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Olicom is a registered trademark. CrossFire and RapidFire are trademarks of Olicom A/S. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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Olicom designs and markets LAN products for Token-Ring, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and ATM. These products enable Olicom customers to easily integrate comprehensive networking solutions that span from networked desktops and laptops to workgroups to campus network backbones.

Olicom provides its customers with key competitive advantages through innovative, high-quality networking solutions, and technical support, which improve the efficiency, reliability, and overall productivity of customers’ networks.

Location: Corporate headquarters in Lyngby, Denmark (a suburb of Copenhagen);

US headquarters in Plano, Texas; 35 sales offices located in all major metropolitan areas in the US as well as Australia, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom with additional representation in over 40 countries

Employees: 339 worldwide

Designs and Builds: data networking systems that include adapters (also called Network Interface Cards, or NICs), hubs, switches, PC Cards, and network management software

NASDAQ symbol: OLCMF

For fiscal 1995 (ended December 31):

Revenues: $127.5 million

Net Income: $12.8 million

Earnings per share: 87 cents

Through its commitment to innovative, high-quality product engineering, superior performance, and competitive pricing, Olicom has become one of the world's leading Token-Ring vendors.

Olicom is best known for its Token-Ring products, which are 100% compatible with IBM Token-Ring offerings. Olicom Token-Ring products include specialized, transparent connectivity and high-performance features not available from IBM or others. . .

In 1992, Olicom entered the Ethernet market and today offers comprehensive, high-performance solutions that include desktop and PC Card adapters, hubs, and network management software.

Olicom went public in 1992. Since then, its shares have been traded on the NASDAQ National Market System in the US (Symbol: OLCMF).

Olicom joined the ATM Forum in 1994, when it unveiled plans for a full line of ATM products. By applying its traditional high-quality engineering practices to its ATM product development efforts, Olicom quickly established itself as a key ATM player. In 1994, Olicom became the first networking vendor to publicly demonstrate a fully functioning ATM adapter in an industry-standard PC. In March, 1995, Olicom was the first vendor to publicly demonstrate ATM Forum-compliant LAN emulation. That year, Olicom was the first major vendor to release a PCI adapter for ATM.

Since early 1994, Olicom’s customer base has broadened significantly to include both OEM customers and others using Olicom branded products. Sales of the latter rose to 89 percent of total sales in 1995, with strongest sales among Fortune 1000 corporations in the financial, insurance, transportation, foods, and manufacturing industries.

In 1994, when Olicom sharpened its focus on selling Olicom branded products, sales increased over 100%. This reflects intense efforts by the company’s global network of distributors, Master Resellers, and resellers, all of which are supported by Olicom’s local sales offices worldwide and by marketing efforts from Olicom headquarters in Europe and in the U.S.

Olicom intends to continue to grow this channel through expanded sales office support worldwide, and by offering new, highly competitive products through its channel partners.

From its beginning, Olicom has focused squarely on developing and marketing high quality products. As a result, Olicom products have earned numerous editor’s choice and trade show awards, and have won or placed highly in many public benchmarks for performance. Awards have come from such magazines as Data Communications and Network Computing, plus a number of country-specific Ziff-Davis publications as well as the NetWorld+Interop trade show.

One of the most significant public benchmark achievements for Olicom has been the ongoing Token-Ring adapter benchmark in PC Week magazine. Olicom’s Token-Ring ISA adapter has placed number one for performance and price/performance each time this benchmark has been published in the past 22 months.

As noted earlier, Olicom offers a comprehensive range of networking solutions including LAN switches, hubs, desktop and PC Card adapters, and network management software. Olicom products cover all three dominant LAN technologies — Token-Ring, Ethernet and ATM. This wide coverage enables Olicom customers to use us as a single source for complete networking solutions at a low total cost of LAN ownership.

Because Olicom products adhere to industry standards, customers can easily integrate existing and new equipment and can be assured of smooth migration to future technologies and products.

To ensure great user flexibility, all Olicom products also are based on de facto standards such as IEEE 802.2 and IEEE 802.5, DLC from IBM, NDIS from Microsoft, ODI from Novell, DLPI from AT&T, and ATM Forum specifications.

The System Test Center at Olicom was the first in the world to be certified by Novell for its Novell Certification Alliance. The System Test Center enables Olicom to conduct many aspects of Novell certification itself, independently, which enables it to move products to market quickly.

Olicom also participates heavily in key consortiums and organizations that are establishing new standards for the industry, including the ATM Forum, the Desktop ATM25 Alliance, the Alliance for Strategic Token-Ring Advancement and Leadership (ASTRAL), and the Fast Ethernet Alliance.

