UB Networks brings virtual Lan to masses

The move to virtual networks has been given a boost with the launch of Virtual Network Visualiser (VNV) by UB Networks, in what the company says is another stage in its move towards a worldwide standard for virtual networks.

VNV supports up to 32 overlapping workgroups for each Lan. It runs under Windows NT and Windows 95, and is being launched with a free 60-day trial. 'This is a network technology for the masses,' said UB Networks senior VP Tyrone Pike. 'VNV will be a volume product for us.'

UB Networks is unlikely to sell it as a standalone package, but VNV will ship through its distributor Data Translation as well as BT, its biggest UK Var.

Pike said it is looking to sign licensing deals with up to 40 switch vendors in order to boost the virtual Lan market, and that resellers will be able to bundle the VNV software with Lan switches as a way of adding value.

UB Networks claimed VNV is the first network application to allow a graphic visualisation of networks, allowing the network manager to track who is on it.