NEC Brings Proven Server Management Solution to Intel-Based Proserva Servers; ESM 2.5's Advanced Network Management Now on ProServa Line With New Features and Windows NT Support.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 1996--At COMDEX today, NEC Computer Systems Division announced Enterprise Server Management (ESM) 2.5, a new version of its powerful SNMP-based server management solution now designed to manage its ProServa family of scalable, high performance Intel-based servers.

ESM lowers the cost of ownership in corporate client/server environments and increases productivity by enabling system managers to more effectively manage, configure and troubleshoot hardware components on the network.

ESM's capabilities in the four areas of performance management, configuration management, fault management, and security management through C2 certification of Windows NT, make this newest development a valuable tool for managing business-critical networks. In addition to now supporting the ProServas Intel Pentium and Pentium Pro architecture, ESM 2.5 comprises many new features designed to make the solution easier to use and more effective. They include: -0-

-- Agent support for Servers running Windows NT 3.51/4.0, NetWare

3.12/4.1,

-- Manager support for management workstations running Windows NT

3.51/4.0 and Windows 95,

-- Integration with Microsofts BackOffice System Management

Server,

-- ODBC support for storing ESM's statistical information into

any ODBC compliant database. Allows use of standard database

tools to perform analysis and create graphs & reports for

planning purposes,

-- An improved Windows 95-compliant GUI,

-- Improved alert navigation through hierarchical management,

-- Out of band alerts and auto-discovery. -0-

"ESM is a proven server management solution on NEC servers around the world," said John OKeefe, executive vice president of servers and workstations. "Striving to meet our customers needs for effective network management on the Intel architecture, we have now greatly increased the functionality of ESM, and coupled it for the first time with our powerful ProServa family of Pentium and Pentium Pro servers."

Three Tier Network Management Strategy

Proven on NEC's line of servers worldwide, NEC's Enterprise Server Management is implemented as part of a three-tier strategy that provides customers with the ability to manage local, departmental, and enterprise networks.

First, at the local workgroup level, ESM is designed specifically to manage the servers in the NEC ProServa line. Through an enhanced, Windows-based point-and-click graphical user interface, ESM allows network administrators to manage workgroup LANs with greater ease and control. ESM's automatic data collection feature provides real-time and historical information about server components and functions, information that is critical for capacity planning and reducing downtime.

At the departmental level, ESM is integrated with Microsoft's BackOffice System Management Server and integration is underway with Hewlett-Packard's (HP) Network Node Manager on NT to allow network managers to manage and control multi-vendor, mixed departmental network servers.

Finally, at the enterprise level, ESM will integrate with leading enterprise platforms such as HP OpenView and Computer Associates' CA-Unicenter to provide complete enterprise management. At this level, network managers will have the ability to manage and control the enterprise network from a single console, encompassing a range of devices that support the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

"This announcement marks the successful, on schedule completion of the second phase of NEC's network management strategy," said O'Keefe. "ESM not only provides network management on the workgroup level, but, through our integration with Microsoft BackOffice, also provides a departmental solution. NEC is continuing to extend these capabilities through the enterprise level with added functionality and new integrations."

Enterprise Web Management

As part of its strategy, NEC is also working with an industry-wide effort to insure that ESM conforms to evolving, cross-platform standards for Web-based enterprise management. One aspect of this work includes work with Computer Associates and Microsoft to provide ESM support for the HyperMedia Management Protocol (HMMP), enabling administrators to use a browser and an object-based framework on the Web to simplify management of disparate systems, networks, applications, and databases. Whether it is a small business that has just set up its first Web site for publishing new product information or a global corporation that is running its business on an intranet, the issue of network management plays a critical role in addressing business challenges today and in the future.

As a world leader in computing, communications, and semiconductors, NEC is uniquely qualified to provide the advanced technology and broad resources required for truly efficient, open, and cost-effective network management. Combining the ProServa family of servers with ESM, NEC is providing customers with a cost-effective, scalable, and most importantly, manageable platform for implementing strategies in today's emerging network economy.

Pricing and Availability

ESM 2.5 is provided at no cost to ProServa customers, and will begin shipping with all future ProServa models by the end of the fourth quarter, 1996.

NEC Computer Systems Division

The NEC Computer Systems Division, a division of the newly formed Packard Bell NEC, manufactures and markets the ProServa(TM) series of Intel-based servers, which includes three models designed for enterprise and workgroup computing. The ProServa SH, a quad-capable, Pentium Pro processor-powered scalable server, is the newest member of NECs ProServa family. Completing NECs ProServa offerings are the ProServa PH, a fault-resistant, highly available server for enterprise applications, and the ProServa V, a value-priced, fully featured server system for workgroup computing. All three models, ProServa SH, ProServa PH and ProServa V, are optimized for Windows NT and Novell NetWare (TM). -0-

Note to Editors: NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation and ProServa is a trademark of NEC Technologies, Inc., both used under license by Packard Bell NEC. Microsoft, BackOffice and Windows NT are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. NetWare is a trademark of Novell, Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners.

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