Cisco Certification Programs and Morgan Kaufmann
Leverage IT Guru Technology to Train
Thousands in Networking
Bethesda, MD. April 22, 2003 — OPNET Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPNT), the leading provider of Intelligent Network Management software, today announced that thousands of networking professionals and students around the world will soon be using new versions of OPNET’s flagship product, IT Guru, for training in a hands-on “virtual” laboratory.
An adapted version of OPNET IT Guru is playing a key role in two Cisco certification programs: Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP) and Cisco Certified Design Architect (CCDA). A new course in the CCDP curriculum, "Cisco Network Service Architectures," leverages IT Guru to explore the latest developments in network design and technologies from Cisco. The new software allows students to interact with a wide range of network designs in a virtual software environment without maintaining expensive laboratories.
" IT Guru is a very valuable tool for demonstrating concepts related to QoS, topology, IP Multicast, high availability, and other design parameters - all the issues related to good design” stated Ray Dooley, Course Director for Global Knowledge, a Cisco Learning Partner. Mr. Dooley added, “It provides an extremely valuable tool for performing ‘what if’ analyses." The release of this latest course offering from Cisco follows the successful deployment of "Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions," part of the CCDA program, which also incorporates IT Guru. Launched in November 2002, more than 60 instructors and 450 students have participated in this training. Thousands of new students are expected to receive training in 2003.
In a separate initiative, OPNET today released IT Guru Academic Edition, which will accompany the textbook Computer Networks: A Systems Approach (Third Edition) from Morgan Kauffman Publishers. Authored by Larry Peterson of Princeton University and Bruce Davie of Cisco Systems, Computer Networks is among the most popular texts in college computing and networking curricula. “Our book will be the first of its kind to leverage sophisticated network profiling and modeling software throughout,” indicated Professor Peterson. “I believe very strongly that OPNET’s new Academic Edition software will have a big impact on the way students learn fundamental computer networking skills in the future," stated Professor Peterson.
" We are very pleased with the response from the professional and academic training communities to IT Guru,” stated Todd Kaloudis, OPNET Vice President of Business Development & Marketing. Mr. Kaloudis continued, “OPNET is the only company providing a fully-functional ‘virtual lab’ that can model networks, server systems, and applications realistically. IT Guru technology is now providing students with software-based lab experience for a fraction of the cost of building and maintaining a lab with hardware. In addition, software-based labs provide unprecedented flexibility not possible with a hardware lab environment, allowing students to conduct a vast range of experiments, quickly, and without contending for equipment. As a result, thousands of students will enter the workplace each year with valuable networking knowledge; and also with practical experience using our software to plan and manage IT infrastructures."
OPNET has a long tradition of supporting technology education. Thousands of faculty and students from hundreds of universities around the world participate in OPNET’s University Program, using OPNET software in their MIS, EE, and CS curricula and research. OPNET has donated millions of dollars in free software to universities in support of cutting-edge teaching and research.
About OPNET Technologies,
Inc.
Founded in 1986, OPNET is the pioneer
and leading provider of Intelligent Network Management software.
For more information about OPNET and its products, visit www.opnet.com
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OPNET, OPNET, OPNET Technologies, IT Guru, Modeler, and SP Guru are trademarks of OPNET Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. OPNET Technologies, Inc. ("OPNET") assumes no obligation to update statements. Forward-looking statements are predictions based upon information available to OPNET as of the date of this press release and involve risks and uncertainties; therefore, actual events or results may differ materially. For a discussion of risk factors, see OPNET's reports, including its most recent 10-Q and 10-K, filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
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OPNET Technologies, Inc.
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