Midnight Networks Announces the Addition of Multicast Routing Protocol Test Suites to ANVL.

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 1998--

- Industry Standard Test Tool Also Adds New Media Link Support for

Token Ring on Windows NT -

Midnight Networks announced today that its two new IP (Information Protocol) test suites for multicasting, IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) and DVMRP (Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol) are available immediately. The IGMP and DVMRP test suites are the latest addition to the many suites supported by Midnight Networks' Automated Network Validation Library (ANVL), the industry standard automated test tool for validating protocol conformance and interoperability in networking products. ANVL validates the protocol implementations and operational robustness of networking devices including layer 3 switches, high density RA servers, backbone routers and end nodes.

Today, Internet bandwidth is a critical factor in utilizing the Internet. Multicast routing protocols are an essential medium for reducing bandwidth constraints by effectively delivering packets of information to multiple destinations effectively through the Internet. The demand for services that require multicasting such as voice, video and webcasting over the Internet is growing. In response, router vendors are implementing multicasting protocols such as IGMP and DVMRP. Midnight Networks' support of these two protocols allows router vendors to validate both the conformance with the protocol standards and interoperability of their devices in networking products.

"Today, using the Internet includes many services that could be even better with multicasting," said David V. Baker, ANVL Group Leader, Midnight Networks. "Multicasting allows for smarter, more efficient distribution of data over the Internet. For example, widespread deployment of multicasting technologies will help get real, live audio and video to the desktop, both at the office and at home, without requiring excessive bandwidth everywhere."

Midnight Networks support of these protocols will help vendors test their routers and switches to make sure that they support the complexities of multicast routing.

- IGMP and DVRMP Protocol Areas Tested -

IGMP allows hosts on multi-access networks to inform locally attached routers of their group membership information and to facilitate the exchange of information with other multicast routers. The IGMP test suite was developed using RFC 2236 v.2. It contains over 40 tests.

DVMRP is the original IP Multicast routing protocol designed to run over both multicast capable LANs as well as through non-multicast capable routers. DVMRP utilizes IP Tunneling to directly link to another multicast router. The DVRMP test suite was developed using version 3 of the Internet draft. It contains over 80 tests. Both IGMP and DVMRP focus on validating protocol conformance, interoperability and router performance.

- Midnight Networks Adds Media Link Support for

Token Ring on Windows NT Platform -

Midnight Networks recently added support for Token Ring over Windows NT to ANVL. The software now supports a wide variety of media/link types, which include:

-- Solaris: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, async and sync serial, Token

Ring and FDDI -- Linux: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and async serial; -- Windows NT 4.0: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and async serial and

Token Ring

- Pricing and Specifications -

The ANVL IGMP and DVMRP Test Suites can be run against any network device with a IGMP/DVMRP implementation. ANVL runs on Windows NT, Solaris and Linux platforms and includes support for media types including Ethernet and serial lines. Pricing for ANVL starts at $15,000 and is based on the type of license and number of test suites purchased. IGMP is available immediately for $12,995 and DVMRP will be available soon for $17,995.

- About Midnight Networks -

Midnight Networks, a division of Teradyne, Inc., of Boston, Mass., provides testing software and systems for network product development and network operations. The company also offers customized software development services and training to networking vendors and users. Midnight Networks' products include Avalanche/Web, a high performance web testing tool, Avalanche/RA, a remote access performance test system, Avalanche/LW, a network emulation product for stress testing of LAN/WAN products, and Avalanche/PCON, a stress and capacity tester for large-scale devices running PPP over ATM. The company can be reached via phone at 781-890-1001, through the web at www.midnight.com, or via email at [e-mail].

Midnight Networks, Avalanche and ANVL are trademarks, and the Midnight Networks logo is a registered trademark of Teradyne Midnight Networks Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.