StarNet Demonstrates High-Speed SSH/X Server Integration; PuTTY-based Client Speeds up Secure Connections between Windows and UNIX

Business Wire, April 29, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NetWorld Interop 2003 Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 2003

StarNet Communications Corp., a leading publisher of Windows-to-UNIX/Linux connectivity software, will give the first public demonstration of "StarNetSSH," a next-generation SSH solution for securely connecting Windows computers with applications running on remote UNIX and Linux servers. The demonstration will take place at Booth #6434 at the 2003 Networld Interop trade show in Las Vegas (April 29-May 1).

In 2000, StarNet became the first X server publisher to offer a SecureShell (SSH) connect option. SSH has since become the de facto standard for safely transferring X11-based data between Windows computers and UNIX servers over the Internet.

StarNet's latest integration features the new StarNet SSH "connection module" based on PuTTY, a high-speed open-source SSH client. This self-contained connection module runs as a thread of the X-Win32 process, and will function even when PuTTY is not installed. If, however, the user has set up PuTTY configuration files, the new SSH connection module will use them.

StarNet's current SSH connection module interfaces with a bundled SSH Client application that has to be installed separately. Besides the advantage of a single installation, the PuTTY-based SSH connection module also offers significant higher performance.

In the process of developing the StarNetSSH connection module, StarNet engineers made significant improvements to the overall PuTTY source code. These enhancements will be made available for public use and will also be submitted to the PuTTY development team for consideration of permanent integration with the PuTTY source code. Most significant among the improvements is a new ability for PuTTY to perform multiple SSH sessions.

StarNet expects to release a new version of X-Win32 containing the StarNetSSH connection module by the end of the second quarter.

Download Free Trial Copy

StarNet's current version of X-Win32 (5.4.2) can be downloaded from http://www.starnet.com/products/downloads.asp. A free 2-month trial license is available from within the program. StarNet also offers complementary use of a Sun Solaris and a Red Hat Linux server as part of its Online Tutorial service, which can be found at http://www.starnet.com/support/#tutorial.

Fast, Friendly and Affordable

X-Win32 provides intuitive point-and-click access from Windows-based desktops to Linux and UNIX servers, including Sun Solaris, IBM AIX, HP/UX, Red Hat, SuSE, Caldera, Mandrake and others. X-Win32 offers both SSH, RSH, REXEC and XDMCP connections between Windows desktop computers and UNIX/Linux host systems.

X-Win32 has been rated the "Best PC X Server" in an independent performance comparison of nine PC X server products published in Network Computing Magazine (for details, please review http://www.starnet.com/company/numberone.htm).

X-Win32 lists at US$245.00. X-Win32 licenses include technical support for the life of the license and free upgrade coverage for new releases issued within a year from the date of purchase.

About StarNet Communications (www.StarNet.com and www.x-solutions.com)

Located in Silicon Valley, StarNet develops and markets PC X server software for networked PCs in multi-platform corporate, educational and government organizations. StarNet's line of X-Win32 PC X server products offer cost-effective X terminal emulation on networked Windows-based PCs and workstations. StarNet also offers other platform interoperability solutions from its X-Solutions web site. StarNet was founded in 1989 and has become one of the first companies to build its marketing and sales operations around the Internet.