Cisco Networks Small Businesses; Announces Cisco Networked Office Stack; New Small Business Solutions Deliver Secure Internet Access, Flexibility and Integration.SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 1998--Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :CSCO CSCO Cisco Systems Incorporated (stock symbol) CSCO Chief Supply Chain Officer ) today announced the Cisco Networked Office stack, a complete networking solution for small and growing businesses and branch offices. This new suite of stackable desktop products and software is affordably priced and delivers secure Internet access See how to access the Internet. , high-performance local-area networking, plug-and-play Web-hosting and flexible remote access. The Cisco Networked Office stack has been specifically designed to complement the Cisco 1600 series routers and 1500 series Ethernet Micro Hubs. Three new stack components include the Cisco 1548 Micro Switch 10/100, the Cisco 1528 Micro Hub 10/100 and the Cisco Micro Webserver 200. The stack solution ensures secure Internet access via the Cisco IOS Cisco IOS (originally Internetwork Operating System) is the software used on the vast majority of Cisco Systems routers and all current Cisco network switches. IOS is a package of routing, switching, internetworking and telecommunications functions tightly integrated with a (TM) firewall feature set supported on the Cisco 1600 series or via the Cisco Centri(TM) firewall for Windows NT (Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT is the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it includes built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. environments, now available in a 50-user configuration for smaller businesses. For easy installation and simple network configuration, each component of the stack includes color-matched ports and cabling and is fully supported by the latest version of Cisco ConfigMaker. "The Internet represents the next logical step in the growth of our auto accessory business. Cisco's small business solutions will make this transition smooth and affordable," said William J. Weiner, president of Campbell, Calif.-based Precision Auto Designs. "The Cisco Networked Office stack will enable us to host and manage our own internal Web site to reach new customers, launch new products and in the future, safely conduct business over the World Wide Web." Compact Autosensing Switch The Cisco 1548 Micro Switch 10/100 is a high-performance autosensing Fast Ethernet An earlier name for 100Mbps Ethernet. See 100Base-T. (networking) Fast Ethernet - A version of Ethernet developed in the 1990s(?) which can carry 100 Mbps compared with standard Ethernet's 10 Mbps. It requires upgraded network cards and hubs. switch for creating high-performance local-area networks Local-area networks Computer networks that usually cover a limited range, say, within the boundary of a building. A computer network is two or more computers that communicate with each other through some medium. (LANs) in small business, branch office and small workgroup environments. The Micro Switch delivers up to 80 times the bandwidth of a standard Ethernet hub A device that all lines on an Ethernet segment are plugged into. 10Base-T and 100Base-T Ethernets are star networks and require a hub for operation. The earlier 10Base5 and 10Base2 Ethernets are bus networks, but are often wired into a star configuration using a central hub for improved and supports full-duplex operation across all eight ports to eliminate network bottlenecks between workgroups, end stations and servers. For simple deployment in mixed environments and complete 10/100 interoperability with Ethernet and Fast Ethernet devices, each port on the switch automatically detects and configures the speed and duplex mode of each port on the switch. The switch can also be deployed as the LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. backbone in larger office networks, aggregating other devices such as the Cisco 1528 Micro Hub 10/100. Compact Autosensing Hub The Cisco 1528 Micro Hub is a new affordably priced compact 10/100 autosensing Fast Ethernet hub that is simple to install and maintain. This compact hub offers up to ten times the bandwidth of a standard Ethernet hub, making it ideal for small offices and small workgroups that want to future-proof their networks in anticipation of network-intensive applications and the migration to Fast Ethernet. A single Cisco Micro Hub 1528 with eight autosensing 10/100 Fast Ethernet ports can create a high-performance LAN with up to eight user PCs, printers, servers and other devices at either Ethernet or Fast Ethernet speeds. Plug-and-Play Web Hosting Making a Web site available on the Internet. Many ISPs host a few personal Web pages for an individual at no additional cost above the monthly service fee, but the address is subordinate to the ISP; for example, www.friendlyisp.com/pat_smith. The Cisco Micro Webserver 200 is a dedicated Web hosting appliance designed to cost-effectively meet the needs of growing businesses and branch offices. It provides an intuitive graphical user interface graphical user interface (GUI) Computer display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a mouse to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen as opposed to having to (GUI (Graphical User Interface) A graphics-based user interface that incorporates movable windows, icons and a mouse. The ability to resize application windows and change style and size of fonts are the significant advantages of a GUI vs. a character-based interface. ) that enables easy installation and management of an intranet or Internet Web site. As Web site content