NETSCAPE DIRECTORY SERVER 1.0 FACT SHEET

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (December 18, 1996) -- Netscape Communications Corporation has released the final version of Netscape Directory Server 1.0, open, scalable server software for managing enterprise directories of people and resources. Netscape Directory Server synchronizes vital user information such as names, phone numbers, electronic mail addresses, digital certificates and contact information into one searchable, structured enterprise directory. Based on the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) industry standard, Netscape Directory Server is part of the Netscape SuiteSpot family of servers for open email and groupware on Intranets.

Netscape Directory Server makes it simple for corporate users to quickly and easily create and query centralized directories of people and information stored on corporate Intranets and the Internet. The information can be synchronized automatically throughout the enterprise via the LDAP support in Netscape SuiteSpot servers and accessed by the LDAP-compliant address book in Netscape Communicator client software.

Netscape Directory Server includes the following key features:

Comprehensive Directory Services. Netscape Directory Server provides enterprise-class directory services that can be synchronized across an Intranet via Netscape SuiteSpot servers. For example, it integrates with Netscape Certificate Server to facilitate the storage and management of enterprise-wide X.509 keys. It also integrates with Netscape Messaging Server 3.0 for effective sharing of email addresses and mailing lists between servers.

Data Replication. Netscape Directory Server replicates data between multiple directory servers using the LDAP protocol. Administrators can use one of the predefined directory data schema to store names, groups, organizations and other objects, or extend the schema to store additional attributes such as text, binary data, graphics and other data types.

Scalable Architecture. Netscape Directory Server is a high-performance server that scales to support up to 100,000 entries and up to 300,000 queries/hour on typical hardware configurations.

Security. Netscape Directory Server delivers protected directory data and management using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL 3.0) open protocol for Internet security. It also provides flexible access control, safeguarding entire subtrees, individual entries or particular attributes within a single entry.

Administration. Netscape Directory Server features remote, cross-platform server administration through Netscape Navigator client software, an easy-to-use, distributed, administrative front-end. Administrators can manage servers safely from computers on the network via the SSL protocol.

Open Standards Support. Netscape Directory Server is based on the open Internet standards LDAP (RFC1777) and is compliant with X.500 directory servers.

The LDAP technology in Netscape Directory Server was derived from software and algorithms developed and tested over many years under rigorous workloads at the University of Michigan, where it services more than 5 million queries per week of more than 130,000 university listings. The software is available for immediate download for UNIX and Windows NT operating environments on the Netscape Internet site. The price for Netscape Directory Server is US$995 individually or $3,995 as part of a Netscape SuiteSpot bundle of five servers.

Netscape, Netscape Directory Server, SuiteSpot, Netscape Messaging Server, Netscape Certificate Server, Netscape Communicator and Netscape Navigator are trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation. Product information and download instructions are available on the Internet. More information about Netscape SuiteSpot is also available.