Olicom is committed to developing products compliant with emerging industry standards that help improve the way networks function. In recent years, Olicom-supported standards such as PCI and Plug and Play have enabled it to offer better products with improved performance, reduced costs and easier installation and operation.

Olicom introduced one of the industry's first Token-Ring PCI adapters to provide PC users with optimal performance for new, demanding applications. Olicom was also one of the first to introduce an adapter with support for Plug and Play, through which Olicom adapters are automatically configured in seconds.

Olicom developed PC Card adapters for both Token-Ring and Ethernet as part of its ongoing commitment to provide networking products for desktop PC users and for the newest classes of mobile users -- telecommuters, roving executives, and salespeople requiring fast, high-quality network connectivity for Sales Force Automation and related remote-access activities.

To provide users with a functional migration path to ATM, Olicom introduced its first product for the Fast Ethernet market. The Olicom Fast Ethernet PCI 10/100 Network Interface Card was announced in the first quarter of 1995; it provides a scaleable, high-performance Ethernet connection for users who want to implement Fast Ethernet for bandwidth-intensive applications. By adopting Fast Ethernet standards and translating them into immediately available products, Olicom again gives users investment protection through an effective network migration path.

Olicom has announced partnerships with some of the biggest names in networking including Fujitsu, Microsoft, IBM, AT&T, and Gateway 2000.

In ATM, Olicom has established a strategic relationship with Fujitsu Microelectronics, LTD. Olicom and Fujitsu are jointly developing ATM technology, including silicon and software drivers, for ATM adapter products. To date, Olicom has introduced 155 Mbps ATM adapters for both EISA and PCI busses based on this strategic partnership. Olicom’s relationship with Fujitsu will culminate in a full line of adapters for 25 and 155 Mbps ATM.

In August of 1995, Microsoft licensed Olicom's ATM LAN emulation software to include in its Windows operating systems, further validating Olicom's core competency in ATM and the quality of its ATM software. Olicom ATM customers using Windows operating systems enjoy outstanding compatibility with Olicom ATM adapter drivers.

Olicom also formed a series of relationships to further strengthen its leadership in Token-Ring. In mid-1995, Olicom agreed to supply PCI-based Token-Ring adapters for the IBM Personal Computer Power Series based on the PowerPC microprocessor. At about the same time, Olicom announced that AT&T Global Information Solutions (GIS) would resell Olicom Token-Ring products and integrate them into AT&T GIS's Globalyst PC. In September of 1995, Olicom announced that an agreement with Gateway 2000 under which Gateway will bundle Olicom Token-Ring adapters with their computer systems to introduce a network-ready PC.

Early in 1994, Olicom purchased an interest in Lasat Communications, a European developer and manufacturer of high speed modems, advanced modem systems, and ISDN terminal equipment. The companies will deliver new desktop-to-LAN products for the fast-growing mobile computing market. The first of these, a series of LAN/modem cards that are part of Olicom's GoCard product line, was introduced late in 1995.

In March, 1996, Olicom and Cisco Systems announced a long-term agreement to jointly develop the future generation of Token-Ring router and switch products. The objective is to provide cost-effective, dedicated Token-Ring connectivity to the desktop. Cisco will provide the switching technology and system software, while Olicom will provide Token-Ring Media Access Control (MAC) technology, custom ASIC designs, and Olicom core Token-Ring technology, including the company's high-performance PowerMACH software.

Olicom products resulting from the Cisco alliance will complement Olicom’s industry-leading Token-Ring connectivity product family. Cisco will offer Token-Ring switching products created by the alliance, which will complement its CiscoBlue product roadmap. The agreement will strengthen Olicom’s position and broaden its product offerings in the fast-growing LAN switching marketplace.

Both the Cisco-Olicom Token-Ring switch and the CrossFire Token-Ring switch, described elsewhere in this Backgrounder, incorporate the same types of technologies and are fully compatible in LAN use. Both the CrossFire switch and the Cisco-Olicom switch will be positioned for the backbone and the workgroup as well as for delivery of cost-effective, dedicated bandwidth to enterprise desktops. Both switches will provide ATM 155 uplinks for easy, cost-effective migration to ATM.

Olicom sells its products primarily through resellers, value added resellers, and distributors. Its Master Reseller program (in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific Rim) utilizes the high-level expertise of key resellers in various markets to provide extended support for Olicom products. Olicom also employs an OEM sales force.

