Cisco Expands 1000 and 4000 Router Series for Increased Performance, Additional Access Alternatives; Low-End Introductions Include ISDN Router With Integrated NT1, High-Speed Synchronous Serial Router; Mid-Range Router Optimized for ATM Backbone Access and SNA NetBIOS Internetworking.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 1995--Cisco Systems Inc. today announced three new routers: the Cisco 1004 and Cisco 1005, both part of the low-end Cisco 100 series of multiprotocol access products (see Cisco Expands Low-Cost Cisco 1000 Series to Include ISDN Router with Integrated NT1, High-Speed Synchronous Serial Router); and the Cisco 4700, a new router in the Cisco 4000 series of mid-range router products (see Cisco Announces Router Optimized for ATM Backbone Access, IBM Data-Link Switching Internetworking Solutions). All three new routers will be unveiled at Cisco's booth at Networld+InterOp in Atlanta on September 25-29, 1995.

The Cisco 1004 is an ISDN router that connects small, remote Ethernet local-area networks (LANs) to wide-area networks (WANs) using Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). This new router features an ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI) with an integrated Network Termination 1 (NT1) device, which reduces the number of devices required to connect to ISDN in North America. The Cisco 1005 is a synchronous serial router that connects small, remote Ethernet LANs to WANs using leased lines, Frame Relay, Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS), Switched-56 and X.25.

The Cisco 1004 and Cisco 1005 routers are ideal for small remote offices that require cost-effective solutions for part- or full-time connectivity to headquarters and other central site locations. The routers are also a model solution for transparent, inexpensive Internet access. With the introduction of the Cisco 1004 and Cisco 1005, companies have more choices for connecting their small, remote sites inexpensively without sacrificing ease of use, said Kevin Kennedy, product management director of Cisco's Remote Access Products. Plus, these two new products take advantage of the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (Cisco IOS), making them extremely flexible and simple to manage. This introduction reinforces Cisco's leadership in small branch and remote office internetworking.

The RISC-based Cisco 4700, when used in combination with Cisco's ATM Network Processor Module announced in July 1995, is optimized for Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) backbone access, reliable IBM Data-Link Switching (DLSw) internetworking and routing of native Advanced Peer-to-Peer (APPN) traffic.

The Cisco 4700 is also ideally suited as a central site or backbone router to handle SNA networking or other multiprotocol traffic when used as a DLSw router or border peer or as an APPN network node. Using Cisco's Down Stream PU Concentration function, the 4700 can also be used as a concentrator for hundreds of SNA devices.

The Cisco 4000 series of router products, which includes the high-performance Cisco 4700 router, features the industry's broadest set of connectivity options and are the industry's most widely used routers with more than 80,000 units installed worldwide. Cisco Network Processor Modules available for this series include Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ATM, serial, ISDN BRI and ISDN PRI interfaces.

"We have many customers who are building large SNA/NetBIOS internetworks with hundreds of remote sites," said Kennedy. "The 4700 is highly optimized to link remote sites to a central data center. The Cisco 4700 also provides low-cost ATM connectivity and asserts Cisco's leadership in providing high-performance ATM access."

The introduction of these three new routers follows the recent agreement for Cisco to acquire Combinet Inc., a leading maker of ISDN remote-access networking products. Cisco plans to employ Combinet technology (software applications and platforms) to increase its leadership position in the fast-growing telecommuting arena. The Cisco 1000 series, because of its variety of WAN alternatives, sophisticated software features and management capabilities, will continue to provide Cisco customers with flexible, low-cost corporate branch office connectivity, small-office connectivity and corporate telecommuter solutions. Customers can expect to see the first Cisco-labeled Combinet products in the fourth quarter of 1995.

Pricing and Availability

The Cisco 1004 will be available in North America beginning September 1995 and will list starting at $1,595 (U.S.) The Cisco 1005 router will begin shipping in October 1995 to North America and Europe; worldwide availability will occur by December 1995. The Cisco 1005 will list starting at $1395 (U.S.).

The Cisco 4700 router is available immediately and lists from $10,200 to $11,700 (U.S.), depending on the Cisco IOS feature set selected.

Cisco Systems Inc., headquartered in San Jose, Calif., is the leading global supplier of enterprise networks, including routers, LAN and ATM switches, dial-up access servers, and network management software. These products, integrated by Cisco's Internetwork Operating System (IOS), link geographically dispersed LANs, WANs and IBM networks. Cisco is traded under the NASDAQ symbol CSCO.

For more information about Cisco, please contact Cisco's headquarters in San Jose at 408/526-4000 or 800/553-NETS (6387).

CONTACT: Stirling & Cohan Inc.

Cynthia Stirling, 415/513-0972