Cisco Announces Integrated IP-ATM Class of Service Capability; Cisco IOS Software Integrates IP and ATM Class of Service to Enable New World of Networking Services.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1998--Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced the first-of-its-kind integrated IP-ATM Class of Service (CoS) capability available with Cisco's latest Cisco IOS(R) software releases.

Cisco's IP-ATM CoS capability is part of Cisco's ongoing investment in solutions that bring the richness of Cisco IOS software to customers with investments in IP and ATM networks.

By implementing the integrated IP-ATM CoS capability, network service providers can create differentiated service classes across IP and traditional ATM networks. These differential service classes help network service providers manage the flow of mission-critical data through wide-area networks using Cisco IOS software. Developing this ability to create network-wide, differentiated service classes on existing networks, Cisco is leading the effort to provide QoS solutions that will take advantage of evolving multiple network infrastructures.

"The ability to differentiate between traffic classes is a next step in the management of network resources, such as bandwidth," said Becca Nitzan, network engineer, ESnet. "Cisco's IP-ATM CoS facility will help us provide service classes to our customers by ensuring their critical data flows through our network predictably and without loss due to congestion from other, less critical traffic."

Similar to service classes in airline travel, where business class receives better service than coach, and first class receives better service than business class, Cisco's new IP-ATM CoS capability categorizes network traffic depending on priority. With Cisco's IP-ATM solution, their customers are ensured that "first class" traffic on IP is "first class" traffic on ATM. Thus, critical users and traffic types can maintain peak performance even during periods of high network usage and congestion, while non-critical traffic can be restricted in its network usage.

This new capability allows service providers, telcos and geographically disperse enterprise customers to better manage their network resources. Consequently, they have the flexibility to provide a greater quality of service for mission-critical traffic while also enhancing the cost structure of their network. For the first time, network service providers are able to classify various types of traffic over multiple networks.

"IP differentiated services, based on Cisco developments, is the type of technology France Telecom Transpac is planning to use in the RAIN network on both ATM and SDH trunks," said Dominique Delisle, head of laboratory (Data Services and High-Bit Rate Networks), of France Telecom CNET Research Center. "We plan to use this technology in order to provide different class of services for different customer needs."

"Cisco IOS software continues to be at the leading edge of innovation with respect to Internet services," said Keith Travis, product line manager, Cisco IOS software, Cisco Systems. "We designed the IP-ATM CoS capability in collaboration with our service provider customers to make sure it meets their needs, and their customers' needs."

The IP-ATM CoS facility runs on existing wide-area ATM network infrastructures. This new capability permits a phased deployment to Tag Switching/MPLS networks.

Availability

Cisco's IP-ATM CoS facility is available now for the Cisco 7500 series routers.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

Note to Editors: Cisco, Cisco IOS, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.