In addition to its own sales offices, Olicom has distributors and representation in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Olicom emphasizes timely, effective customer technical support for all its products, usually without charge or time limitation. Support answers questions concerning product installation, configuration, and compatibility, and is available by phone, fax, conventional and electronic mail, and CompuServe. A computer-based tracking system enables customers who contact the support department to be assisted by the same support person with each call.

Olicom technical support can verify that Olicom products function properly with selected software applications, network operating system software, communications applications, etc. When necessary, this type of testing is carried out with Olicom R&D. If compatibility cannot be verified or a problem is discovered, technical support attempts to develop a workaround.

Olicom support personnel can visit a customer’s site to assist with installation Olicom products or to resolve problems where Olicom products are used. The need for on-site support is determined by Olicom and the customer.

Most Olicom software products, including drivers, network management applications, fixes, etc., are available on Olicom’s BBS and FTP server and World Wide Web (WWW) server. In addition, a number of Olicom software products are available on CompuServe.

In addition to support for end users, Olicom also provides presale support to distributors, resellers, and Olicom Master Resellers.

Olicom was first known for its Token-Ring adapters. Today, Olicom adapters offer the best price/performance of any Token-Ring cards in the industry: in third-party tests and reviews, they are consistently rated fastest. Flagship products from this line include the Token-Ring ISA and Token-Ring PCI adapters. The lSA adapter delivers the best price/performance in the industry, certified by the ongoing PC Week magazine benchmark. The PCI adapter earned its top market share worldwide in 1995 based on its exceptional performance and reliability.

Our latest Ethernet adapters, the ISA/IV family, provides industry-leading performance and competitive pricing. The most recent addition, the Ethernet PCI adapter, supports the advanced ThunderLAN chipset and Adaptive Performance Optimization, making it one of the best-performing adapters in the industry. All Olicom Ethernet adapters conform to the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard, so they can be easily integrated into networks with Ethernet products from other suppliers.

In January of 1996, Olicom expanded its family of Fast Ethernet solutions with three new adapters: the Fast Ethernet PCI/II 10/100, Fast Ethernet ISA 10/100, and Fast Ethernet MCA 10/100 Adapters.

The new Fast Ethernet MCA 10/100 Adapter is the world’s first MCA bus adapter for Fast Ethernet. It was introduced to meet the high-speed migration needs of legacy LAN installations, particularly in global, Fortune 1000 corporations with a large installed base of MCA bus computers.

The Fast Ethernet PCI/II 10/100 Adapter is one of very few that supports Adaptive Performance Optimization, a recently developed technology that provides automatic, on-the-fly performance adjustment based on the load on the PC’s PCI bus. The result is extremely low CPU utilization and a major increase in overall performance.

All Olicom Fast Ethernet adapters support Auto Negotiation (the ability to automatically detect LAN speed), and all support full duplex transmission.

In 1994, Olicom announced plans to deliver ATM products. ATM has emerged as the high-speed standard deploying the new generation of client/server and multimedia applications now taking hold on enterprise networks. ATM provides the increased speed and bandwidth required at the desktop for these demanding new applications.

Olicom will provide cost-effective, fully interoperable ATM solutions that provide readily-available migration from existing Token-Ring and Ethernet solutions. Olicom already is providing customers with the RapidFire™ family of ATM Network Interface Cards and CellDriver™ LAN emulation software to address both desktop and high-end workstation applications requiring both low-cost and more powerful, higher-speed solutions.

As noted earlier, Olicom partnered with Fujitsu Microelectronics to develop software driver and silicon technology for a series of 25 Mbps ATM adapter cards and 155 Mbps adapters for both EISA and PCI.

Olicom GoCard PC Cards enable mobile and remote users to easily link their laptops to corporate networks, where they can access a full range of services — such as e-mail, product inventory and ordering capabilities, the Internet, on-line services, and fax facilities. Olicom has introduced a Token-Ring PC Card, a GoCard for Ethernet, a "combo" Token-Ring/Modem (the first in the industry), and a "combo" Ethernet/Modem. GoCard products that include a modem adhere to applicable telecommunications regulations from the US and several other countries.

In April, 1996, Olicom unveiled plans for a full range of LAN switch solutions and it announced the first product of that future solution set, the CrossFire™ Token-Ring stackable switch. This product enables Token-Ring network managers to extend existing investments in Token-Ring, to increase performance and overcome network bottlenecks. The CrossFire Token-Ring switch also permits network managers to flexibly implement 155 Mbps ATM for high-speed backbone transport. The CrossFire Ethernet switch is planned for late 1996 introduction.

