NetSoft Announces NS/Router, Third-Generation Technology.

LAGUNA HILLS, CA, July 26, 1993--NetSoft has announced a new,
advanced-technology router program called the NS/Router. Incorporating the
company's third-generation New Systems (NS) technology, the NS/Router is
the first Windows-based LU6.2 Advanced Program-to-Program Communications
(APPC) client-server protocol engine for PC-to-AS/400 midrange systems
connectivity.

The new NS/Router features expanded functionality, an IBM binary compatible
API (EHNAPPC.DLL from PC Support 2.1 or later), and additional network
links such as NetWare SPX ll and Twinax. The NS/Router is now available as
a separate software option, allowing customers, independent software
vendors, integrators, and resellers to quickly build Windows-to-AS/400
client/server systems.

In related announcements, NetSoft stated that the NS/Router has been
licensed by Andrew for use with their PC connectivity products. In
addition, Novell has endorsed the new NS/Router support of NetWare for SAA
(see separate news release).

As a third-generation product, the NS/Router is based on over a decade of
NetSoft SNA and internetworking development experience. PCs running the
NS/Router can access up 32 concurrent sessions on as many as 32 different
AS/400s over a wide variety of physical, data link, and LAN protocol
environments.

The NS/Router is priced at $95 and will be available for customer delivery
in August.

CLIENT-SERVER COMPUTING

"The NS/Router finally turns Windows into an outstanding client platform
for AS/400 client-server applications," said Zak Kong, NetSoft's CEO. "It
is an advanced LU6.2/APPC solution that can provide transparent
Windows-to-AS/400 connectivity across both LAN and WAN environments."

PCs using APPC, or APPC API's mapped over LAN transports, communicate with
AS/400 midrange computers by using the NS/Router with a 5250 emulator, an
APPC application program, or both. The only other router program on the
market with generalized network connectivity is IBM's PC Support Router, a
DOS-based Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) program. The NS/Router is the
only Windows-based router with broad network connectivity that is
currently available.

"Our previous router was available for use with our Elite/400 emulators
communicating over SDLC and 802.2 links or through our Elite/400 LAN
Gateway," said Martin Smith, NetSoft's product line manager for
PC-to-AS/400 connectivity. "The new NS/Router, available as a separate
product and as part of Elite/400 Version 3.0, now supports connectivity
over Twinax and NetWare for SAA links, as well as PC-to-AS/400
communications via several third-party software applications."

THIRD-PARTY ISV COMPATIBILITY

The NS/Router provides binary compatibility with the IBM Application
Programming Interface (API) called EHNAPPC.DLL. This API allows
third-party Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to easily interface their
APPC applications to the NS/Router. As part of today's announcement
package, the following ISVs have announced that their products support the
NS/Router:

* Rochester Software Connection 
  (Showcase Vista and Showcase ODBC products).
* Born Software Development Group 
  (Outlook Professional, Outlook Standard, GUIDE, and ODBC/400).
* Trinzic Corporation (Forest and Trees).

REPLACING THE PC SUPPORT ROUTER

The NS/Router meets the needs of SNA enterprise customers who require a
more reliable and manageable "pure Windows" solution to replace IBM's PC
Support Router. "Other Windows-based 5250 emulators must run on top of
IBM's DOS TSR Router, which can be difficult to install, use and maintain,
and can introduce security risks on the AS/400," Mr. Smith continued.

The NS/Router has been implemented as a suite of Windows DLLs. As a
replacement for the PC Support Router, it is easy to install, use and
maintain, and provides improved network security.

"The NS/Router installs from within Windows in minutes," said Mr. Smith.
"In contrast, the documentation required to tune PC Support to coexist
with Windows spans at least nine IBM manuals and can take hours to
accomplish."

The NS/Router also keeps AS/400 server data secure. PC Support's DOS Router
and the Shared Folders function forces Windows to maintain an open pipe
through which unauthorized file transfers can occur. Some users choose
this security risk as a trade-off to the difficulties of exiting Windows
to manage PC Support DOS TSRs. The NS/Router, however, allows the AS/400
to drop inactive links when appropriate for security, but also provides
for fast, easy reconnection without having to leave Windows, thereby
giving the AS/400 administrator the best of both worlds.

"In addition to eliminating the PC-resident PC Support Router, our
Elite/400 DSP emulator also eliminates the need to run PC Support programs
on the AS/400 host," said Mr. Smith. "Elite/400 DSP is therefore the ideal
solution for customers who have the desire to remove all PC Support
programs from both their PCs and their AS/400s."

NIC-NAMING

A powerful new capability built into the NS/Router is the NIC-Name feature,
which greatly simplifies applications roll-out and LAN administration.
With NIC-Naming, each LAN client automatically determines its APPC Node
Name from its LAN Network Interface Card (NIC) address.

"This means that Elite/400 or other third-party 5250 emulators using the
NS/Router can simply be loaded on the LAN file server instead of having to
be configured separately for every client workstation," said Mr. Smith.
"This can save an enormous amount of time and money for large LAN
installations. The one crucial piece of client information that normally
needs to be manually configured can now be determined automatically at
run-time."

NetSoft (formerly Network Software Associates, Inc.) is an industry pioneer
in SNA and APPC technologies. In 1986, the company was the first to ship
an APPC software package specifically for PCs. Today, NetSoft has grown to
become a leading supplier of multiprotocol PC connectivity products for
IBM and heterogeneous networking environments.

NetSoft is headquartered at 39 Argonaut, Laguna Hills, CA 92656. Phone:
(714) 768-4013 or (800) 352-3270

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