Parvus Launches Cisco-Based Mobile IP Network Router Optimized for Military and Rail Transit Applications; DuraMAR™ Mobile Access Router is COTS Solution that Enables Net-centric Operations in Demanding Real World Applications

Business Wire, April 4, 2006

SALT LAKE CITY & SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Parvus Corp. today introduced the DuraMAR(TM) at the Embedded Systems Conference - Silicon Valley (Booth No. 1828). The DuraMAR is a Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) router specifically designed for harsh mobile environments in military and rail transit applications. DuraMAR is a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solution that leverages Cisco Systems' industry standard IOS(R) software and Mobile Access Router (MAR) technology to enable transportation and military systems integrators to explore a wide range of new in-vehicle networking applications, from wireless Internet access, to Voice over IP (VoIP), to streaming video surveillance and smart vehicle diagnostics/maintenance.

Designed to global industry standards for vehicle/military grade electronics, the DuraMAR integrates a highly robust power supply and hardened enclosure isolated against voltage spikes, transients and harsh environmental stresses (shock, vibe, humidity, temperature extremes, EMI/EMC) experienced onboard trains, aircraft and other vehicles. The unit's power supply also incorporates intelligent power management circuitry to prevent adverse power conditions from disabling the router. LED status indicators for power, network and serial connections, as well as a console port and manual reset switch, are located on the front panel. The rear panel includes a series of IP67-hardened Ethernet and serial connectors.

To provide customer-specified functionality, companion "nodes" can be mounted remotely or on top of the base DuraMAR unit. These nodes enable heat dissipation to be improved and RF signals to be strengthened (due to reduced analog antenna cable length), while providing a simplified upgrade path for future communications technologies. Because the nodes are typically based on modular embedded PC/104 technology, a variety of other potential nodes can be accommodated to meet varying customer requirements -- all without requiring any modification to the DuraMAR base router unit.

Application flexibility is a key attribute of the DuraMAR. The unit's compact chassis is conveniently designed for easy removal and upgrade, snapping into a mounting tray with spring-loaded dagger pins. The unit also integrates multiple Power-Over-Ethernet (POE) RJ-45 injector ports and Power with Serial (PwS) Connectors, so that clean isolated power and signal are carried over a single standard Ethernet or serial cable to connected devices.

This design minimizes the need for separate power cables or power supplies, while also bringing new communications capabilities to legacy serial or Ethernet devices that haven't traditionally had the means for connecting to an IP network. Systems using traditional military or vehicle communication buses such as MIL-STD-1553, CAN or LonWorks, can therefore leverage the DuraMAR to bridge technologies and establish an IP Network connection, when 1553/CAN/LON-to-IP converter nodes are used with the router.

About Parvus

Parvus Corp. is a leading provider of rugged hardware platforms to the military, transportation, homeland security and medical device industries. We specialize in ruggedized mobile networking solutions, displays and embedded computer technologies for demanding real world applications. Parvus was founded in 1983, and is the U.S. arm of the Eurotech Group, a world leader in pervasive computing, with operations across Europe, North America and Asia. For more information, visit www.parvus.com.