HP Internet Advisor Enhanced to Make Internetwork Testing Quicker and Easier; Windows 95 Interface Helps to Isolate Network Problems.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 1996--To make network problem-solving even quicker and easier for wide area network managers, equipment manufacturers and service providers, Hewlett-Packard Company today introduces an enhanced portable wide area network (WAN) analysis solution -- the HP Internet Advisor for WAN.

HP Internet Advisor 9.0 simplifies network testing by letting users see WAN problems at a glance using the Microsoft(R) Windows 95 user interface.

The HP Internet Advisor 9.0 is a full-featured WAN monitoring and analysis solution that allows users to monitor and troubleshoot networks and equipment quickly and easily. To simplify operation, the HP Internet Advisor 9.0 now launches all WAN tests from the Windows 95 graphical operating environment, which helps users isolate network problems quickly to improve the efficiency of WAN internetwork links.

"Deregulation of the telecommunications industry is making management of networks more complex than ever before, which means network personnel need tools to help them test many different network technologies," said David C. Camp, product marketing manager for HP's Communications Measurements Division (CMD). "Our enhancements to the HP Internet Advisor were designed to help make these tasks quick and easy."

WAN MONITOR IN WINDOWS

The WAN monitoring and analysis capability of the HP Internet Advisor 9.0 makes it easy for users to solve network problems, such as monitoring WAN bandwidth and quality of service, by providing useful diagnostic information instead of just raw data. For example, users can identify intermittent problems by viewing all WAN virtual circuits on a single screen; immediately identify network problems, such as slow response time or a congested circuit; and drill down to meaningful statistics and other critical information about the specific circuit.

Additional benefits to using a Windows-based WAN monitoring solution include the following: -0-

     -    Graphical statistics let users quickly identify network
          trends, optimize bandwidth and solve intermittent
          problems.

     -    Link efficiency can be easily understood by comparing
          throughput, or information rate, to network baseline
          information and committed information rate (CIR).

     -    Quick identification of all active virtual circuits for
          frame relay and X.25 with a drill-down capability
          allows users to analyze any virtual circuit in detail.

     -    Automatic detection and indication of individual
          frame-relay data-link connection identifier (DLCI)
          congestion, throughput and utilization lets users
          identify network bottlenecks.

     -    Preconfigured tests allow any user to analyze links
          automatically with one-button analysis of local area
          network (LAN) over WAN, protocol distribution and
          automatic decoding of all network traffic.

     -    Automatic detection and decoding of encapsulated LAN
          traffic and extensive display filtering allow only
          important internetwork traffic to be seen.

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The HP Internet Advisor 9.0 provides full monitoring and decoding of all major protocols over any channel; fractional channel; or full T1 or E1, including frame relay, X.25, HDLC, PPP (LCP), SDLC, SNAP, SNA, ISDN, asynchronous PPP, SMDS (T1 only), X.21, IPARS, DDCMP and async. All major interfaces are built in, allowing testing from 50 bps to 45 Mbps, including RS 232/V.24, V.35, RS-449, V.10/11, DDS-4 wire, ISDN BRI/PRI, X.21, T1, E1, DS3 and E3. LAN traffic encapsulated over the WAN also can be analyzed, including TCP/IP, Novell, DECnet, XNS, AppleTalk, 3Com and IBM SNA.

The HP Internet Advisor is the industry-leading, integrated data-communications test tool for WAN, LAN and asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) networks. The HP Internet Advisor helps network service providers and network managers install, maintain and support networks by allowing them to troubleshoot any segment of the network quickly and effortlessly.

U.S. PRICES, AVAILABILITY AND UPGRADES

The HP Internet Advisor for WAN begins at $14,000. Product availability is estimated at four weeks after receipt of order. Current Internet Advisor series owners may add the HP Internet Advisor 9.0 software with the HP J2899A+UA8 software upgrade and subscription service for $1,800 per year.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 105,200 employees and had revenue of $31.5 billion in its 1995 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

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Note to Editors; Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.

Windows is a U.S. trademark of Microsoft Corp.

Sales information may be obtained by calling 1-800-452-4844 ext. 1576. Please do NOT use editor-contact or corporate telephone numbers for sales information.

Information in this release applies specifically to products available in the United States. Product availability and specifications may vary in non-U.S. markets.

If you choose to review this item, your readers will receive the quickest response to their inquiries by mailing them to Hewlett-Packard Company, Direct Marketing Organization, P.O. Box 58059, MS51L-SJ, Santa Clara, Calif. 95051-8059.

Additional information on products from HP's Test & Measurement Organization can be obtained on the World Wide Web via http://www.tmo.hp.com.

CONTACTS: Hewlett-Packard Company

Joel Salzberg, 719/531-4298

[e-mail]

or

John McCreadie, 408/553-7342

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