FTP Software Establishes Lead in Java-Based Mobile, Secure Intelligent Agents; Sun Microsystems endorses the CyberAgent intelligent agent technology

Business Wire, April 30, 1996

ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 1996--FTP Software, Inc., the market leader in TCP/IP networking suites, today announced a step toward leadership in extending the Java environment for building and managing mobile, secure intelligent agents with its expanded CyberAgent(TM) intelligent agent product family.

The new components of the CyberAgent product family, based on Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Java(TM) technology include the CyberAgent Manager, a management package for deploying agents and the CyberAgent Security Packs, enhanced security software which protect against unauthorized or covert agents while maintaining privacy, preserving integrity and confidentiality. Also available, and now Java-based, are the CyberAgent Software Development Kit (SDK) featuring an easy to use development and management environment in which Java-based agents can be created and managed and the CyberAgent Listener, software that listens for, authenticates and runs agents.

The new Java-based implementation of the CyberAgent product family expands the platforms on which CyberAgent technology will run to include those that run the Java Virtual Machine(TM) (Windows 95, Windows NT and Unix) and establishes the worldwide library of Java applications as a source for CyberAgent code.

"FTP Software is the leader in extending the Java environment to support mobile, secure intelligent agents," stated George Paolini, director of communications for JavaSoft. "Developers and network managers will benefit from the combination of FTP's CyberAgent technology and Sun Microsystems' Java programming language because they provide an optimum agent development and management environment allowing for the creation of dynamic, multi-threaded, platform independent agents."

Agents are autonomous and adaptive software programs that perform critical, delegated tasks across intranets and the Internet by traveling the network and executing pre-assigned commands remotely. System administrators, network managers and software developers can use the CyberAgent product family to create and manage intelligent agents to execute critical processes such as hardware and software asset management, virus protection and information search and retrieval.

"Agents developed with CyberAgent technology can be used to manage and automate network tasks previously performed manually. Solving these problems will ease the burden of today's network administrators faced with managing large networks and growing intranets." said David French, general manager of FTP Software's Intelligent Agents Business Unit. "The new security methods will give network administrators the options and flexibility they require to protect their network against unauthorized agents."

More About The CyberAgent Product Family

The Software Development Kit features a variety of FTP-developed Java-classes designed to allow programmers to rapidly develop intelligent agents, such as classes allowing agents to travel from desktop to desktop, accessing OLE-enabled applications, and applying security to the agents. A wizard and various sample Java-based agents are also included to expedite agent development. The CyberAgent Manager provides a graphical and intuitive interface for managing different aspects of CyberAgent deployment, including selection of desktops and network travel type. CyberAgent Listener software, required for all desktops to run agents, listens for, authenticates and then runs the agent, making execution of the agent transparent.

CyberAgent products now offer a variety of enhanced security methods to prevent the unauthorized use of agents, from simple password security to the use of industry-standard encryption technologies. Network managers simply select the method best suited for the their environment to ensure an agent's confidentiality and integrity.

Pricing and Availability

The CyberAgent products will be available within 30 days with the following pricing: CyberAgent Software Development Kit - US list $495; CyberAgent Manager - US list $295; CyberAgent Listener - US list $50; CyberAgent Security Packs, available in an exportable and non-exportable version, - US list $35.

About FTP Software, Inc.

FTP Software, Inc. is the leading independent supplier of networking software solutions that enable millions of PC users worldwide to access resources across LANs, enterprise networks and the global Internet. The publicly held company (Nasdaq: FTPS) is a pioneering developer of TCP/IP and interconnectivity applications and is committed to providing technically superior products for sharing information across disparate computing platforms and networks. FTP Software markets its products and services worldwide through an international distributor network, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and direct sales. -0-

FTP Software is a registered trademark and CyberAgent is a trademark of FTP Software, Inc. Java and Java Virtual Machine are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Other tradenames, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.