LVL7 Announces Multiple Linux Customers, Partnership with MontaVista
Software

FASTPATH to provide industry¹s first completely integrated Linux-based
switch-router services enabled software products

Cary, NC -- March 5, 2002 -- LVL7 Systems, a network processing software
company that accelerates the development of network infrastructure
equipment, announced today the launch of an aggressive Linux strategy that
includes:

-- The introduction of the industry¹s first completely integrated
Linux-based switch/router services enabled software solution for the
enterprise, metro and access markets,

--  A partnership with MontaVista Software, one of the world¹s leading
providers of open source embedded systems software solutions, and

-- The creation of a Linux development community that provides network
equipment vendors with a central source for Linux development support and
services from LVL7, MontaVista Software and other silicon partners.

Ernie Baker, founder and president of LVL7, says the software company is
committed to meeting the needs of the Linux community.  ³Linux is an
increasingly popular choice as an embedded operating system and is a natural
fit for FASTPATH because of its independent nature and ease of portability,²
Baker said.  ³Product developers are asking for intelligent solutions that
enable new revenue generating services. FASTPATH is still the only
networking software product that has been successfully ported and integrated
on multiple operating systems and silicon platforms, including network
processors, ASICs and ASSPs.²

LVL7 has already begun working with multiple customers to provide the
Linux-based version of its FASTPATH 2.0 software suite, which includes
production quality code for Layers 2/3/4+ switching and routing, bandwidth
provisioning and management services.  FASTPATH was recently tested and
integrated on the Linux 2.4 kernel, making it the industry¹s first
completely integrated switch-router solution.  Previously, equipment
manufacturers have been forced to write their own Linux software code or
face the difficult challenge of integrating numerous shrink-wrapped routing
protocols.

³As developers start migrating to Linux and building advanced networking
products, they are demanding software solutions that combine functionality,
operational efficiency and a competitive cost of ownership,² said Stephen
Balacco, embedded systems research analyst at Venture Development
Corporation. ³LVL7's FASTPATH provides exactly that for the Linux
development environment.²

Partnership with MontaVista Software
LVL7 plans to aggressively pursue deals in the Linux market and has
initiated its efforts by striking deals with one of the best-known names in
Linux: MontaVista Software.  FASTPATH software has been integrated to
support the company¹s flagship product -  MontaVista Linux®

For MontaVista Software, the availability of new Linux-based networking
solutions such as FASTPATH helps propel the growth of the Linux movement.
The integration of FASTPATH with embedded Linux as a complete network
product offering better positions Linux to challenge other commercial and
proprietary Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS) as the operating system of
choice for network equipment developers.

³Linux has gained wide acceptance in the networking industry. MontaVista
Software is providing leadership and focus in addressing the needs of this
market segment. Our partnership with LVL7 allows us to help developers
create robust, flexible and sophisticated networking products without the
need of costly integration efforts, and get their products to market quicker
and more cost-effectively,² said Sheila Baker, vice president of marketing
at MontaVista Software.

MontaVista has joined LVL7¹s Smart Start partner program, an initiative that
integrates LVL7¹s FASTPATH software and intellectual property with partner
technologies to provide customers a smarter path to market.  For customers,
the combination of these Linux technologies provides a completely integrated
and tested solution, with additional support and services readily available
from LVL7 and MontaVista Software.

Growing Demand for Linux Software Support
LVL7 has witnessed a growing interest in Linux software support from
customers, 
and recent reports from the Linux analyst community point toward dramatic
increases in the embedded Linux market beginning this year.

A July 2001 report from Evans Data predicts the embedded Linux market will
increase more than 140 percent in 2002, surpassing VxWorks® to become the
most popular embedded software system.  Another analyst firm, Venture
Development Corporation, predicts that worldwide shipments of embedded Linux
operating systems, software development tools and related services will jump
more than 
61 percent a year through 2005, creating a market valued at $306.6 million.

These figures -- combined with the increased emphasis on Linux from IBM, HP,
Sun and other major technology companies -- bode well for LVL7 as it enters
the embedded Linux market.

