Wind River Enables Secure Wireless Networking

Business Wire, August 26, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 2002

Wind River Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:WIND)

Wind River 802.1X Standards-Based Security Features Allow

OEMs to Build Reliable and Secure Network Devices for the

Home and Small Office

SYNOPSIS: Wind River Tornado for Home Gateways will now be offered with WindNet 802.1X network access control products.

    --  WindNet 802.1X enables digital consumer and network
        infrastructure equipment companies to develop and deploy
        products with:
            --  enhanced security through mutual authentication;
            --  centralized administration features for controlling
                authentication; and
            --  the most reliable operating platform for connected
                devices.
    --  With the proliferation of Wi-Fi and customers demanding
        connectivity anytime and anywhere, OEMs are looking for the
        most reliable and secure 802.1X development solution.

Wind River Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:WIND), a leading provider of software and services for creating connected devices, announced the general availability of WindNet 802.1X network access control products for the Tornado for Home Gateways broadband access platform. WindNet 802.1X extends upon the security features of the widely accepted IEEE 802.11 standard and enables original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to affordably develop and deploy reliable and secure wireless devices.

Network security is a major issue for both wired and wireless local area networks (LANs). 802.1X addresses this problem, giving network operators knowledge of every network component and the ability to control which users have access to which services. Wireless LAN extensions support key distribution and dynamic key management, critical benefits for scaling and maintaining network security for today's highly mobile workforces and the growing number of wireless LANs.

"With Wind River providing an 802.1X solution to networking equipment OEMs, these standards can be quickly deployed to improve the state of wireless LAN security and interoperability," said Karen O'Donoghue, team lead of the InteropNet Labs Wireless LAN Security Initiative at N I. "For interoperability to be assured, we need companies that are willing to invest resources to drive ratified standards, and we're delighted to have Wind River's strong support."

"802.1X is essential for realizing cost-effective security for access points and wireless LAN installations. We look for suppliers using Wind River's products, providing assurance that our services will be compatible with and support today's requirements for strong security methods in wireless access networks," said Paul Archer, CEO at UK Broadband Ltd. "The availability of WindNet 802.1X will play a significant role in accelerating the deployment of 4th generation wireless services. Wind River is helping enable our market."

"We're pleased to be working with Wind River to provide enhanced 802.1X support on PRISM chip sets for the WindNet 802.1X WLAN Authenticator. The Temporal Key Integrity Protocol is an important evolution in wireless security," said Dave Feller, director of marketing for Intersil's Wireless Networking Product Group. "Working together to drive interoperability and advance wireless security will help grow the market and benefit all of us."

WindNet 802.1X -- A Secure, Flexible Framework

In addition, WindNet 802.1X enables current Wind River customers to easily upgrade network security for their access devices. As an optional part of the Tornado for Home Gateways broadband access platform, the WindNet 802.1X WLAN Authenticator provides a reliable and cost-effective route to providing network security features in any network access device.

Availability

The WindNet 802.1X WLAN Authentication framework and the Tornado for Home Gateways broadband access foundation are being demonstrated at the InteropNet Labs booth at the Networld Interop (N I) show in Atlanta. For more information on WindNet 802.1X, please contact your local Wind River salesperson or go to www.windriver.com.

About Tornado For Home Gateways

Tornado(R) for Home Gateways provides the core set of functions needed for virtually any gateway device for the home and small office, providing developers with a robust and versatile networking foundation delivered on the acclaimed Tornado and VxWorks(R) platform. Tornado for Home Gateways is applicable to a wide variety of networking customer premise equipment (CPE), including DSL and cable modems, home gateways, SOHO routers, fixed wireless, satellite based Internet access systems, and network enabled set top boxes.

About Wind River

Wind River is a worldwide leader in integrated embedded software solutions for creating reliable and innovative connected devices. Wind River provides development tools, operating systems, and advanced connectivity software for use in products in network infrastructure, digital consumer electronics, automotive, industrial, and aerospace/defense markets. Wind River is How Smart Things Think(TM). Founded in 1981, Wind River is headquartered in Alameda, Calif., with operations worldwide.