Press Release

CISCO SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL B.V. STANDARDIZES ON AG GROUP PACKET ANALYSIS TOOLS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIVISION AND CENS PARTNERS

Cisco Systems International Selects EtherPeek, EtherHelp, TokenPeek, TokenHelp and AGNetTools for network and packet analysis...

Walnut Creek, California and The Netherlands - August 5, 1999

AG Group, Inc., a leading provider of network management software, and Cisco Systems International B.V., the European, Middle East and African division of the world-wide leader in networking for the Internet, announced today that they have entered into a site-license agreement for use of AG Group's Windows-based network management tools for Cisco Professional Service Employees and Partners. Cisco Systems Ltd. (EMEA) has licensed AG Group's EtherPeek and TokenPeek for Windows products as standard packet analysis tools for all Cisco network consulting engineers in the National Supported Accounts (NSA) and Critical Accounts Program (CAP) as well as the company's UK-based Professional Services Division which is developing and rolling out the CENS (Cisco Enabled Network Solutions) program for channel partners. The tools will also be incorporated into network management solution bundles that will be licensed to Cisco CENS channel partners. Besides EtherPeek and TokenPeek, these bundles will include other AG Group software, including AGNetTools, a suite of IP test utilities; EtherHelp and TokenHelp, remote troubleshooting and packet capture tools; NetSense, an expert post-capture analysis tool; and ProConvert, a packet file conversion utility.

Cisco Systems Ltd. (EMEA) Professional Services (PS) standardized on EtherPeek and TokenPeek after thoroughly evaluating several leading analyzers. Their analyzer of choice needed to have the ability to decode current and emerging Cisco protocols, and to be a tool that Cisco could use to train their channel partners in network assurance methodologies as well as incorporate into a network management tools bundle to deliver to these Professional Services channel partners.

"Demand for network performance orientated services is expanding rapidly," said Richard Buchanan, Cisco CENS Product Manager. "Enterprise networking is about more than connectivity. Network stability and overall network performance are becoming decisive competitive metrics. They are visible to customers as they interact with an Enterprise's business process and create a critical first impression. With this in mind, we looked for tools which would provide the NSA, CAP and PS networking consultants and the CENS channel partners real time multiple views of network traffic and the ability to do strong analysis work in support of other Cisco network analysis tools. AG Group's EtherPeek and TokenPeek met all of our requirements."

AG's "Peek" software, on the market since 1990, has helped thousands of network managers at all levels of expertise readily identify and troubleshoot network problems. "We plan to work closely with Cisco Systems Ltd. (EMEA) and their CENS Partners to insure that our products continue to outpace, through a dynamic and increasingly rich feature set, real-world demands for network management," says Janice Spampinato, VP of Sales and Marketing for AG Group.

The CENS Program is now available throughout Cisco's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) sales regions. Further information about CENS is available at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/625/cens.

AG Group, Inc., a leading provider of network management software, specializes in the development of powerful and affordable software-based tools to troubleshoot, optimize and maintain mixed-platform, multi-protocol network environments. Our goal of bringing superior technology, accessibility, value and flexibility to the ever-expanding realm of network management incorporates both software and service products. Currently, AG Group offerings include network and protocol analyzers, LAN/WAN and internet traffic monitors, TCP/IP test utilities, and network management and protocol-specific training classes. AG Group headquarters are located at 2540 Camino Diablo, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. The AG Group website is located at http://www.aggroup.com/.