Cisco Systems Strengthens its Commitment to Network Management from the Mainframe; CiscoWorks Blue Native Service Point Release 2.0 enhances mainframe network management of SNA internetworks by providing more robust management functionality.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 25, 1996--Continuing its commitment to IBM internetworking customers by providing mainframe-based network management for multiprotocol environments, Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced enhancements to its CiscoWorks(TM) Blue Native Service Point (NSP) network management product.

The new version, Release 2.0, offers added flexibility and functionality of managing Cisco devices with the IBM NetView for MVS and Sterling SOLVE: Netmaster management platforms, thereby providing full visibility of a Cisco router network from a mainframe network management console.

NSP-R2 enables network managers in multiprotocol/SNA environments to have the same visibility and control of Cisco routed portions of their internetworks from the mainframe as they have had over SNA-only devices in the past.

By integrating the functionality with the NetView and SOLVE: Netmaster platforms, NSP delivers full manageability of Cisco routed networks and ease-of-use to managers of SNA networks experienced with traditional SNA management tools.

Leveraging users' proficiency in NetView and SOLVE: Netmaster, the new NSP software is a cost-effective solution that reduces, and in some cases eliminates, the need to purchase other PC- or UNIX-based software for basic router management. Additionally, the number of consoles required for managing SNA and router internetworks is reduced.

Users gain the ability to troubleshoot and diagnose problems in the network, track network use and proactively fix networking performance bottlenecks in the multiprotocol portions of their networks.

"Enhancements to the Native Service Point product provide mainframe users the ability to more effectively manage all portions of their routed SNA networks quickly and efficiently," said Rob Adams, product manager for network management solutions in Cisco's InterWorks Business Unit.

"Additionally, Release 2.0 continues to take advantage of a customer's investment in mainframe network management skills, allowing them to manage a distributed multiprotocol network with little additional training."

By providing full visibility of Cisco devices to mainframe-based management applications, the new release allows users to manage SNA-only and Cisco devices easily from a single console. NSP provides full-screen status panels and allows nearly any command that would otherwise be entered at the router console to be issued from the mainframe management console -- without the need for TCP/IP on the host.

NSP works in conjunction with Cisco IOS(TM), to manage users' Cisco routed network down to the interface level, allow management from the mainframe and make network diagnosis simple for users.

Features

Within Native Service Point, fast-path problem diagnosis provides the user with a shortcut to the diagnostic feature that is best suited for problem determination. Status at a glance displays provide network managers with easy to read summary screens.

Other capabilities within Native Service Point allow performance trending, configuration archiving, Channel Interface Processor (CIP) and Downstream Physical Unit (DSPU) management, tight integration to mainframe management platforms, and much more.

CiscoBlue

NSP is part of CiscoBlue(TM), Cisco's next-generation technology road map for integrating existing SNA networks and associated applications into high-performance, switched, enterprise networks that are fast, affordable, and easily managed. CiscoWorks Blue, is a subset of the CiscoBlue road map, is Cisco's strategy for providing consolidated management in SNA mainframe internetworking environments.

Other available management platforms

Cisco offers its customers a broad range of choices when it comes to network management, depending on the customer's specific needs. Other CiscoWorks Blue network management applications currently available work with Hewlett-Packard's OpenView, IBM's NetView for AIX, and Sun's SunNet Manager.

Pricing and availability

CiscoWorks Blue Native Service Point Release 2.0 consists of a router and mainframe components. The mainframe component will be available next month for the NetView and NetMaster platforms for $9,995. The router component of SNA network management is available as a feature of Cisco IOS version 11.0.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the leading global supplier of internetworking solutions for corporate intranets and the global Internet.

Cisco's products -- including routers, LAN and WAN switches, dial-up access servers and network management software -- are integrated by Cisco IOS(TM) software to link geographically dispersed LANs, WANs and IBM networks. Company news and product/service information are available at World Wide Web site http://www.cisco.com

Cisco is headquartered in San Jose.

Sterling Software, with its headquarters in Dallas, has a worldwide installed base of more than 20,000 customer sites and has 2,600 employees in 70 offices worldwide. -0-

Cisco IOS, CiscoWorks and Cisco Systems are trademarks, and Cisco and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks or registered service marks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

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