Press release:
Monday June 22, 9:13 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Xyplex Networks Introduces EdgeGuardian
Integrated Virtual Private Network (VPN) WAN Router Creates Secure
Network Connections, Reduces Connection Costs
LITTLETON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 22, 1998-- Xyplex Networks, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of MRV Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVC - news) and a leading provider of
enterprise LAN/WAN solutions, today announced EdgeGuardian, the first full-service WAN router
with integrated hardware VPN technology, based on the IPSec standard, for secure network
connections using the Internet. EdgeGuardian enables companies to address their requirements for
secure network connections over the public network and save significantly on long-distance line
charges.
''Many companies today are looking at how they can incorporate VPN technology into their
networks because of the availability of secure network connections and the potential savings of
using the public network,'' said Philippe Szwarc, CEO of Xyplex Networks. ''We expect that even
as VPNs mature, companies will use both the Internet and traditional networking technologies for
network access. EdgeGuardian was designed with this hybrid environment in mind. Because it
combines both routing and VPN capabilities, it can easily integrate into existing network
infrastructures, allowing companies to migrate from traditional private networks to secure public
networks as they need.''
''Our company must offer clients the ability to combine site to site connectivity with their internet
connectivity. As a VAR, it is equally important for us to enable our customers to lower their monthly
costs and consolidate other functions,'' said Joe Graziano, president, Network Systems Technology,
Inc. ''We are excited to evaluate Xyplex Network's EdgeGuardian product and to be able to offer
it to our customers as a VPN solution.''
Flexible, Manageable and Secure
Unlike other VPN solutions that require a separate routing product, EdgeGuardian's combination of
enterprise-strength, full-service WAN routing capabilities and VPN makes it a flexible, manageable
and secure solution. Because it is a single product, EdgeGuardian also eases the administrative
burden by eliminating management requirements.
To secure the packets of information traveling over the VPN, EdgeGuardian uses a hardware
implementation of the layer 3 IPSEc protocol to perform authentication and hardware encryption.
Encrypting information at the hardware level provides more robust and higher performance security
than is currently available through VPNs that use software-based encryption.
With EdgeGuardian, customers create secure ''client tunnels,'' client connections to the network, or
''network tunnels,'' network to network connections. EdgeGuardian provides high-speed network
connections, with wire speed WAN connectivity for up to 4 T1's, and 10Mbps aggregate
throughput for the VPN hardware module. The device is capable of supporting up to 2,000
concurrent client tunnels, 400 network tunnels or any combination of client and network tunnels.
EdgeGuardian's connectivity capabilities support up to 4 T1/E1/PRIs, with integrated CSU/DSU,
10 and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, and IP routing with RIP, RIPII and OSPF.
Easy to Configure
EdgeGuardian also includes an HTML-based GUI that simplifies initial configuration and ongoing
administration, reducing set up time and administrative training needs. Using any standard browser
on the network, network administrators launch the configurator's ''Quick Start'' wizards, which step
them through the entire configuration process. Documentation is built into the browser;
administrators click on a hotlink or use the configurators' search engine to find information on a
specific topic. The search engine also allows administrators to quickly and easily find and make
changes to an existing configuration.
Helping Businesses Reduce Costs, Expand Services
While companies are most interested in using VPNs to reduce the cost of remote access, VPNs can
also expand network access cost effectively. For example, EdgeGuardian offers an affordable
solution for connecting standalone remote offices to the corporate network or to any other remote
site via the Internet. EdgeGuardian can also provide a secure extranet connection for allowing a
company's authorized business partners to link to an otherwise private network.
''Customers so far have been primarily focused on using VPNs for secure remote access,'' said
Michael Howard, CEO of Infonetics Research. ''We also expect to see the proliferation of VPNs
at remote office sites, where for reasons of time and distance, it has been too expensive to provide a
connection to the corporate network or other remote sites. Because these sites don't already have
routers, they can easily benefit from the EdgeGuardian's integrated WAN routing and VPN
features, rather than buying two separate solutions.''
Pricing and Availability
Available now, EdgeGuardian is priced at $9,995. Client software and management software are
available for an additional charge. For more pricing details, contact a Xyplex sales representative at
800-338-5316.
About Xyplex Networks
Xyplex Networks, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MRV Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVC
- news), is a leading provider of enterprise LAN/WAN solutions. The company offers a complete
line of high-performance switches, routers, hubs and remote access servers. Xyplex's products are
backed by a renown service/support organization and utilize leading-edge technologies such as Fast
Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet. Headquartered in Littleton, Mass., Xyplex Networks operates
offices throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, South Africa, and the Pacific Rim.
About MRV Communications
MRV Communications is a leading provider of high-speed optical-networks, integrating switching,
routing, remote access and fiber-optic-transmission systems that enhance the performance of
existing telecommunications networks. The company's advanced networking solutions enhance the
functionality of LANs and WANs by reducing network congestion and providing cost-effective
migration paths to next-generation technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet and remote access. The
company's fiber-optic-transmission products send voice, data and video under demanding
environmental conditions to carriers, enterprise customers and residential networks.
For more information on Xyplex Networks' product portfolio, please contact 978-952-4700, the
toll-free sales line at 800-338-5316, send electronic mail through the Internet at info@xyplex.com
or visit their web site at xyplex.com.
EdgeGuardian is a trademark of Xyplex Networks. All other trademarks are property of their
respective companies.
Contact:
Copithorne & Bellows Xyplex Networks
Chris Foster Simon McCormack
(617) 450-4300 (978) 952-4708
christine.foster@cbpr.com smccormack@xyplex.com
For those more technologically savvy than I, how does this sound?
Regards,
mph
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