Comdisco Policy Management Solutions Give Critical Applications Priority, Improve Bandwidth Use on Networks.

Business Editors

ROSEMONT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2000

Ensuring a company's network gives priority to critical applications over the casual lunchtime Web surfer, Comdisco (NYSE: CDO) today launched a complete suite of policy management services to help companies prioritize applications and maximize bandwidth across their networks.

Comdisco's Lifecycle Policy Management Solutions help companies set, implement and manage network policies, continuously map policies to changing business needs, and apply policy management across the network infrastructure, including the Wide Area Network (WAN), the Local Area Network (LAN), servers and other network devices. Comdisco is introducing the solutions in phases, starting with policy management services for the WAN, and is planning to introduce services for network infrastructure devices over the next year. The services will make it easy for companies to implement policy management because Comdisco manages the initiative end-to-end.

"With new mission-critical applications like CRM extending across the enterprise, bandwidth demand is becoming a major issue," said Steve Allen, vice president of product development at Comdisco Network Services. "Buying bigger pipes is no longer the only option. We're offering a complete solution that gives customers the resources and expertise they need to successfully implement policies and get the most from existing network bandwidth."

"Successful policy management solutions set consistent policies that grow and change with the business," said John McConnell, principal analyst of McConnell Associates, an analyst and consulting firm specializing in the management issues associated with successful e-business deployments. "Comdisco's services can show companies the way by leveraging management staff, setting consistent corporate-wide policies and allowing regular reviews of policies to ensure they meet new business priorities."

WAN Services

For its WAN policy management services, Comdisco provides WAN traffic assessments --detailed reports of applications on the WAN, including bandwidth use and transaction response time for each application. The assessments identify bandwidth that can be freed up and reassigned to higher-priority applications. Customers can use the information to streamline data use and decrease the size of existing WAN links for immediate cost savings.

Comdisco also provides ongoing network monitoring and management of application bandwidth on the WAN. Combined with a Web-based reporting system, the service offers information that helps customers continuously improve WAN application performance. Comdisco's networking professionals can use the data to evaluate a customer's WAN traffic, determine gaps between policy and actual bandwidth use and modify systems or policies as needed.

As part of its complete range of WAN policy management services, Comdisco will use the PacketShaper line of bandwidth management equipment by Packeteer, Inc., a leading provider of Internet application infrastructure systems. Packeteer's PacketShaper devices provide the critical information needed to measure application bandwidth use and performance over the WAN.

About Comdisco

Comdisco (www.comdisco.com) provides global technology services to help its customers maximize technology functionality, predictability and availability, while freeing them from the complexity of managing their technology. The Rosemont, (IL) company offers a complete suite of information technology services including business continuity, Web-Availability (SM), network, and IT Control and Predictability Solutions (SM). Comdisco also offers equipment solutions to key vertical industries, including electronics, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and manufacturing. Through its Ventures division, Comdisco is providing equipment leasing and other financing and services to venture capital backed start-up companies. The company's revenue for the 12 months ended June 30, 2000 was $3.8 billion.

About Packeteer

Packeteer (NASDAQ: PKTR) is a leading provider of Internet application infrastructure systems designed to enable businesses and service providers to ensure the quality of experience for networked applications and application services. Packeteer's advanced PacketWise software, the foundation of the company's innovative PacketShaper and AppVantage systems, integrates application discovery, analysis, control and reporting technologies that are required for enhanced application-performance and proactive bandwidth management. AppCelera ICX is a standalone Internet appliance that employs advanced contentc ompression, transformation, and caching technologies to significantly accelerate the performance of mission-critical enterprise, eBusiness, and eCommerce web applications.

Packeteer's products are deployed today by leading Fortune 1000 companies and service providers worldwide through an established network of more than 100 VARs, distributors and system integrators in more than 50 countries. In addition, PacketWise software is licensed by major communications industry partners who integrate the software into specific strategic networking solutions. For more information, contact Packeteer at [phone], fax [phone]; or visit the Packeteer Web site at www.packeteer.com.