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AMD Extends its Network Management Offering with Customized Bootware™ Net PC Firmware Capability
AMD Licenses LANWORKS TECHNOLOGIES INC. Net PC Firmware to Provide OEMs with One-Stop Shop Solution
SUNNYVALE, CA -- August 25, 1997 --AMD today announced it is supplying Net PC Firmware as part of its network management offerings, which includes the award-winning Magic Packet™ technology. Licensed from Lanworks Technologies Inc., AMD's Net PC firmware offering will operate in conjunction with the PCnet family of Ethernet controllers and will provide OEMs with a cost effective complete solution, eliminating the need to source multiple vendors.
Previously, OEMs had to license network firmware from a second source for operation with AMD's PCnet family of Ethernet devices. As well as the inconvenience of dealing with multiple suppliers, OEMs incurred additional licensing fees and non-recurring engineering costs. Now, in conjuction with its PCnet family of controllers, AMD will provide Net PC firmware code for a complete offering.
"We are committed to providing network management solutions that reduce total cost of ownership which maximizes the return on technology investments," said Gary Smerdon, product marketing director of AMD's networking division. "We co-developed Magic Packet technology, enabling system administrators to remotely power-on PCs for upgrades and maintenance tasks from a centralized location. Net PC firmware enhances our offerings by providing system administrators with the most powerful solution to remotely manage networked PCs. We chose to license the Net PC firmware code from Lanworks because we view the company as the preeminent developer of network booting firmware and we believe that the enhancements made over time will continue to strengthen our product offerings."
Toronto-based Lanworks will ship BootWare Net PC firmware in SEPTEMBER, and the code will be available from AMD or directly from Lanworks. "Flawless booting is critical to the Net PC product's value," says George Kostiuk, President of Lanworks Technologies. "Our LSA code will make this important element easy to implement for AMD and the OEMs which use its chipset."
Net PC firmware is essential for the effective management of a large TCP/IP network. Each time a PC is moved or added to a network, the system administrator has to allocate a new IP address as well as various other information. Administration errors such as duplication of IP addresses can result in closing down an entire network. Net PC firmware is an easy, flexible and powerful way to connect additional PCs or move existing PCs on a network. By allowing system administrators to dynamically update the IP address from a central console rather than from each individual PC, the Net PC eliminates much of the burdensome time-consuming administration previously required. In a large company with thousands of PCs and expanding networks, this capability can result in considerable cost savings.
Lanworks's Net PC firmware works in conjunction with Magic Packet technology co-developed by AMD and Hewlett Packard Company. Magic Packet technology lets network administrators turn on PCs remotely for management tasks such as software upgrades and file back-up. By giving network administrators the ability to remotely power-on users' PCs from a central location after normal working hours, Magic Packet technology helps companies reduce the total cost of ownership by reducing user downtime, increasing productivity and saving energy.
About LANWORKS
Founded in 1986, Lanworks Technologies Inc. is the worlds leader in network booting technologies. The company's BootWare family of products is installed on more than two million workstations worldwide.
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