³As a user of FASTPATH software in our products, RadiSys is delighted with
LVL7¹s move to provide software integrated and tested with MontaVista
Linux,² said Arif Kareem, senior vice president for RadiSys. ³This open
environment provides us and our customers with an opportunity to get our
products to market much faster, with more capability, and better support
than we would otherwise have.  Embedded Linux is a great environment for
FASTPATH, and LVL7¹s commitment to provide direct support for the leading
embedded Linux distributions reaffirms our choice of using FASTPATH in our
switch products.²  

In addition to RadiSys (Nasdaq:RSYS), LVL7 has already begun shipping the
Linux-based version of FASTPATH to equipment vendors in the NPU, ASIC and
ASSP space.  LVL7¹s Linux customers are targeting the following markets:
broadband access, wireless base station, and enterprise and metro
switch-router products.

FASTPATH works across multiple operating systems, silicon platforms
The FASTPATH software suite includes more than one million lines of
production quality code for switches, routers and access devices.  As the
only company to provide a flexible architecture that works across multiple
silicon platforms and operating systems, LVL7 enables networking equipment
manufacturers to reduce product development cycles and get to market faster.


About LVL7 Systems, Inc.
LVL7 (Level 7) Systems, Inc. offers a full suite of network processing
software that accelerates the development of intelligent network
infrastructure equipment, including switches, routers and access devices.
As the only company to provide a flexible architecture that works across
multiple platforms and operating systems, LVL7 enables networking equipment
manufacturers to reduce product development cycles and get to market faster.
LVL7¹s FASTPATH software includes verified protocols and applications, as
well as assembly and device driver code. FASTPATH is available in
function-specific packages or as an integrated suite to meet individual
product and market demands.  LVL7 is a member of the NP Forum and has
partnerships with leading technology manufacturers, including AMCC,
NetLogic, SwitchCore and Vitesse. LVL7 is a privately held company located
near Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.  For more information about
LVL7¹s FASTPATH software, visit www.LVL7.com.

About MontaVista Software, Inc.
MontaVista Software, Inc. powers the embedded revolution by providing
open-source systems software solutions for embedded developers. Founded in
1999 by real-time operating system (RTOS) pioneer James Ready, MontaVista's
principal products include MontaVista Linux®, a Linux-based embedded source
and binary distribution, cross development platform and a set of tool kits
for x86/IA-32, PowerPC, StrongARM, MIPS, SH, ARM, XScale and other
microprocessor architectures. MontaVista offers developers a family of
products and services for embedded design and development targeted for
applications ranging from communications infrastructure to consumer devices.
MontaVista Software also provides several technology add-on products
addressing specific customer needs such as the Java Development environment,
High Availability technology, powerful graphics toolkits and more.

Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, Calif.,
MontaVista Software is a privately held company funded by leading investors
such Alloy Ventures, US Venture Partners, RRE Ventures, WR Hambrecht + Co.,
IBM, Intel Capital and Sony Corporation. For more information about
MontaVista Software, please visit http://www.mvista.com or email
info@mvista.com or call (408) 328-9200.

About RadiSys 
RadiSys (Nasdaq: RSYS) designs and manufactures building blocks for
next-generation Internet and communications systems. As the leading
independent provider to OEMs, RadiSys delivers a time-to-market advantage in
a tight "virtual division" relationship with its customers. The building
blocks include Intel-based embedded computers, DSP modules and algorithms,
network interfaces and protocols, systems platforms and embedded software.
RadiSys' highly differentiated position in the market is a result of its
intense focus on Intel-based technology, having the broadest array of
building blocks, and a "perfect fit" product development strategy using its
intellectual property to design customer subsystems.

LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. MontaVista is a trademark of
MontaVista Software Inc. RadiSys is a registered trademark of RadiSys
Corporation. All other names and trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.

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Media Contacts:

LVL7
Kishore Jotwani
Vice President of Marketing
Phone: (919) 865-2909
E-mail: krj@lvl7.com

Linda Palmer
Marketing Manager
Phone:  (919) 865-2788
E-mail:  lpalmer@lvl7.com

Robert Brown
RF|Binder Partners (for LVL7)
Phone: (919) 791-2081
E-mail: robert.brown@rfbinder.com

MontaVista Software, Inc.
Joe Samagond
Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications
Phone (408) 328-9234
E-mail: jsamagond@mvista.com

RadiSys Corporation
Lyn Pangares
Director, Corporate Marketing
Phone: (503) 615-1220
E-mail: lyn.pangares@radisys.com