Cisco Sets New Standard for Multilayer Switches; Evolution through Innovations Increase Application Performance Maximizing Existing Network Investments.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2003

Cisco Systems, Inc. today introduced the next generation of intelligent network capabilities and market-leading, high performance interfaces for the Cisco Catalyst(R) 6500 Series multilayer switch. Building on a forward-thinking architecture ideal for enterprise and Metro service provider deployments, the Cisco Catalyst 6500 next generation consists of the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Supervisor Engine 720, high performance two-port and four-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet modules, and two 48-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet modules.

The new modules are supported across all Cisco Catalyst 6500 chassis and interfaces to maximize existing network investments and feature several industry-firsts for customers to simplify network management, enhance operational control, maximize network uptime, and enable hardware-accelerated services like Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Network Address Translation (NAT). The additions also enable customers to cost-effectively deploy 10/100/1000 Megabits per second (Mbps) in wiring closets and migrate from multi-gigabit to 10 Gigabit Ethernet in the core of their networks to better accommodate a broader range of applications.

Cisco Catalyst 6500 Architecture a Platform for Evolution Through Innovation

With more than 50 patents-pending, the Cisco Catalyst 6500 next generation increases system performance and scalability. Customers can deploy new end-user services, enhance wireless user mobility and prepare for the proliferation of network connected devices using their existing Cisco Catalyst 6500 interface investments. The key Cisco Catalyst 6500 platform innovations that reduce customer's total cost of network ownership include:

-- New supervisor engine with integrated 720 Gbps switch fabric:

The new supervisor engine scales Cisco Catalyst 6500

performance to 400 million packet per second (Mpps) for IPv4,

and fully supports every Cisco Catalyst 6500 interface and

network services module. System port densities can be

increased and additional services modules can be installed

when used with the new supervisor engine.

-- Expanded hardware-accelerated intelligent services:

Complementing existing Cisco Catalyst 6500 wire-speed Quality

of Service, Access Control List and IPv4 capabilities, the new

supervisor engine also accelerates, in hardware, IPv6, MPLS,

NAT, and General Routing Encapsulation for practical

deployment in high speed network cores, to meet current and

future requirements.

-- Additional Cisco GRIP features maximize network uptime and

reduce operating costs: The new Cisco Globally Resilient IP

(GRIP) features in the supervisor engine include Virtual

Router Redundancy Protocol and Gateway Load Balancing Protocol

which enable administrators to load-balance network traffic

across traditionally inactive redundant routers or switches

and utilize inactive backup links. This doubles network

infrastructure efficiency and eliminates the need for back-up

routers and switches.

-- Embedded management services and in-line power support: The

Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR), integrated into the new

48-port 10/100/1000 modules, can detect cable failures to

significantly simplify network management and increase

operational control. These modules are also the first

10/100/1000 modules with support for a field-upgradeable

in-line power daughter card to provide high-performance

gigabit desktop connectivity in a converged network

environment.

-- Non-blocking and high-density 10 Gigabit Ethernet Aggregation

in existing Cisco Catalyst 6500s: Utilizing the new supervisor

engine 720 Gbps switch fabric and building on proven Cisco

Express Forwarding technology, these new interfaces provide

industry-leading system port density, ideal for

Metro/long-haul service providers, replacing expensive

Synchronous Optical Network installations. The module is also

suitable for enterprises seeking to migrate to 10 Gigabit

Ethernet.

"These next generation advancements change the market economics to drive the transition from 10/100 to 10/100/1000 and Gigabit EtherChannel to 10 Gigabit Ethernet, while simplifying operational manageability of customer networks," said Luca Cafiero, senior vice president of the Cisco Switching, Voice, and Storage Technology Group. "Today, the Catalyst 6500 is the one platform that allows customers to seamlessly add next-generation intelligent services and interfaces using their existing network infrastructure to create the industry's highest performance, highest density, most feature-rich integrated Layer 2 through Layer 7 switch -- from the wiring closet, to the core, to the data center, to the WAN edge, including Metro Ethernet environments."

"The network is increasingly becoming a strategic asset which can help us realize our academic, research and business goals, via an infrastructure which can support the advanced nature of our new network core," said Jimmy Kyriannis, network architect and manager at New York University. "By moving to Gigabit Ethernet, we can increase network availability through a proven technology that's cost-effective to support. A Catalyst 6500 next generation equipped with the new Supervisor Engine 720, with support for IPv6 and MPLS, enables the platform to be extended to support the growing needs of current and future technologies and applications."

Additional Product Details

In addition to the Cisco Catalyst 6500 next generation components, Cisco also announced the Cisco Catalyst 6500 16-port Gigabit Ethernet module for data center deployments. Additional details for all of the new products:

-- 4-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet module -- Designed for enterprises,

up to 32 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports can be consolidated in a

single chassis, featuring 40 Gbps per slot connections to the

720 Gbps switch fabric. "Hot-swappable" IEEE 802.3ae

standards-compliant Xenpak modular optics provide flexibility

and improved serviceability.

-- 2-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet module -- Designed for service

providers running Metro Area Networks or Wide Area Networks,

this non-blocking 10 Gigabit Ethernet module features deep 150

millisecond buffers and advanced traffic-shaping capabilities

to mitigate network congestion. The module also featuring 40

Gbps per slot connections to the 720 Gbps switch fabric. Up to

16 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports per chassis can be deployed using

IEEE 802.3ae standards compliant "hot-swappable" Xenpak

modular optics.

-- 48-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet module for performance-oriented

wiring closets -- Enables up to 576 10/100/1000 ports per

chassis with 256 Gbps switch fabric connectivity. The module

features integrated TDR and will also support a

field-upgradeable IEEE 802.3af standards-based in-line power

daughter card.

-- 48-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet module for value-oriented wiring

closets -- This module utilizes the Catalyst 6500 32 Gbps

backplane. A single Cisco Catalyst 6500 chassis can

cost-effectively support 48 to 576 10/100/1000 ports using any

generation of Cisco Catalyst 6500 supervisor engine. It also

features TDR and will offer a field-upgradeable IEEE 802.3af

standards based in-line power daughter card.

-- Enhanced 16-port Gigabit Ethernet GBIC module -- For fiber or

mixed media enterprise backbone and datacenter deployments, as

well as service provider gigabit aggregation, these modules

support up to 196 Gigabit Ethernet ports per chassis and

reduce Gigabit Ethernet deployment costs and use modular GBIC

optics.

Pricing, and Projected Availability and Further Information

Product                                 Starting Price   Availability
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cisco Catalyst 6500 Supervisor          $28,000 U.S.     April 2003
 Engine 720
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cisco 2-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet        $60,000 U.S.     CYQ3 2003
 module
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cisco 4-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet        $20,000 U.S.     CYQ3 2003
 module
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cisco 48-port 10/100/1000 module for    $12,000 U.S.     May 2003
 performance wiring closets
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cisco 48-port 10/100/1000 module for    $7,500 U.S.      April 2003
 value wiring closets
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cisco 16-port Gigabit Ethernet GBIC     $15,000 U.S.     April 2003
 module
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cisco 10 Gigabit BASE-LR Serial         $4,000 US        CYQ3 2003
 1310nm Long Haul XENPAK (SMF)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cisco 10 Gigabit BASE-ER Serial         $12,000 US       CYQ3 2003
 1550nm Extended Reach XENPAK (SMF)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Further information on the Catalyst 6000 family can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/catalyst6500.

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