Compagnie des Machines Bull SA’s nascent software business appears to have landed quite a coup in the shape of Netscape Communications Corp which is to sell a version of Bull’s NetWall firewall for use with its server software. Although it has other firewall partners, Bull’s will be the only firewall Netscape resells directly. Under the deal Bull will integrate Netscape’s existing internet security and server software with NetWall which works on Windows NT, Solaris and AIX; both companies will sell the resulting products. NetWall’s at release 3.0, the enhanced product will be a 4.0 offering. NetWall provides ‘stateful’ IP filtering and application proxies and includes features such as a CP8 smart authentication system and virtual private network encryption. It’s part of a suite of software called SecureWare the company began selling in Europe earlier this year that be made available in the US through its recently-formed Bullsoft software arm. Eyeing the lucrative systems and network security management software markets, Bull decided to create a separate unit to develop and market its OpenMaster systems management and SecureWare products (CI No 3,442). Bull, which already Netscape’s SuiteSpot, says 2,600 sites are using its SecureWare VPN work which isn’t yet sold in the US. NetWall is priced from $1,850 for five IP addresses in Europe – $20,000 for unlimited addresses.
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