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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Errol Ginsberg
Telephone: 310/456-6094
E-mail: info@ridgeback.com
	or zulu!info@uu4.psi.com
			

A MIB-II SNMP Agent and Workstation Monitor Application
for NeXT Computers

Malibu, CA   July 28, 1992.  Ridgeback Solutions announces the availability of  
an SNMP  Agent and ServerWatchTM, a powerful workstation monitor for NeXT  
computers that allows network managers to monitor and generate alarms on key  
workstation parameters. This is the first SNMP management solution for NeXT  
computers and now allows users to integrate their NeXT computers into any SNMP  
network management environment.

Good network management is essential to keeping LANs operating smoothly and  
minimizing the time required for a network manager to find and fix problems. 

"We've evaluated the Ridgeback Solutions' SNMP Network Management package and  
have decided to purchase it," said Jonathan Fields, MIS Manager for Phibro  
Energy.  "It appears to be THE product to fill a management void we're very  
sensitive to at Phibro.  When our new NeXT Network goes live at our new  
Corporate site, Ridgeback Solutions' software will be the primary management  
tool in the Network Control Center for all of our locations."

 I feel that Ridgeback Solutions' SNMP agent and ServerWatch application are  
among the most important third party applications to be offered on the NeXT  
platform,  said Tim Kreps, developer advocate for communications and  
connectivity  at NeXT Computer, Inc.  Because the average size of each  
installation of NeXT computers is large, network management has become very  
important to our customers."

The SNMP Agent for NeXT computers
The SNMP agent is a complete implementation of the MIB-I and MIB-II  
specifications and makes  use of  standards such as the Internet Protocol (IP),  
User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).  
Ridgeback Solutions took advantage of the Private Extension capability  
supported by the SNMP standards to define and add its own Private Extensions  
for NeXT computers. These extensive enhancements to MIB-II allow the monitoring  
via SNMP of Swap File size, Disk Space Available, Disk Space Used, Applications  
running, Memory Status, User Login Information and CPU loading. 

ServerWatch for NeXT computers
The separate ServerWatch application runs on a NeXT workstation and uses the  
Ridgeback Solutions Private Extensions to monitor and generate alarms for Swap  
File Size greater than a user-specified Threshold, Free Disk Space less than a  
user-specified Threshold, Loss of Communication to a workstation, a Login or  
Logout on a user-specified workstation and SNMP Authentication errors.

For each alarm occurrence, alarm details are written to a log with the IP  
Address, Hostname, Time and Date. The user may scroll through the Alarm Log to  
review all the alarms. A different threshold and alarm condition may be  
specified for each of the workstations monitored by ServerWatch. Alarms are  
configured for each workstation using the Alarm Inspector. Multiple  
workstations may be set up simultaneously if they each have the same thresholds  
and parameters. Alarm settings may also be viewed using the Alarm Inspector.

Once a workstation is selected from the Network View (an iconic view  of the  
workstations), it may be queried  using a menu for Swap File Information, File  
System Information, Process Status and Login Information. All these queries are  
via SNMP with no need to remotely log in to a workstation to obtain this  
information.

Thresholds may be set by the network manager to monitor these critical  
parameters automatically and be alerted when there is a problem. By choosing  
the threshold values carefully, the network manager can be alerted to potential  
problems,  and fix them before the end-user is even aware that there was a  
problem on his machine.

HP OpenviewTM and SunNet ManagerTM
The Ridgeback Solutions private extensions have been successfully compiled and  
tested with Hewlett Packard's OpenviewTM 3.0 Network Manager and Sun's SunNet  
ManagerTM. . Network Management applications such as OpenviewTM or SunNet  
ManagerTM. and the Ridgeback Solutions SNMP agent allow network managers to  
easily integrate NeXT computers into their overall network management  
framework. 

Ridgeback Solutions has also developed an application that runs on SunNet  
Manager allowing network managers to easily integrate NeXT computers with  
SunNet Manger.  

Pricing
The SNMP agent has a suggested retail price of $xxx.00 per workstation and is  
currently shipping. A discount schedule is available for large installations.  
ServerWatch is bundled with the purchase of 10 or more SNMP agents and is  
currently shipping.  The SunNet Manager application is available for a  
suggested retail price of $xxxx.00 per network management console.

Company Background
Ridgeback Solutions, founded in 1991 and based in Malibu, CA, specializes in  
the development of network management and communications applications for UNIX  
workstations. The company was founded by Errol Ginsberg, who was previously  
vice president of engineering for Fibermux, a $50 Million manufacturer of LAN  
hubs and multiplexors. Ridgeback Solutions is privately held and funded.


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ServerWatch is a trademark of Ridgeback Solutions. NeXT is a trademark of NeXT  
Computer, Inc. All other brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of  
their respective owners.