grows, the Micro Webserver scales from a 2.1-GB internal hard drive through support for as many as six external storage devices. With support for the industry standard common gateway interface (CGI CGI in full Common Gateway Interface. Specification by which a Web server passes data between itself and an application program. Typically, a Web user will make a request of the Web server, which in turn passes the request to a CGI application program. ) information is easily collected from Web site visitors. Flexible Connectivity The modular Cisco 1600 series routers comprise the WAN component of the stack solution, connecting small businesses and branch offices with Ethernet LANs to wide-area networks Wide-area networks Communication networks that are regional, nationwide, or worldwide in geographic area, with a minimum distance typical of that between major metropolitan areas. Smaller networks include metropolitan and local-area networks. (WANs) through Integrated Services Digital Network Integrated services digital network (ISDN) A generic term referring to the integration of communications services transported over digital facilities such as wire pairs, coaxial cables, optical fibers, microwave radio, and satellites. (ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. ), asynchronous Refers to events that are not synchronized, or coordinated, in time. The following are considered asynchronous operations. The interval between transmitting A and B is not the same as between B and C. The ability to initiate a transmission at either end. serial and synchronous serial connections. Its modular design In the context of systems engineering, modular design — or "modularity in design" — is an approach aiming to subdivide a system into smaller parts (modules) that can be independently created and then used in different systems to drive multiple functionalities. and multiple WAN interface card options enable businesses to select appropriate and affordable WAN technologies, migrate to emerging technologies and preserve initial capital investments. Secure Internet Access Cisco offers growing businesses two choices for secure Internet access, the Cisco 1605-R router, combined with the Cisco IOS Firewall feature set, and the Cisco Centri Firewall for Windows NT. Both protect a business' internal network and information by physically separating internal LANs from the Internet, and by enforcing the business' network security policy. Using the new 50-user version of Centri Firewall, smaller businesses and branch offices running on Windows NT can now define and manage their own security policies through an easy-to-use graphical user interface. Simple Stack Configuration Each component of the Cisco Networked Office stack is fully supported by the latest version of Cisco ConfigMaker, a Windows 95 or NT 4.0-based software tool designed to configure the stack from a single PC. ConfigMaker graphically guides resellers and network administrators with little networking experience through the initial configuration of each component in the stack. "The Cisco Networked Office stack furthers Cisco's wide-reaching commitment to small and medium-sized businesses that are looking toward the Internet to fuel future growth," said Howard Charney, senior vice president of the Small/Medium Business Line of Business at Cisco Systems. "We have dramatically simplified the installation and network configuration process of these products to ensure that customers will realize immediate success in both local area networking as well as connecting to and conducting business over the Internet. With extensive channel training and support programs in place, our resellers are well prepared to rapidly connect the new Internet generation of smaller businesses." Flexible Financing Program Cisco's new leasing program enables growing companies to harness the power of the Internet without making large capital investments. The program offers 100 percent financing of the Cisco Networked Office stack including all costs related to the network upgrade for a period of 36 months with a one dollar residual payment. The program also offers a network upgrade option at month 30 that enables businesses to upgrade to the latest technology and forgive the final six months of payments. Application Specific Solution Kits The Cisco Networked Office stack is available in several application specific solution kits that target small business applications. These include a secure Internet access kit, a high performance LAN connectivity kit that eliminates network bottlenecks, and an Internet marketing kit that enables businesses to market products and services over the Internet. With minimal initial investment, growing businesses leasing the stack will be able to take advantage of the latest in networking technology for as little as $59 per month. Pricing and Availability The Cisco Networked Office stack components are available individually or together as an integrated solution. The Cisco 1548 Micro Switch 10/100 and 1528 Micro Hub 10/100 will be available in late February 1998 at U.S. list prices of $1,295 and $645 respectively. The Cisco Micro Webserver 200 and the Cisco IOS Firewall feature set will also be available in February with U.S. list prices of $1,595 and $650 respectively. The 50-user version of the Cisco Centri firewall for Windows NT, also available in February, will have a U.S. list price of $2,495. 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: Centri and Cisco IOS are trademarks, and Cisco, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. CONTACT: Cisco Systems Inc. Michael Hakkert, 408/526-4794 mhakkert@cisco.com |
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