Cisco Systems TAC Engineers Develop Online Technology Pages to Assist Customers Resolve Networking Issues.

Business Editor/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2000

Technology Pages Provide Customers with a One-Stop-Shop

for Information to Improve Overall Network Performance

In response to customer requests for expanded information about its key networking technologies, Cisco Systems today announced the Cisco Technology Pages for its Technical Assistance Center (TAC) Web site. The Cisco Technology Pages deliver the most comprehensive technical information, knowledge and tools in the industry for troubleshooting network issues. Leveraging the expertise of over a thousand Cisco TAC engineers worldwide, these Pages provide customers with direct access to technical information that previously required a phone call to a Cisco technical support person. The Technology Pages are the latest addition to Cisco's robust TAC Web site, underscoring Cisco Systems' ongoing commitment to provide the technical content users need to support their networks 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Customers today are looking to leading networking vendors to offer not only best-of-breed products, but superior services, support, education and training," said Richard Dean, senior research analyst at the International Data Corporation (IDC). "Customers in need of online support should consider Cisco's online Technology Pages to be a timely and welcome addition to the suite of self-help services already provided by this vendor's Technical Assistance Center Web site."

"Cisco has over 10 years of networking troubleshooting knowledge, and we are putting that expertise on the Web. It is vital to our customers that the knowledge our Cisco TAC engineers possess is integrated into the tools on our TAC Web site," said Steve Gordon, director of the Technical Assistance Center at Cisco. "Content is key and without it, a support Web site will waste a customers' time in a fruitless search for data that doesn't exist. We believe that we are in a unique position in that Cisco possesses the people, knowledge and internal processes necessary to publish networking solutions to the Web for true 24 by 7 support."

The wealth of information found on Cisco Technology Pages includes three new 'Solution Sets' that enable users to speed the resolution of networking issues, work proactively to improve product performance, maximize connectivity and increase customer satisfaction. These Web-based resource Solution Sets include IP Routing Protocol Solutions, LAN Switching Solutions and Access Solutions. Each of these Solution Sets contain information that empowers users to effectively configure, verify configurations and troubleshoot issues for their respective products and technologies. The Solution Sets' content also enables users to learn more about these products/technologies through general overviews and background information.

Cisco IP Routing Protocol Solutions Set

IP routing protocols allow routers to share information about the availability and status of networks for technologies including Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) and Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Cisco LAN Switching Solutions Set LAN Switching technology enables users to manage the flow of information at Layers 2 and 3 of the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) model for technologies including Virtual LANs (VLANs) and truncking, EtherChannel(r) technology, multilayer switching (MLS), IP multicast and spanning tree.

Cisco Access Solutions Set

Access technology enables users to dial into and connect with a network from remote sites using a telco infrastructure. A key addition to the Cisco Access Solutions Set is the Cisco Output Interpreter tool (see related release dated 2/22/00). The Output Interpreter is an easy-to-use online application that helps users quickly troubleshoot a number of Access router issues.

Additionally, the Access Solution Set supports the following areas:

--   Digital subscriber line (DSL)
--   Modems and other asynchronous devices
--   Integrated services digital network (ISDN)
--   Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
--   Dial-on-demand routing

Online Solutions Sets Push TAC Web Site to New Levels of Efficiency

The Cisco TAC Web site, which receives more than 500,000 hits each month, now offers new levels of robust support content to its worldwide customer base. The Solutions Sets accessed via the Technology Pages are continually updated to ensure that users always have immediate access to comprehensive, up-to-date content. Customers with support agreements have access to the full TAC Web site. The Cisco TAC Web site can be accessed via its URL: www.cisco.com/tac.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems (Nasdaq:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

Note to Editors: Cisco, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.