FTP Software's Esplanade - Web Server Software for Windows NT Maximizes Information Sharing on Corporate Intranets; First Windows NT Web Server to Provide Both Database Connectivity and Document Transparency

Business Wire, Feb 12, 1996

ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 1996--FTP Software, Inc. today announced Esplanade(TM), the first Web server to provide customers with both integrated database connectivity tools and dynamic document conversion.

Esplanade, designed exclusively for the Windows NT server and workstation environments, also provides graphical server activity reporting tools and the high performance required for corporate Intranets and external Web site hosting. Esplanade will also be available in an enhanced secure version.

Esplanade's Database Connector, a powerful server administration program for delivering database information to Web clients, allows server administrators to seamlessly merge existing ODBC-compliant database information into corporate Webs, making it easy to share business information on any TCP/IP network. Users can interact with the data by building and storing SQL queries through a simple point and click query interface that automatically generates HTML database access forms and HTML reports for any Web client.

Esplanade's embedded KEYpak(TM) technology provides unique document transparency with easy access and viewing capabilities to legacy documents from any client browser, drastically reducing the need to convert the documents in advance or have the native application on your PC. This unique capability dynamically converts over 30 document types to HTML or other formats eliminating the need for manual conversions and maintaining existing document investments.

"Esplanade is the only Web server to provide easy, low cost access to existing databases and offer document transparency," said Jonathan Rodin, vice president of the Internet Solutions Business Unit at FTP Software. "This embedded information transparency technology maximizes the organization's ability to share information across an Intranet."

"Performance and ease-of-use are top priorities on our Intranet environment," said Thomas Boser, software engineer at Quad Tech. "Esplanade's intuitive interface allowed us to install, set up and configure our system in less than 15 minutes. The high performance we have experienced with Esplanade in our Windows NT environment is evidence that this product was designed specifically for this platform and is not just a UNIX port."

Ease of Administration

Esplanade has a powerful graphical user interface for rapid server installation, setup and administration. The graphical Web Reporter for analyzing and reporting server access activity helps administrators justify, monitor and plan for their web site's future. The Web Reporter monitors server activity information by demographics such as peak usage, active documents, host name, IP address, referring URL and more. Administrators may select from predefined reports or customize their own and save the output to ASCII, HTML or database formats. Easily extend your web server with custom applications through Win CGI and Visual Basic Interfaces.

All versions of Esplanade offer flexible access control giving the administrator management options to limit access based on domain name, IP address, username/password, and more. The Esplanade Secure Edition and the Esplanade Global Edition, for international distribution, includes support for SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and allows for integration with VeriSign digital certificates, giving companies a reliable way to conduct secure Internet transactions.

Pricing and Availability

Esplanade Professional Edition will be available within 30 days with a US list price of $445. The Esplanade Secure Edition and Esplanade Global Edition will be available within 30 days with a US list price of $1,195. A special introductory offer of over 30% off the list price will be in effect until March 31, 1996. In addition, a competitive upgrade program is available from any commercial NT Web server to Esplanade Professional for US $99 or to Esplanade Secure Edition or Esplanade Global Edition for US $195. An evaluation version of Esplanade is currently available on FTP Software's Web site at http://www.ftp.com/esplanade.>About FTP Software, Inc.

FTP Software, Inc. is the leading independent supplier of Internet 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. Both its Networking Business Unit and New Ventures Business Unit are targeting and investing in emerging markets and developing new technologies that will carry the company's vision into the 21st century. 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 of FTP Software, Inc. KEYpak and Esplanade are trademarks of FTP Software, Inc. Other tradenames, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.