DPI introduces industry's first print server to support NetWare Directory Services; True enterprise-wide printing now a reality.

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 1995--In a move to provide users with true enterprise-wide printing, DPI (Digital Products Inc.) announces NETPrint 1000NDS, a multi-protocol print server that supports printing under both NetWare Directory Services and Bindery Emulation Mode.

NETPrint 1000NDS allows users to print anywhere on their Ethernet network and removes common security problems associated with bindery emulation.

NETPrint 1000NDS was developed using Novell Embedded Systems Technology (NEST). As an original NEST partner, DPI has integrated the NEST architecture into its NETPrint 1000 family of print servers, making native NetWare 4 services such as NetWare Directory Services (NDS), Bindery emulation and encrypted login easily available to its users.

"DPI was able to get to market so quickly with its NDS print server implementation because of our participation in the NEST program," said Bill Peisel, chief technology officer for DPI. "We were able to embed native NetWare code into our servers, giving our users the combined power of NetWare 4 and DPI's advanced print server technology. As an example, NDS' vastly improved security is now a standard feature in NETPrint 1000NDS."

Daryl McBride, vice president and general manager of Novell's Extended Networks Division, said, "The NETPrint family of print servers provides NetWare users with a new class of products that are easy-to-install, use, and maintain. By porting NEST to the NETPrint architecture, users have a printing solution that is tightly integrated with NetWare 4 services."

Users running earlier versions of NetWare, versions 2 and 3, are limited to printing in bindery emulation mode that gives them access only to those print services available on the file server they are logged onto. With the availability of NetWare 4 with NDS, all print services on the network become available to users, irrespective of the file servers users are logged onto.

"The network administrator is the big winner in our NDS implementation," said Peisel. "Network administrators can now conduct printing administration network-wide instead of on a server-to-server basis."

NETPrint 1000NDS also supports AppleTalk or TCP/IP. TCP/IP provides printing for systems with UNIX lpd (line printer daemon) including SUN (Solaris 1.1, 2.0), DEC (Ultrix 4.3), HP-UX and IBM-AIX UNIX systems, SCO and Alpha OSF, Windows NT 3.5, LAN Server 4.0 and, with third-party software, Windows for Workgroups. Software is supplied for AT&T (System V release 4) compatible systems. NETPrint's Intelligent Filters and Queues, for UNIX, automatically formats print jobs and routes them to the appropriate printer.

NETPrint provides maximum flexibility through its independent protocol support and Flash ROM. Network administrators can independently install and manage each protocol. If one protocol is down, the other protocols may continue to print. NETPrint includes 1MB of Flash ROM that allows network administrators to centrally perform product and network updates on multiple NETPrints simultaneously.

Installation is easy. NETPrint's simple three-step manual is printed on the bottom of the unit and requires no software. The two-status LED on the top of the unit makes operation easy. Specific blinking patterns and an operations guide, printed next to the LED, tell users the status of the print jobs, print server, and printer at a glance. If a file server goes down, NETPrint will automatically reattach itself. In addition, NETPrint comes with a Windows-based management/diagnostic utility, which enables network administrators to centrally manage, turn protocols on and off, test printer ports, troubleshoot and reboot all connected NETPrints from their PC.

NETPrint 1000NDS provides access to two parallel and one serial/parallel prints. It supports both 10BaseT and 10Base2 Ethernet networks, two 1284 bi-directional parallel ports and a UNIPORT. The UNIPORT supports a serial printer or, with the addition of a $60 UNIPORT-OUT adapter, another parallel printer.

DPI provides a six-year warranty for all NETPrints. In addition, the company's unique "Spare-in-the-Air" program guarantees a replacement unit overnight if, for any reason, NETPrint fails during the first 90 days. All DPI customers have unlimited access to toll-free technical phone support.

NETPrint 1000NDS is $495 and is available immediately through DPI's worldwide network of resellers and distributors including Ingram Micro and Tech Data.

DPI, the industry leader in network printing and peripheral sharing technology, supports more than one million users worldwide. For networks, DPI offers NETPrint and JETXPrint, high speed print servers for Novell, DEC, Apple, Banyan and UNIX networks. PrintDirector, a family of automatic printer sharing devices is offered for the non-networked market. The privately held company is located at 411 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, Mass. 02154, 617/647-1234.

CONTACT: Digital Products Inc.

Marilyn Peterson, 617/647-1234

or

Network Associates

Sherri Walkenhorst, 801/373-7888