"Network processor chips"...from Xilinx?
Wind River Systems Introduces Managed Switch Solutions for
Tornado
Strategic Partnership with Xact Results in a
Complete Commercial Solution for Building Layer 2 and Layer 3 Switches
ALAMEDA, Calif, November 3, 1998 — Wind River Systems (NASDAQ:WIND) and Xact, Inc.
announced today an agreement to jointly build and market embedded software products for the
data networking and telecommunications equipment industries. The first product package
resulting from this strategic partnership is Managed Switch Solutions for Tornado™, a complete
set of software components for building management capabilities into layer 2 and layer 3
switches. The comprehensive solution is being demonstrated this week at the Embedded
Systems Conference in San Jose, CA. Financial details on the agreement were not disclosed.
The switching and routing segments of the data networking market are undergoing an important
transition as equipment manufacturers move from custom ASICs to commodity "network
processor" chips that dramatically lower the cost of switching and routing, while greatly
increasing the performance of data networking equipment.
"As a result of the emergence of network processors, data networking equipment manufacturers
are redesigning entire switched Ethernet product lines," commented Robert Winter, president
and CEO of Xact, Inc. "Cost and time-to-market pressures are driving manufacturers to integrate
solutions consisting of a real-time operating system, network processor drivers and switched
Ethernet management software. The combination of Xact's field-proven LAN switching software
and expertise with Wind River's Tornado offers the most powerful and complete commercial
solution available for producing competitive layer 2 switches and layer 3 switching routers."
"The time to market windows for all embedded products are so tight that one of the biggest
challenges affecting all facets of the market is choosing and integrating a handful of the plethora
of available components to create the baseline system quickly and economically," said Curt
Schacker, vice president of marketing for Wind River Systems. "Providing complete integrated
solutions for specific products, like Managed Switch Solutions for Tornado, is one way Wind
River is working to help customers meet their time to market demands. With this market-specific
solution, manufacturers can either build and sell a basic layer 2 or 3 switch or add proprietary
functionality to differentiate themselves from the competition."
Managed Switch Solutions for Tornado
Managed Switch Solutions for Tornado consists of three packages of software components,
each targeted at a different class of data networking switch or router.
The Basic Layer 2 Switch Package is for desktop and workgroup Ethernet switches with
minimal management needs. It supports an SNMPv1 agent, MIB-II, the MAC Bridge MIB, a
sample enterprise MIB, the Spanning Tree Protocol (IEEE 802.1D), a customizable management
shell, and the IP, UDP, and TCP protocols. A generic board support package is also supplied.
The Extended Layer 2 Switch Package is for mid-range and high-end Ethernet switches with
more sophisticated requirements. This package provides all the components of the Basic Layer 2
Switch Package, plus: RMON1 (groups 1-9), the Ether-like and FDDI MIBs, VLAN (IEEE 802.1Q),
GARP, GVRP, GMRP, support for priority queuing (IEEE 802.1p), and a customizable web
management interface.
Finally, the Basic Layer 3 Switch Package is Wind River's offering for branch-office/small-office
and LAN-to-LAN routers and switches. This package includes all the components of the
Extended Layer 2 Switch Package, plus IGMP, OSPFv2, and RIPv1/v2.
Availability
Managed Switch Solutions for Tornado will be available in source code from Wind River
Systems in Q4 of this year. All standard host systems and target processors will be available.
Xact will offer additional hardware and software engineering services such as the development
of customer-specific management shell screens and web pages, customization of BSPs, and
hardware / software design verification. For more information on Managed Switch Solutions for
Tornado or any of Wind River's products, please stop by ESC booth #716, call 1-800-545-WIND
or 510-748-4100, or send e-mail to inquiries@wrs.com.
Xact, Inc.
Privately held Xact, Inc. provides a broad range of hardware and software custom engineering
services and products to global companies in the data communications market. The Company is
the recognized leader in the development of off-the-shelf embedded switch management
products. Xact is located in Carrollton, Texas or on the internet at xactinc.com.
Wind River Systems, Inc.
Wind River Systems, Inc., an ISO 9001 registered company, is the leading provider of integrated
software development tools for real-time embedded applications in the Internet,
telecommunications, data communications, office automation, networking, computer peripherals,
medical, automotive, industrial, aerospace and multimedia markets. Through the industry's most
comprehensive product line and customer support, Wind River enables customers to develop
and reuse application software across a variety of products and platforms, shortening
development cycles and improving time-to-market. Incorporated in 1983, Wind River is
headquartered in Alameda, California. Wind River reported revenues of $92.4 million in fiscal
year 1998, a 44% increase from fiscal year 1997.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties, including but not limited to timely development, acceptance and pricing of new products, the impact of
competitive products and pricing, and other risks detailed in the company's most recent SEC Form 10-K.
Wind River Systems, Tornado, and the Wind River Systems logo are registered trademarks of Wind River Systems, Inc. All
other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.
Contact:
Stephanie Schwarz
Wind River Systems
510-749-2573
stephanie.schwarz@wrs.com
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