Novell Announces Release of NetWare Multiprotocol Router v2.0
Offering Customers Enhanced Ease of Use, Expanded Protocol Support
SAN JOSE, Calif., -- August 3, 1992 -- Novell announced today an expansion of its enterprise wide networking capabilities with the new release of NetWare MultiProtocol Router v2.0. A router that runs on industry standard PC platforms, the MultiProtocol Router v2.0 features enhanced ease of configuration, improved management features, built-in filtering, and adds OSI routing to its list of previously supported protocols (IPX, TCP/IP, AppleTalk, Novell NetBIOS).
The NetWare Router, when used in conjunction with NetWare WAN Links v2.0, allows customers to route IPX, TCP/IP, AppleTalk and OSI over wide area connections. This new capability greatly expands the ability to connect and interoperate previously isolated LANs. (See related NetWare WAN Links v2.0 release.)
Bundled with the NetWare MultiProtocol Router v2.0 is NetWare Hub Services, Novell's onitoring andmanagement system for integrating hubs into NetWare platforms. When used in tandem, the MultiProtocol Router and NetWare Hub Services provide users with a cost-effective, integrated system for building router/hub connections. Users can purchase off-the-shelf Hub Management Interface (HMI) compliant hub cards to place in standard PCs.
"With today's announcements, Novell takes another step in enhancing NetWare as a cost-effective, multi-purpose platform for building fully-manageable internetworks. An advantage of this new approach to internetworking is that connectivity platforms can be constructed using familiar technologies--NetWare and PCs," said Navindra Jain, vice president and general manager of Novell's Internetworking Products Division. "When NetWare MultiProtocol Router v2.0 and NetWare WAN Links v2.0 are used together, customers can connect a wide range of systems and devices throughout their organization, regardless of geography."
Announcement Highlights
Highlights of the MultiProtocol Router v2.0 announcement are:
- NetWare Hub Services
- Improved installation and configuration menus
- Telnet and X-Windows support
- Improved SNMP management capability
- Built-in Service Advertising Protocol (SAP) filter
- Routing of IPX, TCP/IP, AppleTalk and OSI over wide area links (with WAN Links v2.0)
- Industry familiarity with NetWare software and standard PC hardware
Simplified Configuration Utility For Ease of Use
Network administrators who are not familiar with routers but are familiar with NetWare can quickly and easily install the NetWare MultiProtocol Router. The NetWare MultiProtocol v2.0 includes INETCFG, a NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) that guides the user through configuration with menus, forms, and context-sensitive help. This utility replaces the older style command-line interface which required the user to edit commands in order to install the router.
Network Management Features
All functions of the MultiProtocol Router can be configured and managed from the router's local console or via remote console access using familiar network management systems. UNIX users can obtain remote console sessions using Telnet or X-Windows over a TCP/IP internet. SNMP provides access to TCP/IP, AppleTalk, and OSI stacks. Users can manage these protocols using Novell's Network Services Manager for Windows or any other SNMP-based console such as IBM's NetView 6000, HP's OpenView and Sun's Net Manager. SNMP over IPX is also supported, bringing SNMP management to non-IP networks.
The SAP filter capability lets users determine which servers will be visible to various users on the internet, reducing the amount of noise on the network, improving bandwidth utilization and providing greater security. The improved SAP filter supports wild card filter specifications making it easier for managers to configure filters.
Industry Support
There is strong industry support behind Novell's MultiProtocol Router strategy as expressed by Dell Computer, Microdyne Corporation and NetWorth who intend to provide pre-configured routers on their individual platforms.
"Inexpensive multiprotocol routers are becoming increasingly important to our customers as they begin interconnecting their networks and improving network performance," said Michael Bennett, vice president of product marketing, Dell Computer Corporation. "Novell's industry standard, open implementation, combined with Dell's world-class service and support, fit our view of what many customers of the 90s will need when implementing their networks."
"Microdyne is pleased to have the opportunity to work with Novell on a series of "plug and play" products incorporating Novell's software on a standardized, low-cost hardware platform," said Philip Cunningham, chairman and CEO, Microdyne Corporation. "The MultiProtocol router that we will introduce later this year will be an extension of this bundled, off-the-shelf strategy. Our customers appreciate the familiarity of NetWare-family products, and I believe the market will quickly recognize the convenience of a ready-to-use Novell MultiProtocol Router."
"We applaud Novell's continued strengthening of NetWare's appeal as an enterprise solution," said John McHale, president and CEO, NetWorth, Inc. "Multiprotocol routing is an essential component of today's enterprise networks, and Novell's MPR fits perfectly with NetWorth's NetWare Application Engine. The Novell MultiProtocol Router allows NetWorth to deliver on its vision of the NetWare Hub as an enterprise services platform."
Pricing, Upgrades, Availability and Education
The NetWare MultiProtocol Router v2.0 has a suggested list price of $995 (U.S.), which includes NetWare Hub Services. The product will ship in September and is available through Novell authorized resellers. Existing NetWare MultiProtocol Router v1.0 users can upgrade to v2.0 at no charge by calling 1 (800) UPDATE-1. This free upgrade offer is good through October 31, 1992.
For pricing outside the U.S. and Canada, customers should contact their local Novell reseller.
To educate customers and resellers on this new, multi-purpose platform approach to building manageable internets, Novell and several partners will conduct a series of FREE seminars beginning September 2, 1992 and concluding October 20, 1992. The seminars are scheduled for the following cities: Santa Ana, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, St. Louis, Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, Herndon (VA), Atlanta, Toronto and New York City. For more details, please call 1(800) 231-2000, extension 353.
Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) is an operating system software company, the developer of network services, specialized and general purpose operating system software products including NetWare, DR DOS, DR Multiuser DOS and FlexOS. Novell's NetWare network computing products manage and control the sharing of services, data and applications among computer workgroups, departmental networks and business-wide information systems.
