Century LAN Analyzer First to View Cisco's Switched, Full-Duplex Trunk Links; New Decodes Provide Insight Into Cisco VLANs, Plus Microsoft and DEC Networks.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 1996--Shomiti Systems, Inc., a leader of the rapidly expanding Fast LAN management market (switched Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and other Fast LANs), today added three new protocol decode suites to the Century LAN Analyzer product family.

Century LAN Analyzer release 1.2 can decode and analyze packets containing Cisco's Inter-Switch Link (ISL), Microsoft's Server Message Block (SMB) and DECnet Phase IV protocols. The addition of these protocols, combined with Shomiti's unique Century Tap, enable network managers to analyze, monitor, and troubleshoot previously unviewable LANs.

The new Shomiti software enables network managers, for the first time, to view the full-duplex "trunk" links in Cisco System's-based networks implementing Virtual LANs. The ISL protocol is Cisco's method of conveying VLAN information between switches. Century LAN Analyzer 1.2, combined with the Century Tap, provides this visibility by tapping into full-duplex Fast Ethernet trunk links, capturing all the bi-directional traffic on these backbone links, and providing a full seven-layer decode and analysis.

"Cisco's Inter-Switch Link protocol is a key component of Cisco's IOS architecture," said Jayshree Ullal, vice president of marketing, Cisco Systems - Workgroup Business Unit. "ISL allows users of Cisco's switches and routers to create large, enterprise-wide Virtual LANs. Shomiti's ability to decode ISL, coupled with their ability to view traffic on full-duplex 10/100 Ethernet segments, provides real value to Cisco's customers in need of Fast LAN analysis."

According to John McConnell, president of McConnell Consulting, Inc., a Colorado-based market research firm, "Being able to view traffic from the ISL perspective gives network managers the understanding of VLAN traffic flows. This capability will make it easier to deploy and manage Cisco's VLANs. The Century LAN Analyzer will accelerate the adoption of VLANs by clarifying and simplifying the invisible and mysterious."

The enhanced Shomiti software can also decode Microsoft's expanding SMB (Server Message Block) protocol, which is the core protocol used by Microsoft for network file and print services, and Digital Equipment Corp.'s DECnet Phase IV.

Another new feature is the ability to automatically learn names from captured network traffic and update Shomiti's name table for easier network monitoring and troubleshooting. Computer names are routinely advertised on TCP/IP networks via Domain Name System (DNS) protocols and on NetWare networks via Service Advertising Protocols (SAP). Century LAN Analyzer 1.2 captures and decodes this information, and, at the request of the user, automatically updates the name table.

THE CENTURY FAMILY

The protocol decode enhancements contained in Century LAN Analyzer 1.2 complement the existing Century family of Fast LAN management products. Century LAN Analyzer is a scaleable system that can be configured as software-only or software plus hardware to create a monitoring and analysis system for a variety of budgets and management requirements. Based on the custom silicon design principles that have been at the heart of the explosive LAN switching industry, Shomiti Systems' "silicon-accelerated LAN management" provides 100% line-rate packet capture and seven-layer analysis of up to eight concurrent shared, switched or full-duplex 10/100 Ethernet segments. The Century family delivers an aggregate capture rate of over one million packets per second, even while performing complex filtering.

Shomiti Systems also provides the ability to monitor full-duplex switch-to-switch or switch-to-server connections with the Century Tap. Century Tap is a multi-port device that is inserted into full-duplex 10/100 Ethernet connections. It provides a "tap" by which a Century LAN Analyzer can capture and analyze both directions of a full-duplex link.

AVAILABILITY AND PRICING

Century LAN Analyzer 1.2 which contains the new protocol decodes, automatic name table creation facility, as well as new troubleshooting, test and simulation features (see accompanying release) is available immediately and is priced at $999. The product is available free for evaluation at Shomiti Systems' home page at http://www.shomiti.com. Century Media Module for 10/100 Ethernets is priced at $7,499. Century Tap is priced at $399.

ABOUT SHOMITI SYSTEMS

Shomiti Systems is a leader of the rapidly expanding Fast LAN management market. Shomiti Systems specializes in "silicon accelerated LAN management" products for effective analysis, monitoring, and management of Fast Ethernet, switched Ethernet, and other Fast LANs. Shomiti Systems' headquarters is located at 2099 Gateway Place, Suite 220, San Jose, CA, 95110. The company can be reached via email at [e-mail], by phone toll-free inside the US at (888) SHOMITI, outside the US at [phone] and by fax at [phone]. A fully-functional 30-day evaluation copy of the software may be downloaded from Shomiti's web site at http://www.shomiti.com. -0-

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Lori Lux, 408/732-2228

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