, search and analysis tool designed to enhance usability and streamline data loading tasks.

The Windows-based interface provides a familiar environment for network operations staff to inventory, load and maintain network information within their responsibility areas. Users can remotely enter information associated with moves, adds, and changes when they occur, maintaining an accurate up-to-date view of their whole network.

The Windows client provides enhanced usability with familiar navigation aids such as tree controls, spreadsheet-like information displays, drag-and-drop editing and drop-down lists. It significantly reduces startup effort and costs by streamlining the task of loading network component information into the COMMAND system and also provides views and queries specifically designed to help users access and understand the complex network model from a variety of viewpoints.

Additional Features & Benefits

To enable network operations staff to comprehend the entire networks physical components, locations and relationships, the COMMAND Network Documentation System includes a network visualization feature. As a complement to the Windows client, the COMMAND graphical interface provides the ability to visualize the entire network, its geographical locations and the connectivity of its many components.

This feature dynamically links the network information captured by the Windows client to graphical models of network equipment and to scale network drawings and maps, so that graphical network views can be built on the fly.

COMMAND also features form and report building tools that enable users to customize methods of accessing and organizing the network information that has been recorded in the COMMAND database.

COMMAND includes a built-in COMMAND API Gateway that allows third-party network management and workflow products to communicate and exchange data with COMMAND and its database of network information. This allows COMMAND to interoperate with popular third-party products such as HP OpenView, SunNetManager, Cabletron Spectrum, and Remedy ARS among others.

New Documentation Paradigm

"The business requirements driving the need for network documentation include internal audits, effective disaster recovery, regulatory compliance, pressure to reduce network costs and network outsourcing," said John Morency, Director of the Network Industry Practice for The Registry Inc., a Newton, Mass.-based consulting and research firm. "Cambio's COMMAND Network Documentation System allows organizations to make decisions more efficiently by integrating tightly with other network management applications and providing an accounting of all physical attributes related to the network."

Pricing & Availability

Available immediately directly from Cambio Networks and its authorized distributors, COMMAND for Windows clients are priced starting at $2,000 per seat. Complete COMMAND 5.0 Network Documentation Systems are priced starting at $45,000. Current Cambio customers interested in upgrade pricing can contact their Cambio account manager. A comprehensive range of professional consulting, training and implementation services are also offered to support the COMMAND 5.0 Network Documentation System.

Cambio Networks, Inc.

Cambio Networks, headquartered in Santa Clara, is the leading supplier of client/server software solutions for network documentation. Network documentation consolidates, tracks and controls information about equipment, cables, circuits and their connectivity for LANs and WANs. The company offers a full line of consulting, training and implementation services.

For more information, see the Cambio Networks, Inc. Web site at URL: http://www.cambio.com .

CONTACT: Cambio Networks, Inc.

Don Harris, 408/567-1400

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or

Sommerhauser Public Relations 

Charles Sommerhauser, 510/417-5227

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