Olicom also has announced a full range of modular switch products for 155 Mbps and 25 Mbps ATM which will provide switch solutions for both backbones and workgroups. These products will form the foundation for high-performance ATM solutions that combine Olicom’s range of RapidFire ATM adapters and CellDriver LAN emulation software.

Olicom's families of Token-Ring and Ethernet hubs and wiring components provide cost-effective LAN connectivity for workgroups, remote sites, and branch offices. Like Olicom's adapters, the intelligent hubs and wiring components adhere to industry standards, are fully IBM-compatible (when applicable) and offer easy installation, operation, and management.

For Token-Ring networks, Olicom offers a standard 8-port Multistation Access Unit (MAU) for STP and UTP, a Controlled Access Unit (CAU) and the associated Lobe Attachment Modules (LAMs). Olicom also offers a unique product for Token-Ring networks, the CAM (Controlled Attachment Module), which integrates the features of both a CAU and LAM to provide cost-effective, intelligent hub-like connectivity. Upgradeable from 10-port to 20-ports, the CAM lets users add connectivity as their network needs dictate. CAM's aggressive pricing -- as low as half the cost-per-port of purchasing both a CAU and LAM -- makes it an ideal and affordable solution for linking branch offices with a central site.

For Ethernet users, Olicom provides a family of stackable Ethernet hubs designed to meet the needs of both small workgroups and large enterprise networks. The Ethernet hubs offer excellent price/performance and are fully interoperable with other vendors' Ethernet products and users' existing equipment and systems. Olicom Ethernet hubs are extremely scaleable, enabling users to start with a single, unmanaged hub, then add connectivity and management capabilities as their network grows.

Olicom internetworking products help users link LANs in an enterprise network. Olicom's PC-based and standalone local bridges and remote bridges, and the company's unique PC-based Router Adapters, give users cost-effective solutions for linking their LANs via high-speed connections.

Olicom local and remote bridges are extremely fast and are easy to configure, use, and manage. All Olicom internetworking products support IBM's LAN Network Manager/NetView, SNMP, and out-of-band management.

For hundreds of thousands of businesses around the world, Local Area Networks (LANs) play a vital role. Whether it’s mission-critical applications such as database systems processing hundreds of transactions per minute or workgroup computing in office environments, the majority of these businesses simply could not function without LANs.

As these businesses have grown, so has their dependency on LANs, creating a demand for LAN products that are more efficient, easier to use, offer better performance, and are less costly to maintain. At the same time, LAN technology has been evolving and improving. Ten years ago, LANs were, in most cases, small clusters of PCs connected for sharing files, printers, and mainframe resources.

Today, many corporations have enterprise networks with thousands of PCs connected on hundreds of LANs. The extreme demands corporations now place on LANs and the evolution of LAN technology has set the stage for a new generation of high speed LANs. Soon, corporations will be transitioning to high-speed networking where resources can be controlled tactically and with greater cost efficiency.

User demands for ever-faster, no-slowdown performance from highly sophisticated, compute-heavy applications place incredible pressure on LAN performance. Focusing on these exploding demands, Olicom has developed comprehensive migration strategies which enable corporations using Token-Ring and Ethernet to increase shared LAN capacity productively yet cost-effectively. Olicom also enables corporations to gracefully integrate ATM.

Token-Ring and Ethernet users realize significant benefits from these major Olicom strategies:

• Increased, scaleable bandwidth between end stations and servers
• Full duplex operation with Olicom’s top-performing LAN adapters
• ATM LAN emulation, which gives LAN end stations ATM connectivity
• 155 and 25 Mbps ATM to the desktop
• ATM backbone switching

Olicom will introduce a comprehensive range of stackable LAN switch products for Token-Ring and Ethernet in April, 1996, in an early phase of the implementation of these key futuristic corporate networking strategies. The introduction includes products for building high-speed backplane stacks for switch interconnections, as well as management software supporting SNMP.

Starting with this "CrossFire" Token-Ring switch, noted earlier, Olicom’s new switching products deliver competitive per-port prices, low cost-of-ownership and full support for industry standards. The CrossFire Token-Ring illustrates how Olicom leverages its extensive technical expertise to deliver high quality solutions with industry-leading price/performance. As noted, the CrossFire Ethernet switch will be released in late 1996.

