ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 1998--
True Access Operating System Gives Service Providers and Corporations
Customizable WAN Access Services
Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND) today announced the True
Access(tm) Operating System, the first comprehensive software architecture
for WAN access environments. TAOS combines leading-edge access functionality
with the unequaled flexibility that customers have come to expect from the
market-leading MAX product line, and leverages years of development work
that has gone into making Ascend's WAN access switches the top choice among
all types of corporations and network service providers.
"Ascend has a heritage as the industry's leading WAN access solution
provider," said Kurt Bauer, vice president of product management for
Ascend's Access Switching Division. "While our competitors are busy kludging
together disparate technologies to put together WAN access products, Ascend
is expanding on the strongest access foundation with next-generation
functionality."
True Access Operating System Components
Ascend's True Access Operating System (TAOS) is comprised of two main
components: the standard TAOS kernel and optional TAOS extensions.
-- True Access Operating System Kernel. The TAOS kernel comes
standard on all MAX and MAX TNT WAN access switches and
contains the core feature set for mainstream access
functionality, including IP routing, modem management,
terminal server functionality, authentication,
authorization, and accounting (AAA) support, WAN protocol
support, and bandwidth management. The TAOS embedded kernel
incorporates all of the robust software that has made the
MAX and MAX TNT the leading WAN access switch. According to
the Dell 'Oro Group's Q4 1997 Remote Access Concentrator
report, Ascend has shipped worldwide 41% of all analog ports
and 77% of all ISDN PRI ports.
-- True Access Operating System Extensions. TAOS extensions
allow service providers and corporations to further
customize and enhance their WAN access services. These
extensions include:
-- Global Digital Access(tm) for ISDN and Frame Relay
environments, which includes support for ISDN clients, Frame
Relay concentration, and internationally homologated ISDN
signaling.
-- IntragyCentral, the embedded WAN access switch component of
Ascend's Intragy(tm) enterprise access software suite, which
provides multiprotocol routing, multiprotocol dial access,
transparent bridging, and modem pooling for LAN-based
outbound dial and fax.
-- SecureConnect(tm), Ascend's state of the art security
technology that provides an integrated, dynamic firewall,
eliminating the need for separate security hardware.
-- Manageability under NavisAccess, the leading management
platform for access environments, including NavisAccess
Release 4.1 announced March 9. The enhanced version of
NavisAccess includes a suite of new remote access
performance reports, as well as other enhancements for
discovery and mapping, security, accounting, configuration
and fault management. Customer who purchase NavisAccess
between March 1, 1998 and May 31, 1998 will receive
complementary upgrades for their existing Ascend MAX and MAX
TNT devices.
-- Tunneling support for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which
provides ISPs with new value-added service offerings and
allows corporations to outsource their dial-access networks
to these service providers.
-- Quality of Service solutions, including videoconferencing
support, with Ascend's suite of inverse multiplexing
products.
-- Future extensions, which will include encrypted tunneling
and support for Voice over IP, through the extensibility of
the True Access architecture.
The unique modular architecture of Ascend's True Access Operating System
provides service providers and enterprise customers with unprecedented
flexibility when designing their networks. For example, an Internet Service
provider can deploy MAX TNT products with the TAOS kernel to provide
scalable dial-IP services with AAA services, and add Global Digital Access
and Tunneling extensions to provide Frame Relay and VPN services. An
enterprise customer can deploy MAX products with Intragy and SecureConnect
to provide a completely secure multiprotocol environment with standard,
cross-platform client software for mobile users and telecommuters.Pricing
and Availability With the announcement of Ascend's True Access Operating
System, Ascend is also releasing the first version of TAOS on the MAX and
MAX TNT platforms. These include enhancements to both the kernel
functionality and new customizable solutions, including extended Virtual
Private Networking and enterprise functionality. The TAOS kernel comes
standard with all MAX products; pricing for True Access Operating System
Extensions is based on the particular customer configuration. Customers
should contact their Ascend sales representative for more information.
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