Cisco Expands Catalyst Switch Portfolio to Address Evolving Needs of Campus Networks.

Cisco Catalyst 3750-E Series Switches Provide Maximum Security, High Performance and Scalable Wired and Wireless Access for the Interactive Campus

CANNES, France -- Video applications such as Internet Protocol (IP) video, IPTV and telepresence on the campus network help customers increase productivity while reducing operating costs. Cisco([R]) (NASDAQ:CSCO) today announced new Cisco Catalyst([R]) switch offerings that aim to ensure these new real-time bandwidth intensive services are delivered with the highest performance, availability, quality of service and maximum security.

An integral part of the Cisco Service Oriented Network Architecture (SONA) framework, the Cisco Campus Network facilitates real-time business. Highlights of today's introductions for the Cisco Campus Network include:

* Cisco Catalyst 3750-E and 3560-E Series Switches: Enterprise-class line of 10/100/1000 wiring closet switches with 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks and full Power over Ethernet (PoE) configurations. The Cisco Catalyst 3750-E Series Switches offer Cisco StackWise([R]) Plus for ease of use and deployment, high performance and superior resiliency.

* Cisco Catalyst 3560 and Catalyst 2960 Compact Switches: Small form-factor switches with Gigabit Ethernet and Fast Ethernet and PoE configurations designed for meeting rooms, classrooms and other wiring and space-constrained environments.

* Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series 8700W Enhanced AC Power Supply: Helps enable industry-leading PoE density with full redundancy across all chassis ports.

* Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Full Image In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU): Helps ensure business continuity by enabling a full Cisco IOS([R]) Software upgrade without downtime.

* Cisco Redundant Power System (RPS) 2300: A redundant power system that provides users with uninterrupted network services in the event of an internal power-supply failure.

"Cisco has laid the groundwork for advanced services deployment for voice and video with improvements to the Cisco Catalyst portfolio that ease migration to next-generation 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks, extend Power over Ethernet capabilities, and add greater application control and operational efficiency," said Zeus Kerravala, senior vice president of enterprise research, Yankee Group. "The announcements today will extend highly secure wired and wireless user access, while easing network and operations management for stretched IT administrators."

Cisco Wiring Closet Switches with 10 Gigabit Ethernet Uplinks

The Cisco Catalyst 3750-E Series of stackable switches and Catalyst 3560-E Series of standalone switches facilitate the deployment of highly secure converged applications while maximizing investment protection. Featuring Cisco StackWise Plus, the Cisco Catalyst 3750-E Series is backward-compatible with StackWise and can be seamlessly integrated with Catalyst 3750 Series Switches, the Cisco Catalyst 3750 Integrated Wireless LAN Controller, and Cisco Integrated Services Routers.

The Cisco TwinGig Converter Module, a Cisco innovation optimized for 10 Gigabit Ethernet upgrades, easily changes two Gigabit Ethernet uplinks to a 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplink on the Cisco Catalyst 3750-E and 3560-E Series to accommodate business growth. This unique Cisco advantage simplifies future-proofing for 10 Gigabit Ethernet upgrades on fixed platforms instead of requiring a new 10 Gigabit Ethernet platform or requiring significant board-level changes.

Duke University, one of the nation's leading institutions of higher learning, based in Durham, N.C., provides a 27,000-node network for students, faculty and administrators. With more than 1,000 Cisco Catalyst 3750 Series Switches currently installed, information technology (IT) administrators are planning to upgrade the network with the new backward-compatible Cisco Catalyst 3750-E Series.

"The Cisco Catalyst 3750-E has a feature set that meets our next-generation needs," says Kevin Miller, senior manager of network services, Duke University. "We are planning to add the new 48-port Cisco Catalyst 3750-E to our existing switch stacks for greater Gigabit Ethernet performance. We need 10 Gigabit Ethernet for select telecommunications and data center deployments, and we expect to need even more as we deploy video applications throughout the campus. The Cisco Catalyst 3750-E allows us to deploy with 1-gigabit uplinks now, with the ability to easily upgrade to 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks as needed in the future."

Cisco Wiring Closet Switches Deliver Industry-Leading PoE Density

The Cisco Catalyst 3750-E and Catalyst 3560-E Series offer an industry first in comprehensive PoE provisioning and density, providing full IEEE 802.3af Class 3 power (15.4W) on every port in a single rack unit form factor. New to the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series is the 8700W Enhanced AC Power Supply, which provides industry-leading comprehensive PoE provisioning and density in a modular form factor, enabling full IEEE 802.3af Class 3 (15.4W) on 420 ports.

Extending Network Access Outside the Wiring Closet

The Cisco Catalyst 3560 and Catalyst 2960 Compact Switches deliver optimized security and advanced services for small-density deployments outside the wiring closet. The Cisco Catalyst Compact Switches' small size, durable metal shell, fan-free silent operation, easy wall or under-desk mounting, and security lock to prevent theft, make them ideally suited for meeting rooms, classrooms, micro-branch offices and a variety of other settings.

Aida Cruises, based in Germany, is installing the Cisco Catalyst 3560 Compact Switch in brand-new cruise ships to help enable Internet access, IP telephony and an entertainment system for audio and video on demand as well as online shopping and the scheduling of cruise activities. The Cisco Catalyst 3560 Compact Switches support advanced intelligence with PoE to help enable converged voice, video and data services, and each switch will be deployed in small hall closets serving two cabins per switch, thereby significantly lowering the amount of cabling required.

"Cisco's new line of compact switches is the ideal basis for our mobile infotainment solution that we deliver to cruisers aboard Aida cruise ships," said Dr. Jorg Liebe, director of voice integration products at Lufthansa Systems, a solutions provider for Aida Cruises. "With an entertainment system offering cruising ship entertainment and special event scheduling, cruisers will have more opportunities to customize their shipboard activities and make the most of their vacations, while also enjoying greater online access and IP telephony to stay connected as needed."

Improved Availability and Operational Efficiency with Software Enhancements

To help maximize network availability and virtually eliminate planned outages, Cisco now offers full image In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) capabilities on the Cisco Catalyst 4507R and 4510R Switches with redundant supervisor engines. Full-image ISSU allows customers to upgrade the complete Cisco IOS Software image without having to take the switch or network out of service.

To help improve operational efficiency, beginning with the Cisco Catalyst 3750-E and 3560-E Series, a Cisco IOS Software image containing all features sets will be installed at manufacturing, allowing a customer to activate specific feature sets without having to load a new Cisco IOS Software image. This new approach to software and service deployment and management will help customers improve image management and provide easier tracking for compliance and audits. More information at (http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2007/prod_011607b.html).

Power Resiliency

The Cisco Redundant Power System (RPS) 2300 seamlessly provides backup power for one or two of up to six attached devices, including Cisco Catalyst fixed-configuration switches and Cisco Integrated Services Routers. It automatically senses when a connected device has experienced an internal power-supply failure and immediately begins to deliver power to the device, providing continuous uptime.

Pricing and Scheduled Availability

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Warranty and Service

The Cisco Catalyst 3560-E and 3750-E Series Switches are available with a standard 90-day limited hardware warranty. Cisco and its partners provide a broad portfolio of end-to-end services and support that help customers successfully deploy and operate Cisco technologies and optimize their performance throughout the lifecycle of the customer's network. For more information on the Cisco Services portfolio, please visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/support/index.html

For more information on the Cisco Catalyst switch portfolio, please visit www.cisco.com/go/catalyst.

About Cisco Systems

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