IBM DIRECTORIES MAKE NETWORKED COMPUTING SIMPLER; Announces Single Sign-On Product and Supports Internet Standards.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 1996--Advancing its vision of networked computing, IBM today announced its direction for providing users with a single point of entry to all their computing resources, while making it easier for administrators to set up and maintain networks.

In a company-wide project, IBM and its related companies, including Lotus Development Corporation and Transarc Corporation, have announced they will support the LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) Internet standard to enable a consistent way to manage user access to network resources, such as information, applications and systems.

IBM also announced today its new Single Sign-On product that automatically grants users access to all systems they are authorized to use with just one password, as well as the availability of its Internet standard-based firewall which can connect separate networks over the Internet to create "virtual private networks." These announcements were made at the Burton Group Conference held this week in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"IBM's goal remains to make life easier for users, administrators and developers," said Phyllis Byrne, vice president of Distributed Systems Services in IBM's Networking Software Division. "IBM can help end-users achieve seamless access to resources, wherever they're located, through integration with the Internet. We will simplify administration through a single point of management. And we'll provide developers with a standard that will ease their job of writing applications."

Byrne continued, "Customers must be able to locate information, applications, machines and people across many different computer systems. They need a 'meta-directory' system where they can (1) easily and securely share information between directories and (2) manage, store and synchronize the information across a variety of directories. Solving the global directory issue requires us to integrate with the major directories in use today."

IBM is using LDAP, combined with complementary technologies such as Lotus Notes(b) and Soft-Switch offerings, to accomplish integration with the major directories in use today, such as DCE, X.500 and Lotus Notes.

By exploiting the unique strengths of each development partner in IBM to implement this meta-directory, IBM is solving three key business challenges typically associated with distributed computing: the high cost of ownership, improved ease of use, and customer choice in IT solutions. Together, these companies are providing the directory interoperability, single point of management and administration, directory synchronization and storage, and the ease of use enhancements to solve these concerns.

IBM NEW PRODUCT OFFERINGS

As the next major step in its directory efforts, IBM will provide interoperability via LDAP across its operating systems which include OS/2(a), AIX(a) and MVS, setting the stage for users to enter just one request to find whatever information they need wherever it may reside.

Secure Single Sign-On

Responding to the need of enterprise end-users to coordinate multiple user IDs and passwords securely within heterogeneous environments, IBM has announced its new Secure Single Sign-On product, the latest addition to the IBM SecureWay(a) family of security products and services.

"IBM's SecureWay Single Sign-On will ease the frustrations of end- users and system administrators alike by alleviating the need for multiple passwords," said Kathy Kincaid, director of IT Programs for IBM. "The unrealistic number of passwords many users need to complete their jobs on a daily basis has weakened security on many systems by forcing users to maintain a written list of their passwords. That will no longer be the case -- users will have one password for all the systems they need to access reducing frustration and increasing security."

The Secure Single Sign-On software solution enables users to access files, applications, printers and database servers anywhere in the enterprise regardless of platform with just one password log-on. This product utilizes IBM's Directory and Security Server (DSS) to authenticate users and to facilitate network changes, such as relocation of applications or hosts/servers, for administrators.

The Single Sign-On product will be available in the first half of 1997; pricing has not yet been determined. It will support popular client desktops, including OS/2, AIX, Microsoft Windows(b) 95 and Windows NT. It will provide log-in to mainframes, LanServer, WarpServer, Novell NetWare(b), NT Server, databases, local operating systems, DCE applications, and more.

IBM Firewall

IBM is also announcing today the availability of its enhanced firewall product, Internet Connection Secured Network Gateway V2.2, another member of IBM's SecureWay family of security products and services. Among other enhancements, the new firewall provides full implementation of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) IP SEC standards for interoperability, allowing users to exchange data securely with anyone using a firewall also supporting the same IETF standards. Interoperable firewalls enable Virtual Private Networks, where two separate private networks are connected over the Internet via two firewalls. With the implementation of LDAP and interoperable firewalls, the stage is set for the directories in each private network to communicate over the Internet.

IBM's Internet Connection Secured Network Gateway V2.2 will ship by the end of July at a price of $9,999 for unlimited users. The software operates on an IBM RS/6000(a) workstation supported by AIX version 4.1.4 or 4.2 operating system. Additional information about the IBM Internet Connection Secured Network Gateway V2.2, or firewall, is available at http://www.raleigh.ibm.com/sng /sngprod.html.

SUPPORT FROM IBM UNITS

In support of IBM's announcement, Lotus Development has committed to supporting LDAP across its communications products, further extending the reach of standards-based directory access and providing a central access point for administration and for locating resources. Lotus cc:Mail and Lotus Notes will each support LDAP in the next major releases of the products.

In addition, Lotus Soft-Switch will be developing a new X.500 and Internet-based directory server that will support directory synchronization to messaging- and non-messaging-based directories. This new directory server will support the characteristics of a meta-directory as defined by the Burton Group. Information regarding Lotus or Lotus products is available through the Lotus Web site at http://www.lotus.com or by contacting Lotus directly at [phone].

For overall systems management, Tivoli Systems Inc. will collaborate with Soft-Switch to integrate their meta-directory technology with the existing Tivoli Management Environment(b) (TME(b)) framework and user/administration tools. This will provide users with a single point of administration for security and access policies. Tivloi Systems, an IBM company, provides an open, end-to-end management solution from mainframes to the desktop, spanning network and systems management. For more information about Tivoli Systems and the TME 10(b) product roadmap, visit Tivoli's worldwide Web site at http://www.tivoli.com.

Transarc Corporation develops, markets and supports a wide range of multi-platform DCE products. Transarc will work jointly with IBM on the integration of LDAP into IBM's DCE products and Transarc's own implementations of DCE. Transarc products include the DCE-based Encina Transaction Processing monitor and the DCE Distributed File System (DFS). For Internet users, Transarc's DCE Encina Lightweight Client (DE-Light) provides PCs with standard Web browsers access to DCE and Encina applications through Java applets, extending the benefits of DCE and Encina to millions of users of Web browsers. Information about Transarc and its products is available through Transarc's home page at http://www.transarc.com or by contacting Transarc directly at [phone].

ABOUT IBM

IBM, the world's largest computer company, creates, develops and manufactures the industry's most advanced information technologies, including networking systems, software, computing systems, storage devices and microelectronics.

For Internet users, IBM offers complete information about the company, its products, services and technology on the World Wide Web. The IBM home page is at http://www.ibm.com. The fastest, easiest way to get information about IBM software is to go to the IBM Software home page at http://www.software.ibm.com. Additional information on the IBM SecureWay offerings can be found through the IBM IT Security home page at http://www.ibm.com/security.

(a) Indicates a trademark or registered trademark of International

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CONTACT: IBM

Glenn Rossman, 914/766-1711

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Brodeur & Partners (for IBM)

Kim Dion, 919/254-1838

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