Spirent Communications Selects Sniffer Technologies From Network Associates to Expand Network Performance Testing Options for the Enterprise.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 2003

Spirent's Avalanche Integrates the Netasyst Network Analyzer to

Create a Comprehensive Network Testing Solution

Spirent Communications(TM) (NYSE:SPM) (LSE:SPT), a worldwide provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems for next-generation network technologies, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Network Associates(R) (NYSE:NET), the leading provider of intrusion prevention solutions, to offer the Netasyst(TM) network analyzer solution along with Spirent's award-winning Avalanche product line.

The combination of the two products creates an innovative, cost-effective solution for testing application and network infrastructures in the lab, and enables network managers to gain greater insight into their production network's performance. The Netasyst network analyzer will be made available to Avalanche Enterprise customers for an additional fee.

"The Sniffer(R) Technologies division is pleased to be working with Spirent to bring our leading-edge solutions to their existing and future customers. The combined Avalanche and Netasyst solution will provide added value to enterprise customers who are looking for a best-of-breed network performance solution to monitor, troubleshoot and secure their corporate networks," said Christopher Thompson, vice president of marketing for the Sniffer Technologies division of Network Associates. "In addition to the Netasyst network analyzer's ability to decode the major network protocols used today, enterprises will now be able to replay traffic in their lab to test application and network infrastructures."

Enterprises can capture network traffic with the Netasyst solution, and then replay the captured transactions at high volumes using Avalanche's replay functionality. The solution combines Avalanche's ability to simulate real-world user behavior and network conditions, with the Netasyst network analyzer's protocol analysis and fault isolation capabilities.

"In addition to Avalanche's ability to accurately simulate user and network realism in the lab, we've now added the ability to replay live traffic captured in the production network to help evaluate new network devices and applications prior to deployment," said Alan Newman, director of product marketing, application and Web services testing at Spirent Communications. "By partnering with Sniffer Technologies, and combining Avalanche with the Netasyst network analyzer solution, we are able to provide Enterprises a compelling offering, and look forward to continuing to partner with Sniffer Technologies to solve market needs."

The standard LAN Netasyst network analyzer, delivered on a CD-ROM, will be available to Avalanche customers within 30 days.

About Spirent's Avalanche Product Line

Avalanche is designed for Enterprises that demand absolute realism and control under all conditions. Avalanche challenges any computing infrastructure's ability to stand up to the load and complexity of the real world. Avalanche supports HTTP/1.0, HTTP/1.1, HTTPS, RTSP/RTP (Apple QuickTime(R)), RealSystem(R) streaming, Microsoft(R)Windows Media(R) 8 and 9 Series, SMTP, POP3, DNS, Telnet and FTP. In addition, Avalanche can generate Distributed Denial of Service attack traffic inline with any mix of multi-protocol traffic. Many leading corporations use Avalanche to ensure that their products and services excel in real-world conditions. Real-world conditions are accurately replicated by simulating network error conditions and realistic user behavior. Current customers include AT&T, BEA, Cable & Wireless, Cisco Systems, CNET, Deutsche Bank, eBay, Extreme Networks, F5 Networks, Forbes.com, Foundry Networks, Intuit, MSNBC, Network Appliance, NetScreen, Nortel Networks, NTT DATA, SBC Communications, and WatchGuard. http://www.spirentcom.com/enterprise

About Spirent Communications

Spirent Communications is a worldwide provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems for next-generation network technologies. Spirent's solutions enable customers to develop and deploy network equipment and services more economically and efficiently by emulating real-world conditions in the lab and assuring end-to-end performance of large-scale networks.

Spirent Communications is a wholly owned business group of Spirent plc, an international network technology company. Spirent plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT). The company is also listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: SPM; CUSIP number: 84856M209). www.spirent.com

About Sniffer Technologies

Sniffer Technologies products are a part of the McAfee(R) Network Protection Solutions family of products, and deliver network, security, and application management solutions designed to ensure optimal business uptime and availability. Supporting the widest range of network topologies in the industry, Sniffer Technologies solutions enable enterprises, small to medium businesses, and service providers worldwide to effectively keep their networks and applications up and running at peak performance, 24x7. As one of the most trusted providers of monitoring, troubleshooting, and network visualization solutions, Sniffer Technologies solutions are designed to meet the demanding availability and security requirements of organizations' Web sites; Internet applications; converged voice, video, and data networks; wireless local area networks (LANs); and high speed switched and optical networks. For more information on Sniffer Technologies products please visit http://www.networkassociates.com/us/products/sniffer/home.asp.

About Network Associates

With headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Network Associates, Inc. (NYSE:NET) creates best-of-breed computer security solutions that prevent intrusions on networks and protect computer systems from the next generation of blended attacks and threats. Offering two families of products, McAfee System Protection Solutions, securing desktops and servers, and McAfee Network Protection Solutions, ensuring the protection and performance of the corporate network, Network Associates offers computer security to large enterprises, governments, small and medium sized businesses, and consumers. These two product portfolios incorporate Network Associates' leading McAfee Security, Sniffer Technologies and Magic Solutions(R) product lines. For more information, Network Associates can be reached at 972-963-8000 or on the Internet at http://www.networkassociates.com/

Spirent, Spirent Communications and the Spirent logo are trademarks of Spirent plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are held by their respective companies. All rights reserved.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause Spirent's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These risks include the risks described from time to time in Spirent's SEC periodic reports and filings. We undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.