Microsoft Announces Windows 95 Support for NetWare Directory Services

Enhanced Windows 95 Client for NetWare Enters Beta Testing

REDMOND, Wash. - July 25, 1995 - Microsoft Corp. today announced it is beta
testing enhanced Windows 95 operating system client software for NetWare
that incorporates support for Novell NetWare Directory Services (NDS). The
Microsoft Client for NetWare Directory Services, a superset of the rich
network support already built into Windows 95, provides users with login
and browsing support for NDS. Both the existing Windows 95-based client
software for NetWare networks and the enhanced client software provide
support for customers to login, browse and connect to resources on NetWare
2.x, 3.x and 4.x servers using bindery services. Final software is
scheduled to be available within 60 to 90 days after the August release of
Windows 95.

Windows 95 offers well-integrated, robust, high-performance networking that
provides support for NetWare and the Windows NT&trade; operating system
out of the box. Because of the open, extensible architecture, third
parties such as Banyan Systems Inc., Digital Equipment Corp., Novell Inc.
and Sun Microsystems Inc. can implement Windows 95 client software for
their server platforms with the same integration and performance
capabilities as Microsoft-supplied client software.

"We believe that the NDS client software and Windows 95 will provide end
users with seamless integration to the LAN environment," said Paul Turino,
Windows 95 project director at Chase Manhattan Bank Corporate Technology
and Information Systems. "Additionally, NDS support provides smoother
connectivity to heterogeneous environments."

"Our commitment to customers is to make Windows 95 the best connected
network client software available," said Brad Silverberg, senior vice
president of the personal systems division at Microsoft. "The Microsoft
Client for NetWare Directory Services is just another example of this
focus."

Key Benefits

The Microsoft Client for NDS is implemented as a Windows 95 32-bit network
client and provides customers with the following key benefits:

* Ease of use. Graphical NDS tree browsing support is integrated into
  the Network Neighborhood, making it easy for users to browse and
  connect to network resources in the NDS or on NetWare 3.x and 2.x
  servers. The client also supports key user interface features of
  Windows 95 including long file names, drag-and-drop file
  manipulation, and point and print support.

* Ease of management. The Network Control Panel integrates full
  control of the Microsoft Client for NDS, allowing for simple
  installation and configuration. Login scripts for NetWare 3.x
  and 4.x are included for compatibility with existing NetWare
  environments. The client software also supports Plug and Play,
  which was designed to streamline hardware and software setup,
  reducing end-user support costs. Finally, the client software
  provides network managers with support for NetWare utilities,
  such as Netadmin and NLIST.

* High performance. When measured using standard network
  client-software performance benchmarks, both the Client for
  NetWare networks and the Client for NetWare Directory Services
  are 50 to 300 percent faster than existing downlevel real-mode
  NetWare client software.

* Integrated password management. Integrated graphical single-login
  support software enables users to employ a single login name and
  password to access all network resources and password-enabled
  Windows 95-based applications.

Availability

The enhanced client software will be available for download online from The
Microsoft Network, the Microsoft FTP server and CompuServe.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
 
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