CrossComm completes interoperability tests at University of New Hampshire labs.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 16, 1995--CrossComm Corp. (NASDAQ/XCOM) announced Monday that its state-of-the-art XL Release 3, OSPF Version 2 software for its XL line of integrated hub/routers has completed multivendor interoperability testing at the University of New Hampshire's InterOperability Lab in Durham.

Tests were conducted for the industry standard OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) internetworking communications software and for the Token Ring local area network standard on the XL backbone and integrated remote office routers.

The Laboratory's OSPF testing was executed by the IP/Routing Consortium which includes CrossComm and other major networking vendors such as 3Com and Bay Networks.

William Lenharth, IP/Routing Consorium manager, explained, "These tests assist the internetworking vendor community to verify the interoperability of their products. This means that vendor companies, such as CrossComm, which participate in extensive testing procedures at the Lab, are providing their customers an extra measure of quality assurance."

Said Margot Sevigny, CrossComm senior quality engineer, "The Consortium has an excellent program aimed at making customers' multivendor networks truly interoperable. We are extremely pleased with our performance and with the information we have obtained from these tests."

Another viewpoint about the significance of these tests comes from an industry consultant. Rob Coltun, president of Rainbow Bridge Communications in Rockville, Md., said, "These tests determine if the protocol is functionally correct. These tests are most complete and indicate functional reliability."

Coltun has licensed his OSPF software to CrossComm, among other companies worldwide. His software was tested in the InterOperability Lab. Coltun, an authority in the OSPF field, is one of the pioneers in OSPF software.

Testing Details

A test suite of nearly 70 conformance style tests and a test network with several routers has been constructed to allow interoperability testing.

OSPF testing involved CrossComm's XL equipment interoperating with other network vendors' in meshed networks over Ethernet and Token Ring media. OSPF provides the shortest path through the network required for routing data across networks involving routers from different vendors.

The Lab's testing on CrossComm's XL products on the Token Ring Protocol included extensive tests for the MAC (Media Access Control) Layer of the protocol stack. Interoperability checks were made in conformance to the IEEE 802.5 standard.

Specifically, Token Ring jitter tests were conducted to ensure signal quality and MAC Layer tests were conducted to determine correct station operation of the XL IBN (Remote Office Router).

About the Consortium

The IP/Routing Consortium, under whose auspices the CrossComm tests were conducted, is one of several testing groups at the University's InterOperability Lab. It was formed to focus efforts in the general area of the Internet Protocol with special emphasis on routing and specifically the OSPF Protocol.

Participating companies in the IP/Routing Consortium include CrossComm Cabletron Systems, 3Com, Lightstream, Network Systems, NetEdge, Penril Datability Networks, Proteon, Bay Networks, and Xyplex.

About CrossComm

Marlborough-based CrossComm Corp. is a leading worldwide provider of fail-safe integrated networking solutions (a broad family of integrated networking platforms, multiprotocol software, network management software, and remote and on-site service.)

CrossComm's products and services help companies implement client server-based networking, while protecting mission critical network traffic, building and maintaining reliable corporate-wide networks, and reducing costs of maintenance and support. -0- All CrossComm products herein are trademarked by CrossComm Corp. All other non-CrossComm product names are trademarked by their respective companies.

CONTACT: CrossComm Corp., Marlborough

Ben Harrison, 508/229-5315