ACSYS RECEIVES PATENTS FOR INTELLIGENT HUB DESIGN

Unique Features Allow Companies to Maximize Life of Existing Token Ring
Networks

BURLINGTON, Mass., June 20, 1994 -- ACSYS Incorporated, a global provider
of LAN workgroup products and services, today announced that it has been
granted three patents for the unique design of its MAU Manager Token Ring
hub. By utilizing ACSYS' intelligent MAU Manager hub complete with its
patented features, today's corporations can maximize the life of existing
IEEE 802.5 Token Ring LANs.

"As a network grows with more users and more traffic, the limitations of a
Token Ring network built around passive 8228 MAUs becomes apparent," said
Michael Cohen, product manager. "Replacing -- or even upgrading -- the
existing network to accommodate increasing network management requirements
involves substantial capital expense and often extensive rewiring."

Cohen explained that the patented ACSYS MAU Manager hub protects a
company's investment in already installed hardware by adding a powerful,
flexible approach to managing an existing 8228 network.

Star-Wired Reliability

The first patent was granted to ACSYS for the distinctive star-wired
topology provided by the MAU Manager. With the hub, companies can replace
the typically failure-prone ring-based wiring scheme of 8228 networks with
a star-wired configuration. This patented feature eliminates the
unreliable 8228 MAU backbone and maintains ring integrity by preventing
complete failure of the network due to backbone cable breaks.

A cable fault causes the hub to automatically isolate the affected ring
segment. Beacon conditions are also automatically eliminated through
isolation of faulty network segments. Once the fault is corrected, the
segment is automatically reinserted.

Fault-Tolerant Backbone Connectivity

In larger or physically distributed networks, multiple MAU Manager hubs can
be interconnected. Should a fault occur between the interconnected hubs,
the MAU Manager's second patented feature will sense the fault or cable
break and automatically loopback data over a secondary path.

Cohen explained that this transition is virtually instantaneous as compared
to competing products where the transition could take up to 45 seconds
with a corresponding loss of data occurring during the adjustment period.

Automatic Impedance Matching

ACSYS was granted a third patent for the MAU Manager's capability to
provide automatic impedance matching in mixed cable applications. This
feature enables greater flexibility in designing a hub-based network by
allowing 150 ohm IBM Type 1/Type 6 cable and 100 ohm cable to be mixed in
the same hub.

Product Information

ACSYS' MAU Manager hub, introduced in January, is an intelligent,
SNMP-compliant hub for IEEE 802.5 Token Ring networks. Available in either
eight-port or 16-port configurations, the MAU Manager hub consists of a
preconfigured chassis to interconnect, monitor and control an 8228
network. It supports the maximum number of stations allowed by the 802.5
specification: 256 for shielded twisted pair cable or 72 for unshielded
twisted pair cable. Each of the hub's ports allows one or two 8228-style
MAUs to be connected in a star-wired physical topology.

The MAU Manager hub can be partnered with SNMP-based MAU Management
software from ACSYS for a comprehensive MAU Manager System that lets users
easily monitor and control the network down to the station level. The MAU
Manager system provides star-wired reliability and automatic beacon
recovery. Advanced traffic monitoring, automated error detection and
station removal capabilities are also provided.

Company Information

Founded in 1993 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMP, ACSYS Incorporated is
a global provider of LAN workgroup products and services. The Burlington,
Mass.-based company develops and markets LAN workgroup products and
services targeted toward remote branch offices and small businesses. Its
primary products include hubs, bridge/routers, converters and transceivers
for the Token Ring, Ethernet and fiber optic marketplaces. Additional
product information is available by calling 1-800-GO-ACSYS.

ACSYS Inc
7 Oak Park
Bedford, MA 01730
617-275-4455,  fax 617-275-0723

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