IBM ANNOUNCES NETWORK PROCESSOR PRODUCTS FOR THE OEM MARKET

      IBM ANNOUNCES NETWORK PROCESSOR PRODUCTS FOR THE OEM MARKET     RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its commitment to providing industry-leading technologies to the Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) market, IBM's (NYSE: IBM) Networking Systems (NS) business unit today announced that the IBM 6611 Network Processor 140 and 170 products are available to OEM customers.     The IBM 6611 Network Processor 140 and 170 products are the company's first multiprotocol, multiport router and bridge products available to the OEM market.  They accommodate a variety of end user needs by routing a wide range of Local Area Network (LAN) protocols and transporting Systems Network Architecture (SNA) and Network Basic Input/Output System (NETBIOS).  The processors also provide a multiport token-ring bridge capability.     The products will be showcased at COMDEX, the largest U.S. computer- technology trade show, in Las Vegas, Nov. 16-20, in booth 4232.     "Today's announcement expands our family of OEM products which meet a wide variety of customer needs and affirms our continuing commitment to the OEM market," said Jon Fjeld, IBM's director of Network Routing Systems.     The Local Area Network (LAN) protocols supported by the 6611 software include Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Internet Packet Exchange protocol (IPX)(A), Digital Equipment Corporation networking (DECnet)(A), Apple Computer Inc. networking (AppleTalk)(A) and Xerox Services Internet Transport Protocol (XNS). The 6611 hardware supports Token Ring and Ethernet LANs, serial links, downstream Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC) links from products such as the 3174 Establishment Controller, and attachment to X.25 networks.     A key feature of the 6611 is IBM's Data Link Switching (DLS) methodology to transport the SNA and NETBIOS protocols.  Thus, efficient Wide Area Network (WAN) utilization can be achieved by consolidating SNA and NETBIOS protocols on a link with the range of LAN protocols.  With DLS, the 6611 handles flow control to SNA end stations and minimizes WAN and LAN overhead traffic by handling polling for SDLC and "keep alive" messages for the token ring.     Compliance with industry standards is exemplified by support of the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol, attachment to Frame Relay networks and the availability of a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agent to enable network management of the 6611 from an SNMP manager.     The 6611 software includes a Configuration Program, designed to maximize usability.  A graphical user interface is provided, and protocols can be easily defined through the use of windows, pop-ups and templates.     IBM's Networking Systems OEM Operations are located at P.O Box 12195, Research Triangle Park, N.C., 27709.  For more information on the company's networking products or services, customers can call Pete Soutter, director of Networking Systems OEM Operations, 919-543-5122.     (A) -- The following are trademarks of the indicated companies: IPX (Novell Corp. Inc.), DECnet (Digital Equipment Corp.), AppleTalk (Apple Computer, Inc.).     -0-                        11/9/92     /CONTACT:  Christine Bock of GCI Group, 714-587-6946, for IBM/     (IBM) CO:  International Business Machines Corp. ST:  North Carolina IN:  CPR SU: 

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