To take advantage of high productivity software applications that require "bandwidth on demand," Olicom has announced it will release a full range of modular switch solutions for both backbones and workgroups. These will form the foundation for high-performance ATM solutions that combine our range of RapidFire ATM adapters and CellDriver LAN emulation software. They will bring enterprise-wide ATM to the desktop when the LANs are connected via a router to ATM uplinks.

Olicom’s President and CEO since he founded the company in 1985, Mr. Nielsen is the company’s managerial and visionary leader whose contributions to growth have ranged from hardware design for the company’s first networking products to taking the company public in 1992. Mr. Nielsen holds a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (DTH).

Kurt Nybroe-Nielsen has been employed with Olicom A/S since its founding in 1985 as Vice President of Research and Development, Operations, and Sales and Marketing. He is currently Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Olicom A/S in Denmark and acting President of Olicom USA in Plano, Texas. Mr. Nybroe-Nielsen also is a Member of the Board of Olicom USA, Inc., Olicom Trading A/S, Connect International A/S, Dataland A/S, Interconnect A/S, and Standard Finance International S.A., Luxembourg.

Before joining Olicom, he held positions in turnkey communication systems with American Airlines and government and defense agencies in Europe, the United States and NATO.

Mr. Nybroe-Nielsen holds a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (DTH); Bachelor of Communications from Copenhagen School of Economics and Business Administration, and has completed the Executive Program from Stanford University.

Mr. Rinhart has served as Chief Financial Officer since joining the company in April, 1995, prior to which he was a consultant to the company. From 1986 until joining Olicom, Mr. Rinhart was co-partner of Hjorth & Rinhart, a management constancy firm specializing in managerial, commercial, and contractual aspects of the sale/procurement of large-scale computer systems. From 1979 to 1986, Mr. Rinhart held a number of management positions at Christian Rovsing, a data networking firm, including Controller of Electronics Division and Vice President of Finance. From 1970 to 1979, he was an Economist with Hoff & Overgaard, an international consulting firm. Mr. Rinhart holds a Masters degree in Economics from the University of Copenhagen.

Since joining Olicom in 1987, Mr. Jørgensen has served as Project Manager for a number of external development contracts and as Director of Engineering. He was appointed Vice President of Research, Development and Engineering in 1994. From 1980 until joining Olicom, Mr. Jørgensen held various positions with Christian Rovsing, including Program Manager, Principal System Engineer, and software engineer. Mr. Jørgensen holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Arhus Technical University in Denmark.

Before joining Olicom in 1989, Mr. Lohse, with more than ten years in the LAN industry, worked as a top-level consultant for companies such as British Airways, Olivetti Computers, and Lloyds Bank. Mr. Lohse also has been instrumental in the formation of industry groups like ASTRAL and in other strategic relationships that Olicom participates in today. Mr. Lohse holds science degrees in engineering and business administration from The University of Copenhagen.

Mr. Jonsson joined Olicom in 1986, and served as Sales Director of Southern Europe until he was promoted to Vice President of International Sales in January, 1996. Before joining Olicom, he held positions in turnkey communication systems with Christian Rovsing. Mr. Jonsson holds a BS in Electronic Engineering from the Danish Engineering Academy.

An Olicom employee since 1993, Tyge Trier has served as its Director of Legal Affairs and as Director of Investor Relations since 1994, and he also works in the business development area. Prior to joining Olicom he served as Vice President in the Investment Bank Department of Den Danske Bank A/S. Earlier, he was admitted to the Bar in Denmark and employed by the law firm of Gorrissen & Federspiel.

Mr. Seerup has served as Director of Operations since joining the company in 1995. From 1986 until joining Olicom, he was head of international logistics and earlier, head of production at Ferrosan A/S, a company in the Novo Nordisk Group. From 1984 to 1986, Mr. Seerup was head of planning at Helioprint A/S, a manufacturer of reproduction equipment. Mr. Seerup holds a BS degree in Production from Ingeniørhøjskolen København.

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ADAPTive Switching (Advanced Dynamic Access Partitioning Technology) provides superior switching capabilities. Virtual connections are set up on a call- by-call basis and virtual connections are created between modules and external network equipment supporting PPTP, L2F, and L2TP tunneling protocols. Virtual input and output ports are created, eliminating static assignment constraints. Each input port is automatically or dynamically assigned to an output port, which reduces the amount of hardware required as new applications and services come on-line. Overall, because fewer lines are needed, ownership cost is decreased, less hardware is needed, and deployment is simplified.

