ROCKVILLE, MD, January 16, 2003 — Visual Networks^® (NASDAQ: VNWK), today announced the appointment of Edward L. Glotzbach to its board of directors. With over thirty years of telecommunications experience, Mr. Glotzbach brings extensive knowledge in data networking services and operations.

Currently, Mr. Glotzbach serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Technology Partners International, Inc. (TPI), an information systems consulting firm that aids clients in achieving their business objectives through information technology and business process sourcing initiatives. Prior to joining TPI, Mr. Glotzbach served as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer for SBC Communications, a multi-billion dollar data, voice and Internet service provider. Mr. Glotzbach spent the vast majority of his thirty-year telecommunications career with SBC where he served as President of SBC Services and as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for Southwestern Bell Telephone. In addition to SBC and Southwestern Bell, his career has taken him through positions with AT&T and Bellcore.

"Ed's experience with network services and operations will be an invaluable resource as the company continues to leverage and expand our strong service provider and VAR channels," said Larry Barker, CEO of Visual Networks. "His executive-level experience in network services, customer service, financial management as well as his advisory roles with numerous technology companies make him a well-rounded addition to our board. Not only is Ed an accomplished leader in the telecommunications industry, he is also an active member of his community. We are delighted to welcome Ed to the board."

Aside from his professional leadership at TPI and SBC, Mr. Glotzbach currently serves on the Board of Advisors at the following companies: The Harvard Group, a global advisory firm that draws knowledge from top global CEOs and CIOs to provide corporate executives with a fresh perspective, and HP-Compaq Computer Corp. He also currently serves as Board Chair of Webster University in St. Louis, MO.

"I was honored by the invitation to join Visual Networks' Board of Directors and am excited about the opportunity to work with the authority in IP performance services and applications management," said Mr. Glotzbach. "During a time when managing applications and the infrastructure supporting them is a more prominent business concern than ever before, Visual Networks provides its award-winning product lines to assure service levels and business continuity for enterprises and service providers everywhere. From my point of view, Visual Networks possesses a unique ability to bring value-added help to this critical part of the business infrastructure."