RSVP Development Kit from Precept Software Lets Applications Reserve Paths through Crowded Networks.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 1996--A development kit that lets software vendors integrate the Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) into their applications, giving those applications the power to reserve pathways through crowded computer networks, has been introduced by Precept Software, Inc.

Precept's RSVP Software Development Kit (SDK) is designed for creators of multimedia applications -- e.g., videoconferencing, video broadcasting, Internet telephone -- who want to ensure that these typically bandwidth-intensive applications will be allocated sufficient network capacity for transmission over the public Internet or private IP-based networks. RSVP is a proposed standard that permits an application transmitting data over a network to request and receive a specific level of service.

The RSVP SDK runs on Windows 95 and Windows NT systems. It includes a 32-bit RSVP service application that runs atop a Winsock 1.1 or 2.0 interface, an Application Programming Interface (API) library consisting of a set of C++ language functions that are linked into the end-user application and provide an interface to the RSVP application, and a sample application which illustrates the use of the APIs.

Test Application: Evaluate RSVP's Impact

Also available is an RSVP Test Kit which consists of a binary version of the sample application and RSVP service, and is designed to let developers or end users evaluate the impact of RSVP on their products (or, in the case of large end users or Internet service providers, on their network installations) and to compare various router vendors' RSVP implementations. This test application lets users configure reservations by specifying addressing and flow-spec parameters in configuration files.

In addition, Precept will sell its full RSVP service and API source code for use by developers of non-Windows applications.

"It is widely recognized that RSVP, with its priority-setting capabilities, will play a key role in dealing with increasing Internet congestion -- perhaps even as a mechanism for pricing different levels of network service," said Judy Estrin, Precept president and CEO.

"In the long term, this very rich protocol may even find uses beyond bandwidth allocation, say in reserving CPU or memory resources. A simple mechanism for implementing and testing RSVP will be critical in the next 6-12 months, as application vendors are evaluating the protocol in controlled situations. Our RSVP SDK provides such a mechanism."

Modular vs. Integrated Approach to RSVP

Precept's modular approach to RSVP implementation -- a stand- alone RSVP application running over Winsock 1.1 or 2.0 -- contrasts with that of several TCP/IP protocol stack vendors, including Microsoft, who have announced plans to integrate RSVP directly into the stack, but only for Winsock 2.0.

"Stack-integrated RSVP may be appropriate in several years, when Winsock 2.0 is ubiquitous," Estrin said. "But as yet the specification for interfacing between RSVP and Winsock 2.0 is still evolving. More than 95 percent of users still have Winsock 1.1. Our approach can work for these users today; and later, as they upgrade to Winsock 2.0, our API library will provide an easy migration path."

RSVP is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) proposed standard for requesting defined quality-of-service levels over IP networks such as the Internet. The protocol was designed to allow the assignment of priorities to "streaming" applications, such as audio and video, which generate continuous traffic that requires predictable delivery.

RSVP works by permitting an application transmitting data over a routed network to request and receive a given level of bandwidth. Two classes of reservation are defined: a controlled load reservation provides service approximating "best effort" service under unloaded conditions; a guaranteed service reservation provides service that guarantees both bandwidth and delay.

Pricing/Availability

Available 45 days after receipt of order, the Precept RSVP Software Development Kit, which includes the sample application, API libraries and RSVP binaries, is priced at $20,000 plus a per-copy royalty based on the number of application copies sold. The RSVP test kit can be purchased separately; it is priced at $995 for a five-node license. The RSVP API specification is now available upon request.

Precept's RSVP source code will be priced on a negotiated per-case basis.

Precept Software, Inc., was formed in March 1995 to develop and market standards-based networking software that addresses the emerging demand for local- and wide-area networking of real-time multimedia information.

Precept's software products provide desktop video broadcasting to Windows PCs over both the global Internet and private IP networks, and address such applications as corporate communications, product training, telemedicine and industrial control. The privately held firm has raised $11.4 million in venture and institutional financing, including an equity investment by Cisco Systems.

CONTACT: Precept Software, Inc.

Judy Estrin, 415/845-5200

or

Ulevich & Orrange, Inc.

William Orrange or Janis Ulevich, 415/329-1590