NETOPIA ENHANCES NETOCTOPUS ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT PLATFORM
netOctopus 4.2 Provides Comprehensive Software Deployment Tools
Emeryville, CA, March 10, 2003 - Netopia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTPA), a market
leader in broadband equipment, software and services, today announced the
release of netOctopus Enterprise Systems Manager, version 4.2. Netopia's
award-winning netOctopus Enterprise Systems Manager is used by IT staff to
inventory, track and remotely manage all of the computers and software on a
corporate network. With this release, netOctopus has added enhanced
software deployment tools, and new early-warning systems to alert managers
about impending equipment failure.
In partnership with Mindvision, netOctopus now includes a special version
of Installer VISE for Windows and Macintosh, along with a new netOctopus
application, File Scripter Pro. Using these tools, network administrators
can take a snapshot of a computer hard drive before and after installing
new software, compare them for differences, and create custom installer
packages to send out to computers throughout their networks.
"One of the greatest challenges for enterprise systems administrators is
ensuring that proper, updated versions of all licensed software are
installed throughout their networks," according to Tim Williams, product
manager at Netopia. "netOctopus has always enabled administrators to check
for compatibility before installing software, distribute the software for
installation, and audit for license compliance afterwards. Now, netOctopus
will also build custom software installation packages. It's a
comprehensive, start to finish, solution."
This release also includes several other enhancements, including new hard
drive monitoring using SMART technology. By monitoring SMART parameters,
netOctopus can predict impending drive failures, and warn the administrator
both through netOctopus, and via email.
SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology), intended to make
drives more reliable, was developed by a number of hard drive
manufacturers. SMART has become an industry standard, and, although few
systems administration applications make use of it, several SMART-based
drive-monitoring applications are sold by themselves for about $20 per
computer. With netOctopus, it's just one more feature of an already robust
asset management tool.
netOctopus Enterprise Systems Manager, Version 4.2 is available
immediately. For more information, visit www.netoctopus.com, or call
800-485-5741.
About Netopia
Netopia, Inc. develops, markets and supports broadband equipment, software
and services that simplify and enhance the delivery of broadband services
to residential and business-class customers. Netopia's offerings enable
carriers and broadband service providers to improve their profitability
with feature-rich modems, routers and gateways, software that manages to
the edge of the network to reduce costs, and value-added services to
enhance revenue generation. Netopia's broadband equipment is interoperable
with all major central office equipment suppliers, including Alcatel,
Cisco, Copper Mountain Networks, Ericsson, Lucent Technologies, Nokia,
Paradyne, Siemens, and Zhone Technologies. Netopia has established
strategic distribution relationships with leading carriers and broadband
service providers including BellSouth, Comcast, Covad Communications,
EarthLink, France Telecom, Hong Kong Telecom/PCCW, MegaPath Networks,
Netifice, SBC Communications, Telecom Italia and Verizon.
Netopia's service delivery platform includes the netOctopus=AE suite of
gateway and PC management and customer support software solutions, and the
Web eCommerce server software. netOctopus server software products enable
remote support and centralized management of installed broadband gateways
and end devices, allowing carriers and broadband service providers to
"manage to the edge" of the network. netOctopus Desktop Support and eCare
software enable broadband service providers and enterprises to support
customers by remotely viewing and operating the customer's desktop computer.
Headquartered in Emeryville, Calif., Netopia's common stock trades on The
Nasdaq Stock Market=AE under the symbol "NTPA." Further information about
Netopia can be obtained via phone 510-420-7400, fax 510-420-7601, or on the
Web at www.netopia.com.
