Cray Communications Adds Addressless Routing To Its System Center Router to Automate End Station Address Management in Router Networks.

ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 19, 1994 -- Cray Communications, Inc. today introduced a new capability, called Addressless Routing , to its System Center router.

Addressless Routing eliminates the time and expense of individually assigning network addresses at each end station in the network because of network moves, adds, and changes. This simplifies the installation of new networks and streamlines the management of existing ones. Unlike conventional routing, it is protocol independent.

The Addressless Routing capability, which is not offered by any other vendor, is available at no charge on all new and existing System Center routers. In addition to Addressless Routing, System Center routers also support IP, OSI, DECnet Phase IV and Phase V, and IPX.

Combines best features of bridging and routing Addressless Routing combines the protocol independence and straightforward operation of bridging with the scalability, efficient use of wide-area links and full bandwidth management features of conventional routing. It also gives network administrators a way to route protocols that have no inherent routing layer, such as IBM's NetBEUI, the default protocol for Microsoft Corporation's Windows for Workgroups, and Digital Equipment Corporation's LAT.

In Addressless Routing, the network operator's only burden is to number each LAN port with a simple number from 1 to 255. The System Center routers do the rest, including locating other System Center routers on the network, locating end stations and dynamically assigning them addresses based on segment numbers and Media Access Control (MAC) address. MAC addresses are factory-assigned by suppliers of network interface cards, personal computers, and workstations. This combination of segment numbering, automatic route determination among System Centers, and compiling MAC addresses eliminates the need for manual end station addressing to cope with every move, add, or change. The addressless routed internetwork uses standard IS- IS protocol to update routing tables as these moves, adds, and changes take place.

Same services as conventional routers Addressless Routing provides the same services as conventional routers, including automatic routing of new flows, rapid self-healing, load balancing and routing around transmission problems.

"Addressless Routing simplifies network installation and operation," said Edwin Durham, Cray product marketing manager. "It's as simple as numbering the segments and plugging in the local- and wide area connections, without time-consuming end station address administration. Addressless Routing is a simpler alternative for anyone purchasing a router network today."

Durham said the simplicity of Addressless Routing is analogous to the simplicity of "roaming" with cellular phones. "If someone is going from one cellular zone to another the cellular technology knows the person's new location and automatically routes calls to the person's number in the new zone. Addressless routing handles moves, adds, and changes the same way."

Corporate background

Cray Communications supplies Local and Wide Area Network products to government and corporate customers, system integrators and resellers, computer manufacturers, and public network operators worldwide. Cray has over 50 sales operations on five continents. The company's U.S. operations are headquartered in Annapolis Junction, Maryland.

Cray Communications is a division of Cray Electronics Holdings, PLC, a worldwide communications and electronics company based in England, with 3,000 employees worldwide. In its latest fiscal year, which ended April 30, 1994, Cray Electronics recorded earnings of $40.3 million on sales of $418 million. Cray Electronics Holdings PLC is a publicly held company traded on the London Stock Exchange.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: A white paper describing addressless routing is available from Edgar E. Geithner, Geithner/McGowan, Inc. Phone: [phone]

CONTACT: Ed Durham, Cray Communications, 301/317-7336

              Liamar Capo-Toth, Cray Communications, 610/539-1183
                                or
              Edgar E. Geithner, Geithner/McGowan, Inc., 508/875-3821