CompuServe Selects BSDI Internet Server Software for Intensive Internet Usage; BSDI Enables CompuServe Customers to Enjoy Seamless Internet Access.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 1996-- CompuServe, one of the largest and most popular global Internet service providers, has chosen BSDI Internet Server software for its outstanding performance and reliability backed by BSDI's technical support.

With over 900 corporate accounts and 4 million users worldwide, CompuServe requires a robust, trouble-free Internet platform that can withstand extremely heavy usage. CompuServe relies on BSDI-powered PC servers as an important piece of its infrastructure for critical Internet services, such as Domain Name Service (DNS) and Netnews.

"Our BSDI systems have been very reliable," said Mike Dickson, lead software engineer for CompuServe. "We've had BSDI-based machines with uptimes of nine months or more on a regular basis with very heavy use. Some of the BSDI-powered PC systems regularly handle 150 or more users."

Dickson cited BSDI's source code, its solid 32-bit operating system implementation and his confidence in the principals of the company as additional factors in convincing CompuServe to deploy the BSDI Internet platform. He also commended BSDI's engineering support team for taking care of problems quickly and efficiently.

"BSDI engineering is exemplary," said Dickson. "Anytime I've had a problem, they've been very responsive, often having a fix in a matter of hours rather than days. In many cases, there were very subtle problems caused by our heavy usage." Dickson said that CompuServe engineers have taken advantage of BSDI source code to develop a seamless interface for CompuServe customers to Internet services and CompuServe's own dial network.

"It's a big plus that we can use BSDI source code to integrate Internet services with the CompuServe environment," said Dickson. "BSDI has enabled us to do a better job of supporting our Internet applications."

"The integrated performance of BSDI Internet Server software is well known by the Internet technical community," said Rob Kolstad, Ph.D., President of BSDI. "We optimize and support BSDI software with the Internet in mind so that leading Internet access providers, such as CompuServe, can meet their customers' ever-increasing demand for Internet access. BSDI is committed to unleashing the power of today's PC architectures and delivering world-class technical support so that our customers can build and maintain the global Internet infrastructure."

The BSDI Internet Server software integrates BSDI's complete BSD/OS and its bulletproof TCP/IP networking code with PPP and SLIP, optimized 32-bit servers for global E-mail, FTP, Netnews, and World Wide Web (WWW), and EZ-config setup. The BSDI Internet Server in an entry level configuration is priced at $995 and includes 60 days of installation support and a money-back guarantee.

About CompuServe

CompuServe is an H&R Block (NYSE:HRB) company. Founded in 1955, H&R Block is a diversified services company and the world's leader in tax preparation and online information services. H&R Block Tax Services handled almost one in every seven returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service in 1995, serving 17.1 million taxpayers in more than 9,500 offices worldwide. CompuServe operates the most comprehensive online network in the world, providing services to more than 900 corporate accounts and more than 4 million users in more than 140 countries.

About Berkeley Software Design, Inc. (BSDI)

BSDI is the commercial supplier of the BSD Operating System, Networking and Internet technologies originally developed by the Computer Systems Research Group (CSRG) at the University of California, Berkeley. Leading computer scientists from the University of California's CSRG founded Berkeley Software Design, Inc. (BSDI) in 1991 to unleash the full commercial potential of the BSD Operating System. For more information, contact BSDI at 800 800-4273, 719/593-9445, via E-mail at [e-mail], or via the World Wide Web at http://www.bsdi.com. -0-

Note to Editors: BSDI, BSD/OS, and the BSDI logo are trademarks of Berkeley Software Design, Inc. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe Incorporated. All other products or names are trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: BSDI

Rob Kolstad Ph.D., 719/593-9445

E-mail: [e-mail]

or

CompuServe Incorporated

Jeff Shafer, 614/538-4632

or

Zaballos & Associates

Steven Beedle (for BSDI), 408/425-1581

E-mail: [e-mail]