Press Release

Visara SCON-22L is a Superior Replacement for IBM® 3174

Raleigh, NC - August 7, 2000 - Visara, Inc. has introduced the SCON-22L console concentrator to provide support for IBM mainframe host environments. The SCON-22L is a direct replacement for the IBM 3174-22L controller and provides tangible benefits as a replacement product.

The SCON-22L has been previewed at two Share Conferences this year, and it has been installed at several customer sites worldwide. In addition to providing a direct replacement for aging 3174-22L controllers, the SCON-22L offers unique advantages that cannot be delivered by the 3174 device:

• Support for multiple logical partitions (LPARs). The SCON-22L will support up to 16 LPARs on an IBM-compatible mainframe. The 3174-22L supports only a single LPAR. This gives users the option of replacing up to 16 3174-22L controllers with a single Visara SCON-22L. This directly translates into savings on acquisition costs, operational costs, and floor space requirements.

• Support for multiple host sessions on a single master console display. Using the unique support for multiple logical sessions (MLS), users can access up to 10 sessions on any console. The IBM solution requires one console for each controller. Again, savings are seen in acquisition costs, operational costs, UPS resources and floor space requirements.

"We're giving users an easy choice," said Daniel J. Cody, Vice-President of Marketing for Visara, Inc. "They can buy a used 3174-22L, and, since they're in short supply, they'll be at the mercy of a high acquisition cost. Their alternative is a new SCON-22L with support for 16 LPARs and 512 logical display sessions. We believe the choice is easy: SCON-22L."

The SCON-22L is used as a console concentrator to configure mainframes in a non-SNA environment. The device uses an ESCON adapter to communicate with IBM-compatible mainframes. Features includes connections for up to 32 coax displays and support for up to 32 Telnet sessions. Support is also provided for a second ESCON adapter as well as optional Ethernet and Token Ring adapters.

"Our worldwide launch of this product has brought us an incredible return on our investment," said Cody. "The SCON-22L is installed in the US, Europe, and the Far East. Government has embraced the product. Chat rooms worldwide are buzzing with the news of this unique product, and show reviews have been outstanding. In a word, the SCON-22L is a winner!"

Visara, Inc. headquartered near the Research Triangle Park in Raleigh, NC is a privately held company providing Mainframe and Midrange Products, Network Integration, and Advanced Services. Visara, Inc., with more than 25 years of SNA/3270 and Midrange/5250 experience and an installed base of over two million desktop devices, is a leading designer and manufacturer of inter-network solutions.

Media Contact:
Wendy Woodall
Marketing Communications Manager
Visara International
woodall@visara.com
919-882-5414