ARP

Address Resolution Protocol, a standard method of resolving the destination of a message.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode, a transmission mode characterized by unequal time intervals between transmitted characters

Bootstrap Protocol

Carrier Access Platform (Microcom Access Integrator 700C & 1700C)

Channel Service Unit

Data Circuit Terminating-Equipment, user equipment which sets up, maintains, and terminates data connections.

Distributed Management Module (Microcom Access Integrator)

Digital Signal Zero, signifies a T1 facility operating with a frame structure of 24 channels, 64 Kbps each.

Data Service Unit

Data Terminal Equipment, equipment which begins or ends communications paths.

DTU

Data Terminal Unit

Enterprise Access Platform (Microcom Access Integrator 700R & 1700R)

A Telco circuit that bundles 30 (64Kbps) DS0 timeslots to carry data, and 2 64Kbps timeslots to carry signaling information. The total bandwidth is of an E1line is 2.056Mbps. They are capable of carrying digital and analog data calls and are standard in much of the world (other than T1). Conforms to ITU Q.921 and Q.931.

A widely used local-area packet-switched network technology, Ethernet was invented at Xerox PARC in the early 1970s.

FDDI

Fiber Distribution Data Interface, an emerging standard for a type of network technology which is based on fiberoptics. Established by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute.

Key programs customarily stored in read-only memory (operating systems, diagnostics, and configuration programs are typically regarded as firmware).

Frame Relay Access Device.

Graphical User Interface.

High Density Management System

Internet Engineering Task Force, a group concerned with short and medium-term problems with TCP/IP and the connected Internet. The IETF is divided into six areas which are further divided into working groups.

Intelligent Modem Platform (Microcom Access Integrator 700M & 1700M)

Intelligent Network Controller

Internetwork Operating System

Internet Protocol, the TCP/IP standard protocol that defines the IP datagram as the unit of information passed across an internet. The protocol also provides the basis for connectionless, best-effort packet delivery service.

Internetwork Packet Exchange

The "Integrated Services Digital Network" is provided by carriers and combines voice and digital network services in a single medium.

Internet Service Provider

Central-site remote access for corporate environments, ISPs, and bulletin board operators. (Microcom)

LAN Local Area Network

LIU Line Interface Unit

MAI Microcom Access Integrator

MAU Multistation Access Unit

MCSS Microcom Control Site Script

MIB Management Info Base

MMM Managed Modem Module (Microcom Access Integrator)

MNC Modem Network Controller

MNP Microcom Networking Protocol

MVAR Microcom Value Added Reseller

NAS        Network Access Server

NCS Network Control System

NMC Network Monitor Card

OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer

PAC   PPTP Access Concentrator (see PPTP)

PAD Packet Assembler/Disassembler - a terminal multiplexor device that forms a connection between terminals and hosts across an X.25 network.

PLC       Private Line Card

PNS       PPTP Network Servers

POP       Point of Presence

POTS Plain Old Telephone Service

PPP         Point-to-Point Protocol

PPTP Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, an open protocol expected to become the industry standard for remote access. It combines Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) with Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) into one remote access protocol. It enables users to make one local phone call and connect to the corporate LAN via the Internet. A cost savings is incurred by the user dialing a local number instead of a toll free number provided by the corporation. PPTP makes the Internet and private IP backbones more secure for accessing an organization’s internal network. Network managers can extend a virtual private network from a server throughout the Internet and still retain control of their user passwords and accounts via PPTP. PPTP saves costs and utilizes existing Internet and IP networks. (See PAC).

PRI        Primary Rate [ISDN line] Interface

PSDN Public Switched Data Network [X.25]

PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network

PTT        Postal Telephone and Telegraph. Outside the US, government agencies responsible for providing and/or regulating communications. In the past few years, a number of PTTs have become private operations.

RAS Remote Access Server

RS-232 A standard by the Electronics Institute of America (EIA) that specifies the electrical characteristics of slow speed interconnections between terminals and computers or between two computers.

SCM Serial Concentrator Module

SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol

SOHO Small Office - Home Office

TACACS Terminal Access Controller Access System

T1        A Telco circuit that bundles 23 (64Kbps) DS0 timeslots to carry data and 1 4Kbps timeslot to carry signaling information. There are 2 of these circuits per engine, with a total bandwidth of 1.544Mbps. They are capable of carrying digital and analog data calls, and are standard in the U.S., Canada, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, and China.

TCP/IP   Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol

TDM Time Division Multiplexing

Telco Telephone Company

UAC        Universal Access Controller

USR US Robotics

VAN Value Added Network

WAN Wide Area Network

(11/96 prepared for Microcom Corp.)

Updated April, 2001