Cisco Delivers Cost-Effective Multifunction Platform That Increases Network Performance and Availability.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 1997--

Integrates LAN Switching into Cisco 7200 Series with Cost

Effective EtherSwitch Port Adapter

Cisco Systems Inc. today announced the EtherSwitch(TM) port adapter for the Cisco 7200 series of routers.

The EtherSwitch port adapter complements the Cisco 7200 by providing a cost-effective, integrated solution for LAN switching and routing services that meets the diverse requirements of both enterprise and service provider customers. The EtherSwitch port adapter is part of Cisco's strategy to integrate LAN switching and routing, and complements the integration of routing into Catalyst(R) 5000 switches with the Route Switch Module (RSM) for large campus applications.

The EtherSwitch port adapter complements the existing capabilities of the ATM Circuit Emulation Service port adapter, which integrates the functions of an ATM access concentrator for multiservice voice/data integration.

Cost-Effective

The integration of high-speed LAN switching with the Cisco 7200 decreases rack space requirements and simplifies network design by integrating an Ethernet switch into the Cisco 7200, without sacrificing LAN switching performance. In addition, with the ATM Circuit Emulation Service port adapter, the Cisco 7200 becomes a single platform that can be used by enterprise or service provider customers to support multiservice integration over ATM (including voice, video and data support).

This creates increased revenue opportunities, equipment and management cost-savings, administration reductions and rack space savings. Combined with support for dual power and Cisco's Hot Standby Routing Protocol, the Cisco 7200 maintains high network availability for minimum downtime and maintenance of revenue-generating applications and services.

"By integrating LAN switching into a router, Cisco's new EtherSwitch port adapter significantly increases performance and lowers operational costs," said Robert Bowman, director of backbone engineering for Exodus Communications, a leader in Internet data centers providing Internet systems and network management solutions.

"This product will allow Exodus to take IP services to a new level of functional integration previously available only from multiple products."

High Performance

The EtherSwitch port adapter integrates high-performance LAN switching into the Cisco 7200 for tighter coupling of Layer-2 functions with Layer-3 services in a single, compact product. This allows service providers to support PoP switching between servers and backbone routers without the need for a separate switch.

Bundled services including switched-LAN, Internet and voice can now be offered on a single platform for outsourced-enterprise or customer-premise applications. Similarly, enterprise regional or branch offices can now have a single platform to provide multiple functions that previously required separate devices.

For example, a high-speed LAN switch supporting client-server applications can now be integrated with a backbone router supplying WAN connectivity and Layer-3 services for a more cost-effective solution.

"The Cisco 7200 with the EtherSwitch port adapter is the perfect solution for our remote PoPs where we collocate servers and have limited rack space," said Ed Kern, vice president of engineering at Digex Inc., a national Internet carrier. "Smaller ISPs will also benefit from the Cisco 7200 by having the ability to dedicate routers for multiple servers."

With 14 switched Ethernet ports, including twelve 10Mbps (10BaseT) Ethernet ports and two 10/100Mbps (10BaseT/100BaseTX) Fast Ethernet ports, the EtherSwitch port adapter flexibly supports local workstation, high-speed server and backbone connections, delivering 435 Mbps full-duplex bandwidth for wire-speed switching. All ports on the EtherSwitch port adapter support auto-sensing and auto-negotiation for the proper transmission mode (half-duplex or full-duplex) to provide up to 200Mbps of bandwidth per port.

The EtherSwitch port adapter also supports up to four virtual local area networks (VLANs), which can be configured with additional Ethernet, Fast Ethernet or EtherSwitch ports, local or remote. Administrators can then optimize performance for error-free switching using store-and-forward or cut-through switching technology.

"By integrating multiple functions into a single solution, Cisco can now offer private enterprise and service providers the ability to decrease their operational and management costs while simplifying network management," said Walt Blomquist, product manager at Cisco Systems Inc.

Integrated Network Management

As an extension of the Cisco 7200 Web-based network management tool, the EtherSwitch port adapter supports a VLAN configuration tool, which is accessible from the Cisco 7200 network management console web page. The VLAN configuration tool has a graphical user interface and provides easy-to-use facilities to simplify network management tasks.

The Cisco 7200 network management tool is completely interoperable with CiscoView, CiscoWorks and command-line interface (CLI), delivering consistent management and interoperability across Cisco products.

Pricing and Availability

The Cisco 7200 with the EtherSwitch port adapter will be available in November 1997 and will be priced at $5,495.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at http://www.cisco.com . -0-

Note to Editors: Cisco IOS is a trademark, and Catalyst, Cisco, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems Inc. in the United States and other certain countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Cisco Systems

Erin Bergamo, 408/527-0600

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