Joint Effort by Visio Corp. and NetScout Systems Improves Network Documentation Tool
NetScout's Network Instrumentation SmartShapes Make Visually Documenting Enterprise Networks Easier

SEATTLE, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Visio Corp. (Nasdaq: VSIO - news) and NetScout Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: NTCT - news) today announced an agreement to jointly provide their customers with a network documentation solution. This solution responds to the growing need for better visibility and understanding of corporate networks, particularly the applications that drive business and e-commerce functions. Under the agreement, NetScout and Visio will develop NetScout-specific SmartShapes(TM) that are exact replicas of NetScout's instrumentation for Application Flow Management (AFM). These shapes will be added to the 18,000 shapes in the Visio Network Equipment (VNE) library that is part of Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition -- and is also available through the VNE Subscription update for Visio 2000 Professional Edition.

''We use Visio extensively to document our global network,'' said Tushar Pednekar, senior communications analyst at DHL Systems Inc. ''Having NetScout products available as part of Visio's library will help us create an accurate picture of our existing network today, as well as what is needed in the future.''

Each VNE library SmartShape gives customers access to more than 30 data fields for detailed information on each data source, such as network location, asset information, maintenance records and cable connections. Network managers can generate bills of materials, asset management reports and similar reports by using Visio's information technology products. They can then use this information to maintain a network, inventory network assets or export the data into other applications for documentation.

''We have seen substantial demand from our customers for better integration with Visio,'' said Mike Soper, director of alliances at NetScout Systems. ''By supporting Visio's development of SmartShapes for our complete instrumentation product family, we help our mutual customers better manage their current network environment and better plan future capacity to meet their business needs.''

Visio Manufacturers Program

Visio, considered the standard for network design and documentation, developed the Manufacturers Program in conjunction with the industry's leading network equipment manufacturers to ensure their mutual corporate customers and prominent resellers have access to up-to-date and accurate product shapes. The program's collaborative efforts provide network-design and documentation customers with the means to generate superior network proposals, designs and documentation that are accurate to the port level. Participating hardware manufacturers' equipment shapes are updated in both VNE and Enterprise Edition throughout the year through the VNE Subscription Service. The program also provides a variety of services for manufacturers of data and telecommunications equipment. These include joint marketing initiatives and creation of customized Visio solutions for use with channel/VAR programs or sales/technical teams.

''The Visio Manufacturers Program facilitates partnerships with leading networking hardware vendors like NetScout Systems to ensure our customers have a continual supply of the newest and deepest set of network equipment shapes needed to accurately document their systems,'' said Chun Bahl, worldwide partner relations manager for Visio Corp. ''Whether they are designing future systems or discovering and documenting existing networks, the new features offered in Visio 2000 Professional and Enterprise editions and the new shapes in VNE will make that easier than ever before.''

Since its launch in August 1997, the Visio Manufacturers Program has grown from 110 to over 250 manufacturers. Today the program includes such companies as Nortel Networks Corp., Cabletron Systems, Compaq Computer Corp., Dell Computer Corp., IBM Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., Hitachi Ltd., Lucent Technologies, Motorola Inc., NEC America Inc., ADC Telecommunications, Juniper Networks, Gadzoox Networks Inc. and Toshiba International Corp. A full list of manufacturers can be found on the Visio site at http://www.visio.com.

Pricing and Availability

The NetScout-specific SmartShapes will be released with the quarterly VNE Library Subscription Service update later this month. The Update is available as a subscription add-on for Visio 2000 Professional Edition users and is included free of charge in Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition. Enterprise Edition customers may also subscribe to receive VNE updates that keep their ''shape'' library current. Detailed information on the Visio Manufacturers Program can be found on the Visio Web site at: http://www.visio.com/partnering/hardware/default.asp?LoadPage=man_prog.htm.

About NetScout

NetScout Systems, headquartered in Westford, Mass., designs, develops, manufactures and markets an integrated family of products that enable businesses and service providers to manage the performance of computer networks and important business software applications. The company's Application Flow Management solution consists of data collection devices and analysis and presentation software. Application Flow Management collects, aggregates, and analyzes network and application data from a wide range of network technologies. For more information, please visit NetScout Systems on the World Wide Web at www.netscout.com.

About Visio Corp.

Visio is the leading supplier of enterprisewide business diagramming and technical drawing software, with an installed base of 3.5 million users worldwide. Founded in September 1990, the Seattle-based company pioneered the drawing and diagramming software market with the release of Visio 1.0 in November 1992 and has since released additional Windows-based graphics applications that offer users a unique and effective way to communicate and work. Visio's powerful product line is becoming a worldwide standard for graphical solutions in business, with the support of partner programs and third-party relationships in key market segments. Visio products are available in as many as 12 language versions and are sold in more than 45 countries.

NOTE: Visio, SmartShapes and AutoDiscovery are registered trademarks of Visio Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks, trade names or company names referenced herein are used for identification only and are the property of their respective owners. NetScout is a registered trademark, and the NetScout logo, AppScout, NetScout Server, and NetScout Manager Plus are trademarks of NetScout Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.