Date: Tue, 12 Jan 93 21:11:43 EST From: UGU00266@vm.uoguelph.ca Subject: Apple PR release for InterNet Router MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE AT 7:01 AM, PST, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1993. Contacts: Emilio Robles Apple Computer, Inc. 408/862-5671 John McCreadie Regis McKenna, Inc. 408/974-4398 Apple Unveils Its Latest Internetworking Router New technology allows AppleTalk network users to easily connect local and remote workgroups together BOSTON, Massachusetts--January 12, 1993--Apple Computer, Inc. today announced a family of internetworking router software products enabling organizations to easily increase the size, performance and manageability of their AppleTalk networks. The Apple Internet Router product family provides wide-area networking (WAN) connectivity by implementing a new technology-- called the AppleTalk Update-based Routing Protocol (AURP)--which significantly reduces network traffic. Additionally, the new router software provides enhanced local area networking (LAN) support, routing data between industry standard LocalTalk, Ethernet, Token- Ring and other network types. "AURP technology is an important step to providing organizations of all sizes with a completely scalable network system," said Morris Taradalsky, vice president and general manager for Apple's Enterprise Systems Division (ESD). "AURP and its implementation in the Apple Internet Router leverage Apple's traditional strengths in making technology that is powerful, yet easy to deploy, as well as easy to administer." Apple's latest internet router is a cost-effective solution which allows AppleTalk networks to be "tunneled" through dial-up connections via standard modems, or over networks using X.25 and TCP/IP as well as other industry standards. The Apple Internet Router product family includes a base connectivity kit and two Apple extension kits for moving AppleTalk data across foreign (non-AppleTalk) networks. The Basic Connectivity Package provides the core routing software and technology, including a dial- up extension for connecting remote workgroups together over standard telephone lines as well as network management support through the industry-standard Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). It also provides the base product on which other extensions can be built. Apple's two extension packages--the AppleTalk/IP Wide Area Extension and the AppleTalk/X.25 Wide Area Extension--provide wide area AppleTalk routing over TCP/IP and X.25 networks, respectively. The extension kits are sold separately. The Apple Internet Router product family will replace Apple's current router--the AppleTalk Internet Router 2.0. The new router is a completely redesigned product with many capabilities beyond the 2.0 router, yet it provides all the functionality of its predecessor. The Apple Internet Router, like all Apple products, is easy to set up and configure. It includes many advanced features, such as network number remapping, which allows users to connect independently administered networks without concern for network numbering conflicts. Additional features include security options to protect networks from unauthorized use and built-in data compression for increased throughput. Also, built-in SNMP support enables the router to be monitored from any SNMP-based network management console. The modular design of the Apple Internet Router allows for current and future Apple and third party extension products to be easily added as an organization's network grows. Many third party developers, such as MultiAccess Computing Corp., Farallon Computing Inc. and The AG Group, among others, are currently providing extension products that add value to the new line of router software. These companies offer products that support technologies such as Frame Relay, ISDN, T1 and SMDS data links, remote administration support, and hierarchical choosing. "The modular architecture of Apple's new router products creates a wonderful opportunity for third parties that support AURP to easily build add-on capabilities, such as the SMDS nubus adapter MulitAccess is currently shipping," said Tom Barich, vice president of sales and marketing for Multiaccess Computing. "The routing foundation that Apple provides, combined with third party extension products, gives both small and large organizations a very powerful and scalable solution for interconnecting LANs and WANs." New AURP Technology AURP was designed to improve AppleTalk for use on wide-area networks (WANs), including telecommunication links and campus-like backbone networks. It is an enhancement to the AppleTalk architecture that improves the efficiency and scalability of AppleTalk internets, allowing users to easily interconnect local and remote Macintosh computers and PC workgroups. AURP specifies a standard way of tunneling AppleTalk through foreign network systems, such as TCP/IP, X.25, OSI and DECnet. "AURP provides the basis for building global AppleTalk networks, as well as for hosting AppleTalk within established global networks such as the TCP/IP Internet," said Apple Product Line Manager Dana Harrison. It also provides for efficient routing over point-to-point lines or multipoint connections. As its name implies, AURP updates routing tables only when a change occurs in the network and does so by transmitting only the changed information, thereby greatly reducing network traffic. This contrasts the AppleTalk Routing Table Maintenance Protocol (RTMP) which sends full routing information every 10 seconds. Pricing and Availability The Apple Internet Router software operates on all Macintosh computers with at least 4 megabytes of memory and System 7.0 or later. The software was designed for AppleTalk Phase 2 networks only. Pricing and availability is as follows: Apple Internet Router Products Price Availability Basic Connectivity Package US$ 499 February '93 Includes Apple Internet Router software and installer, DialUp Wide Area Extension and SNMP Router Agent. AppleTalk/IP Wide Area Extension US$ 499 February '93 Requires purchase of Basic Connectivity Package, and includes Router IP software and installer. AppleTalk/X.25 Wide Area Extension US$1,299 March '93 Requires purchase of Basic Connectivity Package, and includes Router X.25 software and installer, and MacX25 server software. These products will be available worldwide from Apple authorized resellers and in the United States by calling The Apple Catalog at 1-800-795-1000. Upgrade Program For a limited time, upgrades from the AppleTalk Internet Router 2.0 to the new Apple Internet Router Basic Connectivity Package will be available. For customers with 2.0 router versions purchased before November 1, 1992, upgrade packages will be available for $149. For 2.0 routers purchased after November 1, 1992, the cost is $49. Upgrade packages will only be available through June 12, 1993, and proof of purchase will be required. -30- Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, AppleTalk and LocalTalk are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. DECnet is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corp. END Apple Press Releases PR Express News Break 1/12/93 .