Hitachi Internet Caching Appliances Based on the Novell Internet Caching System Improve Web Performance and Reduce Web Server Load

Provo, Utah -Dec. 1, 1999 -Novell Inc. today announced that Hitachi, Ltd. Information& Telecommunication group of Japan has licensed the Novell ® Internet Caching System ™ and will make available an Internet caching appliance product based on the Hitachi Advanced Server HA 8000 Series in Japan in December of 1999. Hitachi, one of the world's leading global electronics companies, will target their caching appliance at businesses of all sizes that need an easy-to-manage solution for improving Web performance, while helping to reduce overall communication costs. Appliances based on the Novell Internet Caching System are the only cache offerings capable of scaling affordably from the needs of branch offices to the largest Internet Service Providers.

Hitachi's licensing of the Novell Internet Caching System adds to Novell's momentum as the broadest supplier of Web infrastructure products in the market. Beginning with Novell Directory Services ® [NDS®] the leading directory platform, Novell provides customers with a single buying decision for key Web infrastructure services that work together seamlessly in e-business solutions. Novell solutions enable customers to extend the reach of their existing computer networks across the Internet to employees, customers and supply-chain partners.

"With their profound knowledge and experience of the Japanese corporate computing market, Hitachi is perfectly positioned to utilize caching appliances based on the Novell Internet Caching System to further promote the use of the Internet by Japanese businesses," said Ron Heinz, senior vice president of worldwide sales, Novell. "This agreement with Hitachi directly addresses Novell's strategy for the Internet-enabled business marketplace by providing high performance caching solutions that will serve as a foundation for future value-added Internet services based on caching such as content filtering and multimedia streaming. Additionally, with our strategic global partners, Novell is delivering Internet caching solutions in markets our competitors haven't even begun to consider."

As businesses of all sizes extend their corporate networks to the Internet they face the dual challenge of maintaining acceptable Web browser performance on their internal networks as well as Web server performance for external customers visiting their Web site. Increasingly, businesses are turning to appliance-based solutions to address this problem due to their low cost of installation and maintenance as well as integrated software and hardware.

Caching directly addresses these business requirements by storing frequently accessed Web pages and Internet content on local servers, speeding information access and lowering network telecommunications costs. Caching helps ensure a positive experience for customers visiting e-business Web sites by accelerating the performance of that site's Web servers. The Internet Research Group, publishers of the 1999 Internet Caching Report, estimates that the worldwide caching market will reach nearly $2.2 billion by the year 2003.

Hitachi currently offers various Internet solutions, including hardware, software and services, as well as the HA 8000/InterStation, an all-in-one Internet access services package. The Internet caching appliance announced today adds to Hitachi's increasing portfolio of Internet business related products. Hitachi will continue offering wide-ranging solutions that meet the latest market requirements.

Novell Internet Caching System

The Novell Internet Caching System is licensed as an Intel-based solution appliance from OEM partners including Compaq, Dell, Hitachi, IBM, Legend, Microbits, NEC*, Pionex and Quantex. The Novell Internet Caching System dramatically improves the speed and efficiency of delivering Internet content to employees, business partners and customers within business networks as well as across the Internet. Delivering unmatched throughput, scalability, and price/performance, the Novell Internet Caching System can be installed within 10 minutes to support any Web environment whether Cisco, Linux, NetWare, NT, Solaris or other versions of UNIX. Novell Internet Caching System appliances scale from branch office requirements to those of the largest Internet Service Providers.

Additionally leading 3rd party solutions providers have endorsed the Novell Internet Caching System including Akamai Technologies, Alteon WebSytems, Arrowpoint, Edgix, Foundry Networks, Intel, Log-On Data, Mirror-Image Internet, N2H2 and SkyCache. Please visit www.novell.com/nics for more information.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL) is the world's leading provider of directory-enabled networking software. Novell solutions give businesses total control of their private networks and the Internet, simplifying the management of user access and identity. Novell's worldwide channel, consulting, developer, education and technical support programs are the most extensive in the network computing industry.

For information on Novell's complete range of products and services, contact Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272), or visit Novell's Web site at http://www.novell.com. Press may access Novell announcements and company information on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com/pressroom. In addition, detailed comparisons between Novell products and competitive offerings from other vendors are available on the Web at http://www.novell.com/advantage. For information on the Year 2000 status of Novell products, please access Novell's Year 2000 Web site at http://www.novell.com/year2000or contact Novell's Customer Response Center at year2000@novell.com.

Novell, NetWare, NDS and Novell Directory Services are registered trademarks, and Novell Internet Caching System is a trademark of Novell, Inc in the United States. All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners. *The agreement referenced here is with NEC Corporation and does not (currently) cover the NEC Computer Systems Division (NEC CSD) which is responsible for the North American and South American geographies.

Matt McOwen
Cunningham Communication, Inc.
Phone: (650) 858-3791
E-mail: mmcowen@ccipr.com