Cisco Drives Network-Wide Intelligence Across Switching Platforms, Optimizing Availability, Scalability, Security and Control.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2001

New Switching Products Enable Layer 3/4 Services in the Wiring

Closet, New Service and Support Capabilities Ease Deployment

Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced Cisco Catalyst(R) Series Intelligent Ethernet Switches for mid-sized enterprise and branch office wiring closets. These new products enhance Cisco's offering by allowing customers to deploy consistent Layer 3/4 Services from the desktop to the core and through the wide area network (WAN) -- resulting in optimized performance of Internet business applications. Cisco also introduced new configuration and verification services that will further ease the deployment of network-wide intelligent services.

The new switching products include new models of the Cisco Catalyst 3550 Series and 2950 Series Intelligent Ethernet Switches, the Cisco Catalyst 4000 Family 48-Port 10/100/1000BaseT Line Card, and a switching network module for the Cisco 2600 and 3600 Series Routers. The new products are part of Cisco AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data) -- the one enterprise architecture that provides an intelligent network infrastructure for today's Internet business solutions.

In addition to running existing mission-critical applications, network infrastructures are evolving to address four key developments at the edge:

-- Increase in desktop computing power

-- Extensive use of bandwidth-intensive applications

-- Increased presence of business critical and highly sensitive data on the
network

-- Deployment of multiple device types, such as IP phones and wireless access
points

As a result, companies are increasingly relying on networks as the strategic business infrastructure. In order to effectively manage access to and delivery of information and applications, today's networks must meet new, higher standards. These standards include: increased network availability to accommodate business-critical needs, scalability to accommodate growth, security to control access to network resources and sensitive information, and traffic control to accommodate video and voice applications.

"With our new Catalyst Intelligent Ethernet switches, companies can realize the full benefits of deploying intelligent services, such as advanced Layer 3/4 Services and multilayer switching, as standard functionality in the wiring closet," said Kathy Hill, Vice President and General Manager of Cisco's Desktop Switching Business Unit. "By delivering intelligent capabilities in our new desktop switch families, we are addressing the mid-size network need for enterprise-class functionality that's also affordable and easy-to-use."

Cisco's new Intelligent Ethernet Switches are designed to be upwardly compatible with its Layer 2 Catalyst 3500 and 2900 Series XL desktop switches installed base, allowing for continuity in stacking capabilities and software features.

Enhancing Cisco's Product Portfolio with Intelligent Ethernet Switches

Cisco today introduced the following new products and enhancements to its switching product line:

-- Cisco Catalyst 3550 Series Intelligent Ethernet Switches --

Three new enterprise-class, wire-speed stackable, multilayer

Intelligent Ethernet switches in Fast Ethernet and Gigabit

Ethernet configurations that deliver, for the first time,

network-wide intelligent services, such as advanced quality of

service, rate-limiting, Cisco security access control lists,

multicast management, and high-performance, full dynamic IP

routing -- while maintaining the simplicity of traditional

local area network (LAN) switching.

-- Cisco Catalyst Enhanced Multilayer Software Image (EMI) --

Software upgrade to standard versions of the Catalyst 3550-48

and 3550-24 switches with enhanced services including

wire-speed dynamic IP routing.

-- Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series Intelligent Ethernet Switches --

Four fixed-configuration, stackable models that provide

wire-speed Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity and

bring intelligent services, such as advanced quality of

service, rate-limiting, security filters, and multicast

management, to the network edge. When a Catalyst 2950 Switch

is combined with a Catalyst 3550 Series Switch, the solution

enables IP routing from the edge to the core of the network.

-- Cisco Cluster Management Suite (CMS) Software Enhancements --

Embedded in the Catalyst 3550 and 2950 Series, CMS Software

allows users to simultaneously configure and troubleshoot

multiple Catalyst desktop switches using a standard Web

browser. New capabilities include configuration wizards that

greatly simplify the implementation of converged applications

and network-wide intelligent services.

-- Cisco Catalyst 4000 Family 48-Port 10/100/1000BaseT Line Card

-- Delivering the industry's highest-density, triple-speed,

auto-sensing 10/100/1000 connectivity from the network edge to

the desktop, this new line card is affordable for every

desktop in the enterprise, while offering investment

protection for Gigabit Ethernet and the Catalyst 4000.

-- Cisco 2600 and 3600 Series Routers EtherSwitch Network Module

-- Introducing the first switching module that adds 16 ports

of 10/100 Ethernet connectivity and one optional 1000BaseT

uplink port together with inline power support for IP phones

and wireless LAN access points to the popular Cisco 2600 and

3600 Series routers. This provides customers the option of a

single, integrated routing and switching platform at the small

branch for easier configuration, deployment and management of

low-density data and IP telephony deployments.

New Service and Support Options for Intelligent Ethernet Solution

The Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series, Catalyst 3550 Series, Catalyst 4000 Family switches and the Cisco 2600/3600 Series routers EtherSwitch Network Module are supported by a full portfolio of services designed to align our customers' unique business strategies and goals with high-performance, high availability networks.

Cisco's Total Implementation Solutions (TIS) program, which provides a full range of implementation services, has been expanded to provide new configuration and verification services that will ease the deployment of network-wide intelligent services such as quality of service (QoS) and multicast management. Education and training on these new services will also be available to support channel partners in the delivery of intelligent networks to their end customers.

Cisco continues to offer technical support services to augment the resources of customer operations staffs through Cisco SMARTnet(TM) and SMARTnet On-Site.

Pricing and Availability

Cisco is delivering its new products according to the following price points and timeline:

Product                              Price       Price/Port Shipping


Cisco Catalyst 3550-12G              US$9,995    US$833     Now

Cisco Catalyst 3550-24 with EMI      US$5,490    US$229     This month

Cisco Catalyst 3550-24 with SMI      US$3,495    US$146     This month

Cisco Catalyst 2950G-48              US$4,995    US$104     This month

Cisco Catalyst 2950G-24              US$2,995    US$125     This month

Cisco Catalyst 2950G-12              US$2,495    US$208     This month

Cisco Catalyst 2950G-24-DC           US$3,995    US$166     This month

Cisco Catalyst 4000 Series           US$9,995    US$208     This month
 48-port 10/100/1000BaseT Line Card

Cisco 2600 and 3600 Routers          US$1,800    US$113     This month
 EtherSwitch Network Module

Cisco Catalyst 3550-48 with          US$7,790    US$162     Q1 2002
 Enhanced Multilayer
 Software Image (EMI)

Cisco Catalyst 3550-48 with          US$5,795    US$121     Q1 2002
 Standard Multilayer
 Software Image (SMI)

Cisco Catalyst EMI Upgrade           US$1,995               Q1 2002

In addition, Cisco has recently dropped the list price for some of its previously announced Catalyst 2950 Series switches. The new list prices are as follows:

Product                              Price

Cisco Catalyst 2950T-24              US$1,995
Cisco Catalyst 2950-24               US$1,295
Cisco Catalyst 2950-12               US$1,195

For more information on Cisco Service and Support options for QoS and multicast configuration, contact [e-mail].

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.

Note to Editors: SMARTnet is a trademark, and Catalyst, Cisco, Cisco IOS, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other brands, names, or trademarks mentioned in this document or Web site are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (0104R)